Manufacturing Operations Director - Carlow

Job Description

About the Role and Site

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Operations Director to lead a strategically important, high-potency, multi-product manufacturing facility at our Carlow site.

Leading a team of approximately 50 people, you will have responsibility for a growing sterile drug product operation supporting new products and significant upcoming commercial and regulatory milestones. This is a high-impact leadership role offering significant autonomy to shape how the operation develops, drive operational and technical excellence, and build a high-performing team within a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Bring energy, knowledge, and innovation to carry out the following:

• Lead a large, cross-functional manufacturing organisation, driving performance across safety, quality, delivery and people priorities
• Lead the successful introduction and commercialisation of multiple new products within a sterile manufacturing environment
• Drive operational and technical excellence, ensuring robust and reliable manufacturing performance
• Lead regulatory and inspection readiness activities across the manufacturing organisation
• Develop and execute integrated plans to deliver key product, manufacturing and regulatory milestones
• Identify and mitigate operational, technical and quality risks, ensuring timely decision-making and escalation
• Drive continuous improvement across the high-potency manufacturing operation, challenging established ways of working and improving efficiency
• Provide strategic direction and ensure strong alignment across Operations, Quality, Engineering and Technical teams
• Build, coach and develop a high-performing team, creating a culture of accountability, agility and continuous improvement

What Skills You Will Need

• Significant leadership experience within sterile drug product manufacturing operations
• Strong operational leadership experience with responsibility for sizeable manufacturing teams or technical teams
• Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing organisations through regulatory inspections and major regulatory milestones
• Experience supporting new product introduction, commercialisation and operational readiness
• Strong technical understanding of sterile manufacturing operations and associated manufacturing processes
• Proven ability to lead through change, challenge established ways of working and improve operational performance
• Strong risk management, problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Ability to influence and communicate effectively across senior, cross-functional and technical stakeholders
• Agile and flexible leadership style with a strong focus on people development and building high-performing teams
• Degree in Science, Engineering or a related technical discipline

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Business Agility, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Quality Control, People Leadership, Process Optimization, Production Scheduling, Regulatory Compliance, Results-Oriented, Sterile Manufacturing, Strategic Planning, Talent Development, Vaccine Manufacturing

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Secondary Language(s) Job Description:

We keep the patient at the very heart of all that we do and strive to find solutions and treatments for some of the world's most challenging healthcare needs.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together.

Please don't hesitate to contact the Talent Acquisition Advisor assigned to this role should you need any support during our recruitment process.

We are committed to flexible working where possible, and this is why our Company has introduced a new hybrid working model for office-based colleagues around the world.

Please feel free to speak to us about what flexibility means to you during your application.

So, if you are ready to:

Invent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs, please apply today.

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

11/16/2026

*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.