Director Technical Product Management

Job Description
We are advancing Digital Shop Floor technologies, collaboration, and leadership across the organization. Specifically, in the platform leadership of our operational technologies that are installed globally across our diverse vaccine, biologics, and small molecule manufacturing arenas. This Director role, Product Manager of Automation and Controls, will lead the full lifecycle of development and operational aspects of our equipment automation, building automation, SCADA technologies, and level 1 controls technologies such as data busses and control cabinets. Responsibilities include architecture, delivery, application standardization, design and build standards, vendor engagement, operational performance oversight, and lifecycle management. We operate in an Agile Product Model way of working with central accountability of a Product with the Product Manager. In the near term, strong focus will be placed on building the capability, working across organizations to build the right capability, partnering with Digital Manufacturing Operations at the site and regional levels. Also, partnering with our Capital Delivery organization to build the right Product Delivery squad for the Product Team. .

Primary Responsibilities
Talent

• Lead a global Team of SCADA, Equipment Automation, Controls, & Building Automation professionals.
• Manage professionals, across several geographies, promoting career development and continuous upskilling of talent to build diverse teams and the ecosystem to empower them
• Activity engage with partners is holistically managing talent within across Manufacturing Value Team, Digital Manufacturing Operations, and supporting services.
• Develop a visible and authentic external presence, and strong internal networks, to recruit highly skilled and diverse talent, stay current with industry trends, and establish effective vendor partnerships.
• Maintain development plans and regularly update skillsets through a commitment to life-long learning

Operations

• Strong and frequent engagement with Digital Manufacturing Operations Site IT & Automation Leadership aligning on Product direction including backlog, prioritization, incident management, and performance.
• Institutionalize and have accountability of Tier 2/3 application support including managing AMS vendors.
• Collaborate with Foundational Services organization on operations management and performance of underlying IT technology, architecture, and cyber resilience.
• Perform Product lifecycle management planning consisting of product roadmap and consolidated view of site roadmaps. Provide total cost management of lifecycle activities including multi-year forecast. Own or oversee global administration SOP's
• Partner with strategic equipment vendors ensuring operational aspects of automation technology meets our business requirements.
• Oversee all lifecycle management activities including upgrades and patching.
• Ensure architecture and supporting services align to agreed resilience model.

Delivery

• Lead a delivery squad that partners with capital Delivery team.
• Engage equipment vendors to ensure standardized robust solutions.
• Oversee delivery, ensuring time and budget commitments are met. Plan projects and resource accordingly with internal and external resources.
• Owns the Delivery Roadmap and all technical implementation standards for Building Automation, SCADA, and Level 1 Controls.
• Institutionalize and own delivery best practices including documentation and testing methodologies.
• Partner closely with operations teams to ensure seamless transition from project phases to sustaining operations while ensuring retention of critical knowledge within the organization.

Platform

• Product financial and budgeting accountability and stewardship including MS&O and annual portfolio budgets. Incorporate into overall portfolio management process.
• Develop strategic roadmaps across all key technologies in the Product.
• Develop strong relationship with key equipment vendors for alignment in technology, architecture, and LCM.
• Maintain and enforce global application standards including configuration, SDLC documentation, architecture.
• Design a robust solution architecture that meeting operational requirements and integrates with other shopfloor applications as required to meet business and compliance drivers.
• High collaboration with suppliers, to ensure a cohesive technology roadmap is in place, maintain overall master agreements, and lead day to day engagement.
• Ensure cyber security controls are implemented and maintained.
• Develop and own platform standards, architectures, and global business processes.

Leadership

• Maintain a strong leadership presence, demonstrating thought leadership and educating/coaching leaders on areas of opportunity.
• Maintain industry engagement in each of the key technology areas.
• Ensures accountability – Takes ownership of all aspects of the product management.
• Drive results with clear actions and accountability. Escalates issues timely as required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of work experience in a GxP manufacturing environment
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science or related fields.
• 18+ year experience with shopfloor automation technologies with strong experience with Rockwell, Siemens platforms including PLC's, Industry leading SCADA platforms including Ignition and Wonderware, level 1 controls including control bus technology such as Profibus and Ethernet I/P. Familiarity with Siemens BAS platforms.
• Understanding of control panel design best practices.
• Strong understanding of operational technologies in life science manufacturing specifically the business use cases and value drivers of these solutions.
• Demonstrated superior management skills as well as communication skills that emphasize collaboration in a matrixed organization and ability to align the organization on complex decisions .
• Strong quantitative skills and the ability to use data and metrics to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement, using lean manufacturing principles
• Self-motivated, value-oriented with a mindset of continuous learning.
• Experience managing and motivating a dispersed international team across multiple time zones
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for a wide range of audiences; from entry level associates to site-level leaders.
• Communicates candidly and fluently in English
• Travel Requirements 25% Travel is expected to USA, Ireland, Europe and Singapore sites to plan, coordinate and connect with the site stakeholders
• Ready to work flexible working hours to cover the overlap needed for NA and Europe sites.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status
Regular

Relocation
VISA Sponsorship
Travel Requirements
Flexible Work Arrangements
Hybrid

Shift
Valid Driving License
Hazardous Material(s)
Required Skills
Applied Engineering, Asset Management, Benefits Management, Management Process, Management System Development, Product Management, Requirements Management, Software Product Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs

Preferred Skills
Job Posting End Date
09/30/2025

• A job posting is effective until PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID
R352572