Associate Vice President, Facilities

Job Description

The Facilities Management team delivers services that enrich our workplace and strengthen our organizational culture, while supporting the evolving needs of our business and stakeholders. We are committed to creating great workplace experience and maintaining reliable, safe, and compliant operations. Through the solutions and services we provide, we enable employees to innovate, collaborate, explore new ideas, and deliver impactful results.

Responsible for leading, directing, and coordinating all facilities and site support operations across Corporate Headquarters and Technical R&D sites. Scope includes accountable oversight of all site operations and amenities, including master planning, soft services, security operations, utility generation and distribution and related infrastructure, warehouse operations, wastewater and potable water systems, maintenance and repair, laboratory support services, and management of the Integrated Facilities Management partnership.

This role reports to the Vice President, Global Workplace and Enterprise Services (GWES) and has primary responsibility for a mixed union and non‑union workforce of approximately 250 employees and for overseeing an operating and capital budget in excess of $1.0B.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Accountable for the safe, efficient, and compliant management of Corporate & Divisional Headquarters and a portfolio of Technical R&D sites serving approximately 10,000 employees and contractors.

• Development and execution of a robust, strategic portfolio Master Planning program that integrates all divisions and aligns with the company’s strategic imperatives.

• Management of expense and capital budgets exceeding $1.0B, including development, forecasting, and oversight and execution of operational and capital plans.

• Utilize data analytics and AI to drive continuous process improvement, increased efficiencies of operational costs, outsourced services, and space utilization.

• Ensure safe, reliable facilities and infrastructure services that enable mission-critical discovery and development supporting global medical needs.

• Ensure effective management of and compliance with all applicable regulatory permits such as Title V (air), wastewater generation, storm water management, and all construction and township code requirements.

• Provide oversight, management of site utility / powerhouse operations, utilities generation/distribution, wastewater and potable water systems, and warehouse and logistics processes and operations.

• Deliver organizational performance aligned with safety and sustainability goals, GxP compliance requirements, and key performance indicators.

• Lead organizational technical problem-solving strategies to meet and align with business growth and stakeholder needs.

• Lead a large integrated workforce of approximately 250 employees, including unionized labor, managers, and professionals, and manage third-party supplier partners across all soft services, facilities maintenance contractors, and technical services (e.g., project engineering).

• Execute organizational strategy aligned with business needs and key stakeholders.

• Serve as a primary liaison to external communities, including township, county, and state entities.

Education Requirement:

• BS in Engineering or equivalent.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Experience: 15+ years in a multi-faceted operational environment.

• Strong people management, communications, change management and negotiating skills.

• Strong Enterprise leadership and business and financial acumen.

• Exhibits Growth mindset – networking, sharing, empowering, experimentation, learning, and enterprise focus.

• Knowledge of utilities - Chemical and/or biologics and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, significant business and technical expertise.

• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple and simultaneous assignments and quickly adapt to changes in business priorities.

• Program management skills with an understanding of strategic vision and significant attention to detail. Ability to both think critically as well as communicate effectively.

• Collaboration with Corporate, Division, plant and external community organizations/agencies regarding facility management & real estate operating and technology strategies.

• Strong advocate for Inclusion with aptitude for recruiting, retaining, and developing talent.

• Working knowledge of OSHA Industrial, NFPA standards, DOT, GXP and other regulatory agency requirements.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with External Partners, Agencies, Townships.

• Experience in dealing with agencies and management of external Supplier professionals.

• Lean, Six Sigma Black Belt/Green Belt certification or equal experience in application.

• Experience managing Union Labor bargaining agreements and negotiating principles.

Required Skills:

Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceuticals, Budget Management, Business Strategies, Change Management, Commercial Property Management, Communication, Communication Management, Continuous Process Improvement, Customer-Focused, Detail-Oriented, Employee Empowerment, Facility Maintenance, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Mentoring Staff, People Leadership, People Management, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Professional Networking, Program Management, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Right-Of-Way (ROW) Acquisitions, Risk Management, Security Strategy, Site Acquisitions {+ 2 more}

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

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

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

$255,800.00 - $402,700.00

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:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/3/2026

*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.