Lead Technician, Operations

Merck•Durham, NC

4d•$77,700 - $122,300•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Technician, Drug Product Operations role involves supporting production activities for the commercial manufacture, fill, and inspection of material. This position requires the ability to effectively coach new trainees, perform manual and automated operations, general maintenance, and support functions necessary for production. The role also involves authoring, reviewing, and editing documentation such as standard operating procedures and job-aides to support regulatory filings. The Lead Technician will perform general maintenance, troubleshoot equipment, and ensure all work areas are clean and decontaminated according to procedures. They will also identify and address compliance, environmental, safety, and process deviations, and perform sampling and in-process testing. This role actively participates in various operational initiatives, lean six-sigma, quality, safety, and environmental training. The Lead Technician will promote a culture of visibility and accuracy of the project schedule, update dashboards, and participate on cross-functional manufacturing teams to advance project goals. Additionally, they will analyze and implement initiatives, training programs, and systems to increase departmental success and participate in new hire training programs. The position requires working flexible hours to support 1st/2nd Drug Product shifts and the overall process, with a primary support for 1st shift Drug Product Operations, Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM-2:30 PM.

Requirements

Minimum three-year relevant work experience in GMP environment
Demonstrated written and verbal communications skills
Must be willing and able to lift 50 lbs and work on elevated platforms
Adaptability
Analytical Problem Solving
Cleanroom Gowning
Cleanroom Operations
Computer Literacy
Data Analysis
Equipment Maintenance
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Inventory Management
Master Batch Records
Process Optimization
Production Scheduling
Shift Work
Sterile Filling
Teamwork

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated 2-4 years of leadership experience
Applicable mechanical and project management experience
Proficiency with automated systems (MES, SAP, DeltaV)
Experience training others and/or leading hands-on or instructor-led training
Demonstrated knowledge of Lean Six Sigma/MPS principles
Experience with on-the-floor cGMP manufacturing and familiarity with regulatory requirements
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a part of a team
Strong collaboration, communication, and leadership skills
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only
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 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: 1st - Day
Valid Driving License: No
Hazardous Material(s): Cleaning Supplies
Job Posting End Date: 06/22/2026
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.
Requisition ID:R402026
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
EEOC GINA Supplement
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
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 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: 1st - Day
Valid Driving License: No
Hazardous Material(s): Cleaning Supplies
Job Posting End Date: 06/22/2026
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.
Requisition ID:R402026
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
EEOC GINA Supplement
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
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 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: 1st - Day
Valid Driving License: No
Hazardous Material(s): Cleaning Supplies
Job Posting End Date: 06/22/2026
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.
Requisition ID:R402026
Applicable mechanical and project management experience
Proficiency with automated systems (MES, SAP, DeltaV)
Experience training others and/or leading hands-on or instructor-led training
Demonstrated knowledge of Lean Six Sigma/MPS principles
Experience with on-the-floor cGMP manufacturing and familiarity with regulatory requirements
Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a part of a team
Strong collaboration, communication, and leadership skills

Responsibilities

Effectively coach new trainees to build their skills so that they may become effective operations technicians and SMEs.
Support production activities for the commercial manufacture/fill/inspection of material.
Working in conjunction with all appropriate personnel, performs manual and automated operations, general maintenance and support functions necessary for the production.
Provides and/or authors all documentation and clerical functions necessary to allow proper accountability and traceability of product.
Maintains, inventories, and transports all required equipment, materials, supplies and products.
Author, review, and/or edit procedures and technical documents to support regulatory filings including standard operating procedures, job-aides, and learning documents.
Performs general maintenance and assists or ability in troubleshooting of equipment independently.
Performs housekeeping in all work areas. Executes facility decontamination according to procedures. Maintains, cleans and prepares equipment used in production.
Identifies and addresses compliance, environmental, safety, and process deviations as appropriate while notifying appropriate personnel.
Performs sampling/in-process testing supporting the manufacturing and validation process for current process as well as developmental work for new products/processes as required independently.
Attends and actively participates in HAZOPS, waste walkthroughs, 5S, kaizen events, or any other operations, lean six-sigma, quality, safety or environmental training/initiatives as required.
Promote a culture of visibility and accuracy of the project schedule and update dashboards accordingly to highlight project status to critical milestones.
Actively participate on cross-functional manufacturing teams to advance projects goals and deliverables related to the vaccine process.
Analyzing and implementing initiatives, training programs, and systems that will help to increase overall success within the department.
Participate in training for new hire training programs.
Participates in product/material inspection efforts.
Work flexible hours to support 1st/2nd DP shifts, as well as the overall process.