**Job Description** **Join Us in Shaping the Future of Animal Health** Our Animal Health division is investing **$895 million** in expanding our **manufacturing and research & development facilities in De Soto, Kansas** — the state’s largest economic development project to date. As a **US Regional Project Quality Lead** you will be part of a world-class team at our Center of Excellence in the Animal Health Corridor, contributing directly to the production of veterinary products that improve animal health and welfare globally. **Key Responsibilities** + Acts as the QA/QC lead in establishing the quality assurance, quality control and compliance foundation in future project operations. Represents Quality within the project team and ensures guidance and support are provided in all aspects of the project’s future operations, including identification, design, development and implementation of the Quality and Compliance processes and systems. + Provides coaching and upskilling to local cross functional team members on Quality and Compliance aspects of commissioning and qualification activities. + Coordination, oversight and full support of all local qualification and validation activities. + Point of contact for document preparation, and review, and/or questions regarding qualification activities. + Supports preparation of training programs as required. + Supports the strategy and design of qualification/validation methodologies, together with the project’s cross functional team. + Ensures milestone delivery and prioritization of key phases of facility and equipment qualification and validation. + Designs and implements appropriate measures to track adherence to established timelines, and project performance standards; ensuring realization of project goals through post-project execution follow-up mechanisms. + The position is based at the DeSoto, KS site, and may require traveling to other AH sites, up to 25% of the time. **Job Requirements** + Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biology or Veterinary or related scientific discipline + Minimum 7+ years’ experience in a leadership role within the Pharmaceutical Industry with Large Molecule/ biologics manufacturing, including site-based manufacturing or Quality + Proven knowledge and understanding of USDA GMP regulations, guidelines and expectations in their application in daily operations. + Broader understanding of complex (Animal Health) Quality Operations + Proven analytical and problem-solving skills + Strong communication and influencing abilities + Proven ability to manage complex capital projects including commissioning, qualification and validation + Strong ability to initiate and drive change within complex organizations + Learning ability: autodidactive, actively learning new concepts, applying in practice and training others + Task-oriented leadership connects to strategy, leads complex multidisciplinary (global) projects and programs and has the ability to drive project sponsorship and gain support and resources. + Relationship building to peers (including global functions) and senior management. + Focus on results: drives results based on strategy and customer needs. + Self-reflection: is actively looking for feedback and translates this to personal development actions. + A self-motivated, self-sufficient, inclusive leader **What We’re Looking For** We seek individuals who: + Demonstrate **execution excellence** through effective problem-solving and critical thinking. + Embrace an **entrepreneurial mindset** , taking initiative and ownership of their work. + Adapt with agility and resilience in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. + Uphold a **safety-first mindset** , ensuring the well-being of themselves and their colleagues. **Why Join Us?** + Be part of a transformative investment that will shape the future of animal health. + Work in a region renowned for its skilled workforce, strategic location, and robust infrastructure. + Contribute to cutting-edge research and manufacturing of large-molecule vaccines and biologic products. + Help us meet growing global demand for our portfolio of animal health solutions Current Employees apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$6687.htmld) Current Contingent Workers apply HERE (https://wd5.myworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$4020.htmld) **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 (https://survey.sogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL) 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 (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRights\_10\_20.pdf) 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 (https://www.msdprivacy.com/us/en/CCPA-notice/) **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 $153,800.00 - $242,200.00 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 employee’s 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 https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits . You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (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:** 25% **Flexible Work Arrangements:** Not Applicable **Shift:** Not Indicated **Valid Driving License:** Yes **Hazardous Material(s):** n/a **Required Skills:** Commissioning, Communication, Decision Making, Design, Execution Excellence, Executive Influence, GMP Validation, Leadership, Manufacturing, People Management, Pharmaceutical Industry, Problem Solving, Quality Compliance, Quality Operations, Regulatory Inspections, Site Qualification, USDA Regulations **Preferred Skills:** **Job Posting End Date:** 09/18/2025 ***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.** **Requisition ID:** R345081