Associate Director, Project Engineering

Job Description

The Elkton Capital Management Lead is responsible for providing project, engineering, and operations support to the various facilities at our Elkton, VA site. Responsible for the overall management of the portfolio of capital projects to ensure effective project (cost and schedule) delivery that is aligned with the annual and long range capital plan. Will oversee all project review processes & requirements, work within a direct & indirect network of project leaders and ensure compliance with all capital spending expectations of the organization.

Responsibilities Include:

• Serve as primary EPIC administrator: manage users, access controls, system updates, and user training/materials.

• Enforce data governance and naming conventions to ensure consistent, accurate, and auditable portfolio entries.

• Produce and maintain standardized reports and dashboards (weekly/monthly/quarterly), including spend actuals vs. forecast and variance analysis.

• Lead long-range capital planning (LRCP): consolidate multi-year plans, run scenario models, and coordinate with finance for capex forecasting.

• Prepare and package projects for Capital Review Committee (CRC) reviews; ensure data integrity, documentation completeness, and on-time reporting.

• Drive portfolio governance and continuous improvement: implement stage-gates, monitor compliance, and lead cross-functional process enhancements.

• Responsible for development and management of the Area operating budget as defined with the profit plan. Accountable for meeting the operating budget and continuously reducing cost. Ensure members of the Area have business acumen and understand how they may impact business finances.

• Responsible for preparation of Elkton related capital projects information to support the review at Elkton SPR, Elkton ORM & GVO Capital Review meetings.

• Drive accountability for project cost and schedule to all CRC managed projects.

• First path review of all CRC project submissions. This review ensures that the capital project aligns with business strategy prior to submitting for leadership approval. Challenge the project cost to ensure we reduce unnecessary capital expenditures.

• Elkton Capital Project Portfolio Management

• Collaborate closely with COE and IPT leaders to implement the organization's strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with the company's overall objectives and the overall our Manufacturing Division strategy.

• Oversees and is accountable for the management, oversight, and successfully delivery of select programs and key initiatives.

• Provide periodic update to the Plant Manager, Site Leadership Team, and others involved with the Capital Portfolio and Long Range Master Plan.

• Provides input into the site master plan and drive critical projects to CRC touchpoints to ensure business strategy is met.

• Supports, executes, and/or leads process, equipment, and facility projects for various manufacturing and support organizations.

• Supports, executes, and/or leads continuous improvement projects that increase compliance, simplify/standardize and/or gain efficiencies.

• Manages project timelines to ensure key compliance and customer due dates are met; escalates any potential delays and develop remediation plans when possible.

• Partners with other sites, divisions, and organizations to evaluate and execute innovative solutions within vaccine manufacturing.

Project & Team Management:

• Manages large or multiple small projects with moderate resource requirements, risk and/or complexity. Develops capital plan for End to End and manages portfolio

• Forecasts, plans and monitors costs and headcount requirements for moderately sized projects and/or service level agreements for country/divisional vendors

• Ensure all necessary capital system and approvals are completed in timely manner to support compliant financial transactions (SAP, Ariba, etc…)

• Provides direction, coaching, development and performance management of direct report employees (and external contractors as applicable) to support necessary activities of the Capital Portfolio.

• Responsible for creating and sustaining a highly engaged workforce through utilization of our company's Leadership Behaviors and Inclusion. Provide coaching on professional development and career paths. Provide timely feedback and performance evaluations for direct reports after obtaining the relevant input and evaluation. Provide feedback and input on performance evaluations for indirect staff.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum eight (8) years’ post-bachelor’s degree experience in an Operations, Technical Operations, Technology, Engineering, and/or Maintenance role.

• Project management for capital projects of varying complexity Highly developed communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. Ability to manage projects/work to schedule/deadlines.

• Proficient in the following competencies: empowering leadership, flexibility, motivation, teamwork/collaboration, problem-solving, communication, and computer skills.

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Engineering or another technical field.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Prior experience in Engineering, Technology, Technical Operations or Operations.

• Project Management experience.

• Technically deep understanding of mechanical, electrical/instrumentation, and automation functionality.

• Demonstrated competency in People Management, including talent and career development.

• Experience in change control, facility/equipment support, or project management role.

• Experience utilizing various procurement and capital planning tools such as SAP, Ariba, and CAP APP.

Required Skills:

Business Acumen, Business Strategies, Capital Planning, Capital Projects, cGMP Compliance, Cost Reduction, Data Integrity, Detail-Oriented, Engineering Design, Engineering Standards, Leadership Initiatives, Maintenance Management, People Management, Project Engineering, Project Management, Reliability Engineering, SAP Ariba, Site Remediation, Teamwork

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:

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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 salary range for this role is

$142,400.00 - $224,100.00

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:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

07/2/2026

*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.