Job Abstract

Job Description

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where our company has codified its legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.

Our Manufacturing and Supply Division is a team of dedicated, energetic individuals who are committed to being the most trusted supplier of bio-pharmaceuticals and health products worldwide. Our facilities, along with our external contractors, suppliers, and partners, comprise an interdependent global manufacturing network that’s committed to delivering a compliant, reliable supply to customers and patients on time, every time, across the globe. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

We have an exciting opportunity in the Packaging Commercialization department for a Specialist Packaging Engineer at either the Rahway, NJ or West Point, PA site This candidate will serve as an individual contributor supporting our department mission: (1) to design and develop responsible and accessible commercial packaging solutions with strong science, risk-based thinking, and focus on the customer, and 2)  to strike the balance between being innovative and flexible to meet the evolving pipeline and continuously improving and standardizing our packaging solutions. Our scientists and engineers have opportunities to collaborate with many diverse areas, including colleagues experienced in the following disciplines: packaging science;  process, analytical, and device development; materials science, logistics and distribution technology; automation; validation; safety; artwork/branding, and project management,  Learning will stem from experiencing a wide variety of projects across modalities and with guidance from experienced team leads and peers, in addition to formal training.

Position Description:

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to focus on package development for our company’s expanding pipeline of innovative new human health products. Our function supports for all modalities and growing complexity, including pharmaceuticals (oral solid dosage, oral powders, suspensions, sterile injectables, and inhaled formulations), biopharmaceuticals (vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody drug conjugates), as well as a growing range of devices and combination products.

Linking understanding of the patient and caregiver experience to specific product and device sensitivities, the successful candidate will use fundamental packaging science to experiment, characterize, and qualify new packaging designs and systems. These systems will be demonstrated to meet patient and stakeholder needs for finished goods, primary packaging for drug components and secondary and tertiary packaging of medical device and combination products.

Through support of the Packaging Working Groups for each development and commercialization program, the successful candidate will collaborate with peers and leaders in internal and external functions, such as Drug Substance, Drug Product, and Device Development, Analytical Development, Supply Chain, Procurement, Packaging Site Operations and Technical Operations, Procurement and Marketing. 

Role Responsibilities:

• Design innovative approaches to package both finished products and intermediate components.

• Design experiments to characterize our products and robustly challenge the integrity of new packages, packaging processes, and process controls to characterize failure modes.

• Engage with partners in logistics and distribution by leading shipping distribution strategies and the coordination of shipping distribution studies.

• Provide input regarding selection of primary packaging components and device packaging.

• Author packaging specifications for primary, secondary and tertiary packaging as well as provide information to support relevant sections of regulatory filing submission documents.

• Interface with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders, such as packaging component suppliers, testing laboratories, and contract manufacturing operations.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• The successful candidate will have a completed a B.S., equivalent bachelor’s degree, or higher degree in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Science, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Pharmaceutical Science with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Understanding of package development process and engineering principles

• Strong scientific- and risk-based thinking

• Demonstrated experience in building collaborative partnerships.

• Productive communication between stakeholders who are either peers or leaders, both written and verbal.

• Excellent prioritization skills and some project management experience

• Ability to make rapid disciplined decisions.

• A scientific curiosity to understand and design protections for our complex pipeline products.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in development packaging for new pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and/or medical device combination products.

• Experience with packaging process characterization and development and motivated to challenge the status-quo to achieve rapid and right-first-time product launches.

• Experience with GMP and data integrity compliance principles.

• Manufacturing site stakeholder engagement.

This role at our company is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and we’re counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At our company, we’re inventing for life. 

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

VETJOBS

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement?

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.  This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

Under New York State, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed 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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM 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.