Associate Director, Engineering Central Utilities (Hybrid - West Point, PA)

Job Description

Our Company is a global biopharmaceutical leader with a portfolio of prescription medicines, oncology, vaccines, and animal health products. We are driven by our purpose to develop and deliver innovative products that save and improve lives. With employees operating in more than 140 countries, we offer state of the art laboratories, plants and offices that are designed to Inspire our employees as we learn, develop, and grow in our careers. We are proud of our 125 years of service to humanity and continue to be one of the world’s biggest investors in Research & Development.

The vision for the Global Workplace and Enterprise Services organization is to improve patient’s lives by providing world-class facility services & solutions that enable innovative research, medicines, & vaccines. We deliver critical building and site services, including facility management, emergency response, utilities (including electricity, steam, chilled water, and potable water), and real estate strategy that provides a positive workplace experience to enable employees to perform their best work. The future of work and needs of the workplace are constantly changing so we are also seeking to re-imagine and continuously improve our operations and supporting business processes for our valued colleagues across our enterprise.

We are seeking a highly experienced and results-driven Associate Director, Engineering Central Utilities to lead the strategy, performance, and continuous improvement of site-wide utility systems. This role is responsible for ensuring safe, compliant, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of critical utilities that support manufacturing and research operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic direction and overall performance of Central Utilities systems which include, chilled water, cooling tower systems, plant air, and related infrastructure, ensuring safe, compliant, and reliable operations.

• Serve as the site’s subject matter expert for central utility systems, advising operations, maintenance, and capital project teams on system design, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

• Manage and mentor the central utilities group, providing guidance on operational practices, technical expertise, and team development.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including project management, real estate, facility management, and master planning to ensure seamless integration of central utility systems with organizational goals and initiatives.

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices for operations and maintenance, ensuring compliance with EPA refrigerant standards and other relevant regulations.

• Oversee budget planning and resource allocation for central utilities related projects, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget constraints.

• Drive initiatives for energy efficiency and sustainability within utility operations to align with the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Accountable for refrigerant air emissions compliance.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for external audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance related to central utility systems.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related discipline)

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of 6 years of technical management experience related to industrial/utility plant operations, engineering and/or maintenance including steam/electricity/chilled water generation and distribution. 

• Proven leadership and management experience, particularly in supervising and developing engineering teams.

• Strong knowledge of utility system design, operation, and reliability in a regulated environment.

• Experience in capital planning, project execution, and financial/budget management.

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of collaborating effectively with various stakeholders and conveying technical information clearly.

• Ability to quickly address issues and develop solutions to minimize compliance risk and improve utility reliability

• Working knowledge of applicable regulatory and safety standards (e.g., OSHA and related industrial standards).

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Master's degree and/or Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred.

• Experience managing large-scale central utilities systems in pharmaceutical, biotech, or highly regulated industries.

• undefined

• Knowledge of energy management, sustainability initiatives, and optimization strategies. Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma).

• Familiarity with computerized maintenance management systems (e.g., Maximo) and process monitoring tools.

• undefined

• Experience working with unionized workforces and collective bargaining environments.

Required Skills:

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

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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.

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

The salary range for this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

05/20/2026

*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.