Assoc. Dir, Operations Orchestration

MSD • Durham, PA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

We’re seeking an experienced candidate to join our Operations Orchestration team in an Associate Director level role, supporting digital transformation across our global manufacturing shop floors. Reporting to the Operations Orchestration Product Manager, this role provides senior execution and technical leadership for industrial data platforms, helping translate product direction into scalable, reliable solutions delivered through a global team model. Pharmaceutical manufacturing experience is strongly preferred. In this role, you will act as a senior execution leader and technical authority, working closely with manufacturing, automation, and IT stakeholders across regions while partnering with established delivery and support teams worldwide. Why this role matters Your leadership will enable consistent, trusted shop-floor data that improves quality, productivity, and decision-making, helping accelerate the delivery of life-changing healthcare solutions to patients worldwide.

Requirements

• 8-12+ years of experience in manufacturing; pharmaceutical manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years in automation or Information Technology.
• Experience leading delivery and operation of enterprise industrial data platforms within complex, multi-site environments.
• Deep, hands-on experience with AVEVA PI Systems, including architecture, PI-DA, AF, Analysis, Notifications, PI Vision, DAS, PI Interfaces, and integrations with larger data platforms.
• Ability to design and explain different PI architectures (on-prem, virtualized, hybrid) and integration patterns.
• Extensive exposure to manufacturing control systems (DeltaV, PLC/SCADA, etc.) and common manufacturing analytics use cases.
• Good working knowledge of IT infrastructure considerations that affect data systems (networking, virtualization, storage).
• Experience with SDLC methodology and computer validation concepts.
• Familiarity with modern manufacturing data ecosystems and relevant Industry 4.0 concepts (e.g., IoT platforms, data brokers, OPC UA technologies, edge solutions) as they relate to industrial data integration.
• Self-driven with strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence across functions and geographies.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline preferred.
• AVEVA PI System
• Change Controls
• Computer Technical Support
• Incident Management
• Management System Development
• Problem Management
• Software Configurations
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Testing
• Troubleshooting
• Audit Management
• Business Process Improvements
• Computer Science
• Computer Technical Support
• Data Management
• Design
• Digital Transformation
• Global Team Collaboration
• Incident Investigations
• Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure
• Management System Development
• Manufacturing Environments
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Problem Management
• Quality Management
• Real-Time Programming
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
• Technical Leadership

Nice To Haves

• Global manufacturing environments
• distributed delivery models
• pharma manufacturing operations
• industrial data platform operations
• cross-regional execution leadership

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the Operations Orchestration Product Manager to execute the product vision and roadmap, providing technical input, delivery leadership, and operational oversight.
• Lead complex deployments and upgrades of the data historian and visualization stack, including AVEVA PI Data Archive, PI-AF, PI Notifications, PI Vision, PI Interfaces, and related components.
• Provide senior level, hands on troubleshooting and resolution support for incidents impacting industrial data platforms, working directly with manufacturing, automation, and IT partners to diagnose complex issues, restore service, and prevent recurrence in coordination with global support teams.
• Work closely with operations and support services to understand shop-floor data needs and translate them into practical, scalable technology solutions that improve day-to-day manufacturing efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with process engineers and key users to define and maintain company-wide manufacturing assets, process-data requirements, and standard templates.
• Provide day-to-day technical oversight and leadership for application support teams, actively supporting incident investigation, root cause analysis, and resolution, and identifying opportunities to optimize system management and supportability.
• Coordinate execution across a distributed, global team model, working closely with delivery and support teams across regions to ensure alignment, timely decision-making, and effective escalation handling.
• Partner with automation and application leads to define and maintain robust data and system integration standards.
• Drive continuous improvement of the Data Enablement product’s processes, governance, and best practices.
• Contribute to SDLC and computer validation practices where applicable.

Benefits

• 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 .

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees