Associate Director, Biology R&D Operations

The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany•Burlington, MA

About The Position

As the Associate Director, Biology R&D Operations, you will lead the full operational strategy and execution for the scientific organization, ensuring that people, processes, systems, and infrastructure are aligned to enable high‑quality, high‑velocity research. The role serves as a core member of the leadership team, translating scientific priorities into operational plans, scaling the lab environment, and driving cross‑functional coordination so the R&D engine can innovate, deliver, and grow effectively.

Requirements

Bachelors or Masters degree in life sciences or bioengineering.
Professional certifications i.e. PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, with hands-on experience in global matrix organization.
5+ years experience in operational strategy, overseeing budgets, capital planning, and department performance through Key Performance metrics (KPI’s), preferably in R&D or scientific operations.

Nice To Haves

Manage operational budgets, capital equipment planning, and vendor/contract negotiations to optimize resource utilization in line with organizational goals.
Hands-on familiarity with lab workflows, instrumentation, safety protocols, and compliance essential for effective operations.
Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements to enhance operational effectiveness, streamline workflows, and boost productivity in R&D.
Support or lead research teams, product development programs, or innovation pipelines, contributing to successful outcomes.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, product management, quality, regulatory, finance, facilities) to achieve strategic objectives.
Lead governance forums, steering committees, and cross-functional initiatives to facilitate cross-department alignment.
Strong organizational and analytical skills with an understanding of Life Sciences customer needs.
Excellent communication and influencing skills; capable of leading without formal management authority.
Able to analyze and visualize data to support efficient decision-making.

Responsibilities

Sets operational strategy for R&D, aligning infrastructure and processes with scientific and business priorities, including long-range planning and capacity modeling.
Manages operational budgets for R&D infrastructure, partners with finance for forecasting and ensuring cost-effective operations.
Manages the lifecycle of scientific infrastructure, leading capital planning for equipment and technology integration to enhance R&D productivity.
Fosters a culture of operational excellence looking for and effecting process improvement and standardization.
Owns the rollout and site‑wide implementation of corporate policies, standards and platforms for all Biology R&D sites.
Establishes and reports operational KPIs, and run continuous improvement programs to assess speed, quality, and cost efficiency of Biology R&D departments.
Communicates, presents, and influences at executive levels with clear, data‑driven briefings and recommendations for senior leadership and corporate stakeholders.
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.