{"id":1541458,"url":"https://alion.io/job/merck-co-facility-operational-readiness-associate-director","title":"Facility Operational Readiness Associate Director","company":{"id":3768,"name":"Merck & Co.","domain":"msd.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/msd","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":100,"open_postings":281,"ghost_share":0.014,"stale_share":0.075,"repost_share":0.085,"time_to_fill_p50_days":12,"computed_at":"2026-10-23T05:54:15Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Dundalk, Ireland"],"countries":["IE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":104000,"max_usd":231000,"period":"year","method":"global_role_cell_scaled_by_country","sample_n":2013},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-30T21:10:53Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-30","last_verified_at":"2026-10-23T10:34:28Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":22,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":22},"description":"Job Description\nAbout the Role and Site\nJoin a state-of-the-art vaccines manufacturing facility in Dundalk and play a pivotal role in preparing the site for successful product launch, process performance qualification, and commercial manufacturing operations.\nAs the Facility Operational Readiness Associate Director (AD), reporting to the Site Operational Readiness Lead, you will act as a key partner to department leads, helping to coordinate and drive readiness activities across multiple functions. Working closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Digital, Facilities, and Technical teams, you will ensure critical operational priorities remain aligned, risks are proactively managed, and readiness plans are executed successfully.\nThis is an excellent opportunity for a highly organised and influential professional who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex challenges, and can bring people together to achieve common goals.\nBring energy, knowledge, and innovation to carry out the following:\nSupport the delivery of operational readiness strategies and plans linked to successful manufacturing and product launch activities. \nCoordinate cross-functional readiness activities across multiple workstreams, ensuring alignment of priorities, timelines, and dependencies. \nFacilitate governance forums, readiness reviews, action tracking, and escalation processes to support effective decision-making. \nPartner with functional leaders to ensure readiness across quality systems, training, supply chain, manufacturing systems, facilities, and operational processes. \nMaintain visibility of programme risks, issues, and key milestones, helping teams resolve challenges before they impact delivery. \nSupport the transition from commissioning and qualification activities through to operational readiness and routine manufacturing. \nDrive operational rehearsal activities, scenario planning, and contingency preparedness. \nBuild strong relationships across site functions to enable collaboration and alignment. \nSupport executive communications and reporting, providing clear insights on progress, risks, and priorities. \nIdentify opportunities to improve readiness frameworks, governance processes, and ways of working while capturing lessons learned for future initiatives. \nWhat Skills You Will Need\nBachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, Business, Supply Chain, or a related discipline.\nSignificant experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or vaccine manufacturing industry.\nStrong understanding of GMP manufacturing operations, quality systems, validation, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence principles.\nExperience supporting facility start-up, operational readiness, technology transfer, process validation, PPQ, product launch, or commercial manufacturing activities.\nProven track record of leading or coordinating complex cross-functional programmes within a regulated manufacturing environment.\nStrong stakeholder management and influencing skills with the ability to build credibility across all levels of an organisation.\nDemonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, navigate ambiguity, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.\nExcellent communication, presentation, planning, and organisational skills.\nExperience preparing updates, recommendations, and risk assessments for senior leadership teams.\nPreferred Experience\nExperience supporting a new facility start-up, expansion programme, or major manufacturing transformation.\nExperience within vaccine, sterile, biologics, or large molecule manufacturing operations.\nProject Management, Lean Six Sigma, PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent certification.\nRequired Skills:\nBusiness Decisions, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Decision Making, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Interpersonal Relationships, Operational Excellence, Product Launches, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, Strategic Thinking, Technical Problem-Solving, Technology TransferPreferred Skills:\nCurrent Employees apply HERE\nCurrent Contingent Workers apply HERE\nSecondary Language(s) Job Description:\nWe keep the patient at the very heart of all that we do and strive to find solutions and treatments for some of the world's most challenging healthcare needs.\nAs an equal opportunity employer, we are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing inclusive, talented, and committed people together.\nPlease don't hesitate to contact the Talent Acquisition Advisor assigned to this role should you need any support during our recruitment process.\nWe are committed to flexible working where possible, and this is why our Company has introduced a new hybrid working model for office-based colleagues around the world.\nPlease feel free to speak to us about what flexibility means to you during your application.\nSo, if you are ready to:\nInvent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs, please apply today.\nSearch Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully\nMerck & 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.\nEmployee Status:\nRegularRelocation:\nVISA Sponsorship:\nTravel Requirements:\nFlexible Work Arrangements:\nHybridShift:\nValid Driving License:\nHazardous Material(s):\nJob Posting End Date:\n10/14/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. 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