Director - Process Data Enablement Product Owner

Merck•Durham, NC

4d•$173,200 - $272,600•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Process Data Enablement Product Owner, is a key leadership role within the Launch Line Intelligence product line team. This individual will be responsible for defining the key capabilities, developing a roadmap and driving delivery for our process data and analytics products. This role will lead a team of product analysts and data engineers to deliver high-quality, reliable, and governed data products that enable Manufacturing Science & Technology and Commercialization customers to run Process Performance Monitoring (PPM), batch data investigations, and cross-site process robustness analyses. In addition, the role will be a key stakeholder in the development and adoption of Process Digital Twins. The Director will operate at an enterprise level, partnering with Technical Product Managers, S&T stakeholders, process data Subject Matter Experts, solution architects, data scientists, and cross-divisional IT teams to translate data needs into scalable, reusable, and compliant data engineering and analytics solutions.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
Proven experience in a product ownership or product management role, with a track record of successfully launching data-intensive products.
Strong leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring teams of technical professionals.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders.
Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business needs into a compelling product vision.
Knowledge of biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes and associated data systems (e.g., MES, LIMS, PI, SAP).

Nice To Haves

Detailed Knowledge of Small Molecule API manufacturing processes
Experience with agile methodologies and a digital and innovative mindset.
Familiarity with advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI applications in a manufacturing context.
Experience with data visualization tools such as OSI PI, Power BI, or Seeq.
Background in manufacturing or process analytics (PPA/PPM), including cross site or ‑franchise level‑ analysis and GMP/GxP considerations.
Experience with agile methodologies and a digital and innovative mindset

Responsibilities

Define and communicate the product vision and roadmap for process data enablement, ensuring alignment with business goals and user needs, particularly in support of process transfer and product launch activities.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of product analysts and data engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
Oversee the entire product lifecycle from conception to sustainment, including gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements to support the product pipeline.
Collaborate extensively with senior Science & Technology (S&T) stakeholders across all modalities (biologics, small molecule, vaccines) to ensure the successful delivery of data products and analytics solutions that meet their evolving needs.
Drive the execution of data acquisition, data quality, and data governance to ensure the reliability and integrity of our data assets.
Champion a data-driven culture by promoting data literacy and enabling self-service analytics across the organization.
Manage the product backlog and prioritize initiatives based on business value and importance to key programs.
Ensure all solutions are compliant with SDLC, GMP/GxP, and other regulatory requirements.
Foster strong relationships with key partners, including manufacturing sites, Development and Commercialization teams, and across divisional and enterprise IT, to facilitate seamless process transfers and launches.