Senior Specialist, Focus Factory Support (m/f/d)

Job Description

Our Manufacturing Operations teams are the people that make our products. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset striving for continuous improvement. We work in the local plant connected to our global manufacturing network to ensure the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates and finished products.

Position Overview

The Senior Specialist, Focus Factory Support (m/f/d) (Biologics External Manufacturing) will be accountable for working with an Operations Lead in a Focus Factory Team to effectively manage a number of critical Biologics supply partners. 

Key elements of this role include:

• Managing team/partner interactions
• Planning manufacturing campaign readiness activities
• Managing transactions within SAP
• Issuing purchase orders and controlling invoices
• Coordinating distribution and logistics for bulk drug substance and sample shipments
• Tracking operations performance metrics
• Supporting the Operations Lead in maintaining and controlling the budget for the assigned site(s)

The ideal candidate will be able to travel to domestic partner sites to effectively manage the partnership and associated activities and will also have effective communication skills and tools for remote support to the partnerships/virtual sites.

Key skills required for this role include:

• Comprehensive understanding of technical and operational aspects of Vaccine and Biological products
• Project management and oversight capabilities
• Supply chain planning familiarity/experience
• In depth working experience with Microsoft platform applications and SAP
• Knowledge/understanding of supply chain logistics
• Familiarity with regulatory filing activities/requirements
• Lean/Six sigma methodology
• Experience operational excellent and continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

Qualifications: 

• Required Education: Bachelors of Science or Engineering, Biotechnology preferred; MS preferred
• Required Experience: 3-5 years Biologics Technical or Operations experience; Biologics, Vaccines, or Small Molecules project management experience
• Preferred Experience: Supply Chain planning, MPS/lean experience, Six sigma black belt

Our Manufacturing & Supply Division is dedicated to being the most trusted supplier of biopharmaceuticals worldwide. Our facilities, along with our external contractors, suppliers, and partners, create a reliable global manufacturing network that’s devoted to delivering a high-quality, reliable supply to customers and patients on time, every time.

The Company

Our Company has had a presence in Switzerland since 1963. With a regional office and manufacturing/packaging facility, Lucerne is considered the center of operations. Approximately 1,000 people work collaboratively at the four Lucerne locations (Tribschenstrasse, Citybay, Schachen and Kriens). A fifth location has been established in Zurich, aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of many of our company’s medicines and vaccines, which supports our mission to save and improve lives around the world.

We are proud to be certified as a “Top Employer Switzerland” and “Top Employer Europe” showing the company’s commitment to our employees and the community around us.

Our Tribschenstrasse office, located in the city of Luzern has a rich diversity of employees at this location including Global Supply Chain Management, Regional External Manufacturing and one of our European Finance Hubs. The site also serves as our regional and local headquarters of our company’s Animal Health Division in Switzerland.

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

No

Job Posting End Date:

03/23/2025

• 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.

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