Executive Director, Digital and Autonomous Labs

Job Description

Our IT team operates as a business partner proposing ideas and implementing innovative solutions that enable organizational capabilities. We collaborate internationally to deliver the services and solutions that help everyone to be more productive and enable scientific innovation.

Our Digital Manufacturing team is a trusted business partner that enables purposeful innovation and sustainable value, through the delivery and support of seamless digital capabilities that assure safe, compliant, and reliable supply. Digital Manufacturing strives to be the digital force that drives the our manufacturing division to be the best at supplying innovative and affordable medicines and vaccines.

The leader of our Digital and Autonomous Labs is a key role for Digital Manufacturing; this leader has overall accountability for incorporating new technologies, ensuring our laboratories evolve to become more efficient and effective through digitization, automation, robotics, advanced real-time data analytics and ongoing process verification to track trends, prevent deviations or out-of-specifications, and optimize scheduling. Our Digitally Enabled Labs leader will be highly aware of current technological best practices across the bio-pharmaceutical and will work with the leaders of our quality function to design, implement and support best-in-class platforms that will accelerate our digital transformation across our laboratories.

The role reports to the Digital Manufacturing Leader and works in close partnership with other Quality Leaders and key business stakeholders to deliver sustainable value through seamless and standardized digital capabilities across the full manufacturing network.

The responsibilities of the Digital and Autonomous Laboratories leader include, but are not limited to the following:

• Manage a group of about 65 professionals, across several geographies, promoting career development and continuous upskilling of talent to build incredible teams and the ecosystem to empower them.

• Work with the Digital Manufacturing Leader in defining the digital business platforms that are most relevant to our laboratories and work with the relevant teams to set the supporting technology strategy, including: technology standards, value creation targets, implementation plans and the associated delivery and support organizational requirements.

• Work with the Digital Manufacturing Leader in developing and implementing next-generation laboratory digital strategies that leverage cloud, intelligent automation and advanced data/analytics capabilities. Build the talent and capability of our manufacturing digital teams to lead across these emerging spaces.

• Deliver on the Digitally Enabled Labs capabilities of connected instruments, digital method execution, integrated planning & scheduling, digital integration, digital analytics, and future technologies (AI & Augmented Reality).

• Facilitate the delivery and transition from the current systems model/ architecture/ business process to an enhanced model enabling data structure, business process, and systems architecture prerequisites for the strategic, cloud-based architecture supporting Quality Control.

• Work with business stakeholders to deliver a new operating model and business processes that take advantage of digital solutions, robotics, autonomous operations and drive efficiency across Quality.

• Support the DEQ Value Team Leader in working in partnership with key quality stakeholders to prioritize the relevant investment portfolio and share accountability with those stakeholders for the maximization of the value realized from all investments, including from existing assets. Continuously work to improve the efficiency of our delivery and support processes and assume responsibility for driving down the total cost of ownership of our Digitally Enabled Labs.

• Keep the operation of our laboratory digital platforms stable, compliant, secure and predictable, and demonstrate continuous improvement in our operational metrics, capabilities and processes. Maintain an excellent track record for regulatory inspections and internal audits.

• Maintain a strong leadership presence, demonstrating thought leadership and educating/ coaching manufacturing digital leaders on areas of opportunity, while driving mindset and the positive adoption of a new digital savvy culture within manufacturing quality.

• Support the DEQ Value Team Leader in leading our organization in the adoption of new agile, risk-based validation approaches and accelerate our adoption of Computer Systems Assurance approaches, that will drive improved levels of protection for patient safety, product quality and data integrity.

• Demonstrate excellent stewardship of our Company’s resources (both people and financial), build financial plans that deliver on our company’s objectives and implement a culture of strong financial accountability across the Digitally Enabled Labs organization.

• Develop a visible and authentic external presence, and strong internal networks, to recruit highly skilled talent, stay current with industry trends, and establish effective vendor partnerships.

• Maintain a specific focus on their own personal development, maintain a development plan and regularly update their skillsets through an active commitment to life-long learning.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in information management, computer science or a computer related field, or a laboratory management/systems background with relevant experience is required

Required Experience and Skills:

• 12+ years of experience in digital/ technology enabled laboratories

• 5+ years of working in Executive Management

• 5+ years of working in robotics and autonomous operations

• Science background and laboratory management experience

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple large programs establishing and overall strategic direction across platforms is required

• Experience in a GMP-regulated environment, involving quality decision making, with a proven track record of effectively supporting a moderate to large size quality function from a technology/ digital perspective

• Experience with digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, data analytics, automation, as well as cross discipline in Application development and Business Intelligence, Analytics, support, engineering, and architecture

• Experience with laboratory control systems including Laboratory Information Management Systems, (LIMS) Laboratory Execution Systems, (LES) Chromatography Systems, Data Orchestration and Integration Systems, and Laboratory Instrument Control Systems.

• Specific Experience with LabWare LIMS, Biovia OneLab, Scitara, Waters Empower, SoftMax Pro, LabX, is preferred

• Knowledge and experience with new technology with respect to long term strategic options is expected (especially robotics and autonomous lab technologies)

• Ability to digest, consolidate, and interpret complex Quality Control business process requirements enabling/delivering strategic digital solutions that enhance end user effectivity

• Ability to engage with Research and Development (R&D) R&D IT to establish a seamless process and data flow between the R&D laboratories and Manufacturing teams is required

• Ability to synthesize and solution design information, architectural principles, available technologies, third-party products, and industry standards to formulate a system architecture that meets business requirements and can be delivered within the desired timeframe

• Extensive knowledge of the broad spectrum of quality specific digital/technology areas, including digital trends, forthcoming industry standards, new products, and the latest solution development techniques; ability to leverage this knowledge to formulate technical solution strategy

• Proven track record of building high performing teams

• Proven ability to select top talent and create a productive environment that promotes initiative, innovation, continual learning, and development of digital/technology leaders for future advancement

• Self-motivated, value-oriented with a mindset of continuous learning

• Experience managing and motivating multiple teams

• Excellent communication and presentation skills for a wide range of audiences

• Communicates candidly and fluently in English

Location:
Applicants should reside within commutable distance to NJ/ PA company sites or willing to be present 2/3 days per week onsite.

Required Skills:

Asset Management, Benefits Management, Business Intelligence (BI), Digital Analytics, Digital Manufacturing, Digital Strategy, Digital Transformation, Digitizing, Executive Management, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Management System Development, Patient Safety, Product Management, Requirements Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Planning, System Designs, Systems Architecture

Preferred Skills:

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.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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

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The salary range for this role is

$231,900.00 - $365,000.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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):

Job Posting End Date:

08/10/2026

*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.