Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance

Job Description

The Senior Specialist, Quality Assurance BDQR is responsible for providing Quality oversight and technical support for analytical and process development activities supporting large molecule programs, while ensuring compliance with cGMPs, applicable worldwide regulations, and our Company requirements for supported area(s). The Senior Specialist applies a strong Quality mindset, partners with stakeholders, and supports compliant execution and decision-making across routine operations and quality events.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide Quality oversight and execute GMP/GxP quality assurance activities supporting manufacturing and testing operations, including material and batch documentation review and batch disposition.
• Provide Quality oversight of an evolving biologics clinical space by identifying potential compliance risks, escalating issues as appropriate, and helping ensure compliant execution in fast-paced operational areas.
• Support operational readiness by partnering cross-functionally to enable compliant start-up and execution of GMP activities.
• Apply a quality-by-design mindset by supporting appropriate use of quality systems, procedures, and documentation controls through planning, execution, and routine operations.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with key stakeholders to provide Quality guidance, support timely decision-making, and contribute to oversight of quality events, including deviations, change controls, CAPA, and audit support.
• Contribute to a culture of compliance and continuous improvement by supporting training expectations, audit readiness, and quality performance monitoring/metrics.
• Remain informed of current GMP requirements and industry trends in the large molecule, analytical, and manufacturing areas to applicable worldwide regulations and industry standards. Maintain a proficient level of knowledge related to areas of technical expertise.
• Ensure departmental SOPs reflect departmental procedures and the current regulations. Responsible for oversight of SOPs in supported areas and ensuring periodic updates, as appropriate.
• Manage the review and/or approval of analytical and process GMP documentation for applicable regulatory filings, clinical supply, development, and technology transfer.
• Act as Quality representative for internal or external manufacturing and testing of programs. Duties include compliance oversight of program-related activities, batch record review and approval, deviation and/or out-of-specification approval.
• Represent the department or area on project teams establishing quality standards, policies or expectations within our Company.
• Manage the clinical release or re-evaluation dating to ensure conformance to appropriate worldwide regulatory requirements.
• Provide quality oversight deliverables for large molecule drug substance analytical development and testing & release of clinical material.
• Review and approve analytical and manufacturing documents.
• Contribute to establishment and sustainability of a safety first, compliance always culture.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or related discipline

Required Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology industry role(s) with a BS, or 3+ years with an advanced degree.
• Experience in Biologics Quality, Biologics Manufacturing, and/or related functions at pilot and/or commercial scale.
• Strong knowledge and application of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP).
• Strong compliance knowledge and understanding of health authority regulations, and interpretation and application of GMPs within an R&D environment (i.e., apply the GMP Continuum).
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and priorities to meet deliverables and timelines.
• Interpersonal skills in verbal and written communications, collaboration, teamwork, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with quality risk management.
• Experience supporting cross-functional teams and contributing to problem-solving situations.
• Strong knowledge of biologics manufacturing processes, biologics analytical method validation and testing, and regulatory requirements.
• Technical knowledge or proficiency in one or more elements of: GMP cleanroom facilities, electronic batch records, data integrity, SAP, automation, GMP operations in various product modalities or associated technologies.
• Ability to identify, assess, and support resolution of complex problems in a timely and efficient manner.
• Experience in facility start-up and GMP Operational Readiness or clinical supply areas and processes.

#eligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Audits Compliance, CAPA Management, Deviation Management, GMP Auditing, Manufacturing Processes, Operational Compliance, Operational Quality, Quality Assurance Processes, Quality Assurance Systems, Quality Risk Management

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

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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

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$106,200.00 - $167,200.00

This range reflects the Company's reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of 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.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

10/20/2026

*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.