Operations Manager

Job Description

Our Company's Animal Health group in Worthington, MN is an animal health manufacturing facility that performs vaccine production operations from antigen production through formulation, filling and lyophilization. With expertise in mammalian cell culture production (anchorage dependent), roller bottle vaccine production, fermentation vaccine production and downstream processing (antigen concentration, aseptic filling, lyophilization, etc.), the Worthington site supplies and supports products for a wide range of species including bovine, equine, swine, poultry and companion animal.

We are seeking a Growth and Improvement minded Manufacturing Manager that can help drive our Strategic Operating Priorities. Manufacturing managers oversee the daily operations of a manufacturing facility. They coordinate, plan, and direct all the activities that go into the production process.

We are recruiting for a Manufacturing Manager that will primarily lead the teams responsible for large scale cell culture, viral antigen manufacturing processing, and filling & lyophilization. This position will have oversight of both upstream and downstream processes associated with cell culture and roller bottle antigen production. This includes inactivation, concentration and adjuvanting processes, as well as oversight of the filling/lyophilization activities. The primary focus of the role is daily management of production activities including people development and performance management while achieving productivity targets within the scope of their organization. The area manager ensures all schedules are met while following all safety and standard operating procedures to meet company product quality standards.

Primary Responsibilities

• Supervision of facilities, equipment and personnel in assigned areas of Manufacturing, including coordination of additional labor, such as employees from other departments as needed

• Participation in daily activities to understand requirements and issues

• Review and revise processes and procedures against corporate and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance

• Review production records for completeness and compliance to departmental and/or site SOPs

• Provide training to personnel to stay current with all regulatory agencies and corporate policies

• Provide guidance to personnel to maximize throughput while meeting regulatory requirements

• Evaluate personnel and machinery requirements and make and/or implement recommendations for changes and improvements

• Provide effective solutions to projects with a high level of technical difficulties and internal constraints

• Coordinate with other manufacturing departments and planning personnel to maximize utilization of resources

• Coordinate resources between areas of production utilizing our tier process to meet scheduling needs

• Provide training, coordinate problem solving issues with third party

• Ensure proper safety procedures, standard operation procedures and aseptic techniques are followed

• Review current practices and ensure employees meet or exceed current procedures and techniques

• Coordinate Systems Applications and Products (SAP) and database entry and the movement of finished goods and in-process products between facilities, Including inventory movement and production key performance indicators

• Coordination with vendors to determine equipment options

• Assist in the procurement and installation of new equipment

• Other duties as assigned, such as scheduling equipment maintenance, various trouble shooting and contribute as needed on cross-functional teams

Safety & Quality Compliance

• Demonstrates a strong compliance mind-set (EHS, Quality and Finance) and continuously sets a high standard for themselves and their team. Ensure that all staff adhere to the Company Safety and Waste Management Policies

• Ensures safe operating instructions for all tasks and equipment are followed individually and by the team

• Ensures that the right tools and equipment specified for the task are available and utilized

• Ensures that the correct personal protective equipment required is available and utilized

• Follow up any reported defects or workplace hazards immediately

• Report all accidents, incidents and near misses within 24 hours and to participate in investigation and identification of effective corrective and preventative actions

• Supports on-time completion of Quality compliance tasks in relation to Deviation, CAPA and Change Control management

• Supports all aspects of Quality Assurance including cGMP, Right First Time and good documentation practices and provides coaching to the rest of their team

Productivity

• Accountable for the weekly and monthly schedule adherence of production activities within their department

• Contributes to creating a culture of continuous improvement and leads by example

• Sponsors effectives problem solving and ensures that resources are available

• Ensure visibility and communication of key productivity metrics with the teams

Financial

• Departmental budget for Spend, Transfers to Inventory (TTI), Discards and Headcount

• Recognizes and investigates opportunities for financial savings

Required Education, Experience and Skills:

• High school diploma or equivalent required. AS/BS in Life Sciences preferred.

• Five (5)+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing; vaccine and/or pharmaceutical industry.

• Two (2)+ years experience in a leadership capacity (supervisory or lead position).

• Working knowledge of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Guidelines.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

• Excellent Team building skills that focus on mentoring and coaching.

• High analytical and logical problem-solving abilities.

• Working knowledge of aseptic techniques and aseptic filling operations preferred.

• Previous experience with cell culture, viral antigen production and/or bacterial fermentation preferred.

• Previous experience of blending, filling and lyophilization, principles, and operating systems preferred.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Microsoft Excel.

• Proficiency with Quality Management Systems (Reliance, Trackwise, or similar).

• Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar) preferred.

#MSJR

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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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:

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as remote.

The salary range for this role is

$94,300.00 - $148,500.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employees position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

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 .

You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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 in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Aseptic Manufacturing, Cell Cultures, cGMP Compliance, Communication, Data Analysis, Driving Continuous Improvement, Employee Performance Standards, GMP Compliance, Human Resources Development, Interpersonal Relationships, Inventory Management, Mammalian Cell, Mammalian Cell Culture, Management Process, Manufacturing Quality Control, Occupational Health and Safety Management, Operational Excellence, Packaging Operations, People Leadership, Process Engineering, Process Improvements, Production Operations, Production Processes {+ 5 more}

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

06/17/2025

*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.