Job Description
We have an excellent opportunity for aSupply Chain Lead (Director level)at our Ballydine site. Ballydine site is a small molecule commercialisation site with responsibility for commercialisation of the small molecule pipeline in the API Chemical Synthesis, Spray Dried Intermediate and Oral solid Dose modalities. This role will lead the site supply chain organisation and partner across site manufacturing, quality, procurement, logistics, planning, and technical functions. As a commercialisation site, this role will actively collaborate with global supply chain networks, value chain mgmt. and commercialisation teams to ensure agile, reliable, compliant and efficient supply of both inline and pipeline products helping to advance our company’s pipeline through the commercialisation lifecycle delivering upon the divisional expectations for receiving unit readiness and launch readiness.
Ballydine is the primary Drug Substance commercialisation hub within the network, where new processes are scaled and transitioned to commercial manufacture. The site supports clinical and commercial API supply and the transfer of processes and technologies across internal manufacturing sites and external partners. The role is integral to ensure reliable current product supply while building the supply chain capability required for future product introductions, site growth, and long-term business priorities.
Role Profile
- Lead the Ballydine supply chain organisation, including supply and capacity planning, logistics, warehouse operations, procurement interfaces, materials management and related supply chain processes.
- Provide leadership, coaching, development, and strategic direction for the site supply chain team, building capability and bench strength to support execution excellence in both inline and pipeline space.
- Act as a site leadership team member contributing to site strategy, long-term business planning and alignment across site priorities, Manufacturing Division requirements, market/customer needs and enterprise supply objectives.
- Drive supply chain excellence mindset for inline product supply using data to improve supply key performance indicators enabling continuity of market supply, without drama.
- Lead site supply chain readiness for pipeline products, including new product introductions, technical transfers, process validation supply needs, launch planning and commercialisation readiness.
- Partner with technical, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, planning, procurement and value chain teams to ensure pipeline products have clear supply plans, material strategies, capacity assumptions, logistics pathways and inventory policies.
- Own and lead site capacity planning processes, supply risk mgmt. process and business continuity planning to ensure alignment with Manufacturing Division capacity planning models, product supply plans, technical transfers, pipeline progression and inline commercial commitments.
- Provide financial stewardship through annual operating plan input, inventory management, budget planning and control, and balanced management of raw material and inventory risks and opportunities.
- Identify and manage supply chain risks across materials, suppliers, planning assumptions, logistics flows, capacity constraints, pipeline demand uncertainty and inline product commitments; partner with support areas to develop and execute mitigation plans.
- Partner with planning, procurement, logistics and external supply networks to share best practices, benchmark performance, identify gaps and deliver improvements in Sales Operations Planning, capacity planning, forecasting, vendor management, distribution and logistics.
- Ensure supplier review processes, supplier performance governance and Supplier Continuous Improvement Program key element assessment processes are in place and effective, with initiatives to drive reliability, efficiency and cost reduction in the vendor base.
- Participate in and comply with Manufacturing Division Quality Management System requirements, including ownership in relevant supply chain areas and support for inspection readiness, data integrity and product quality.
- Accountable for the site Operational excellence team charged with sustainable deployment of Lean / Six Sigma methodologies to drive improved site supply performance.
- Accountable for Site Learning and development team charged with transformation of learning approaches to drive improvement in time to competency and confidence.
Preferred Qualification and Experience
- Strong people and strategic leadership capability with a proven ability to coach, develop and lead teams.
- Strategic thinker with an enterprise mindset who demonstrates through words and actions a strong partnership across site, network and global functions.
- Role model for company values and behaviours, with a demonstrated commitment to inclusion, collaboration and respectful challenge.
- Innovative thinker with strong coaching, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Leads with energy, enthusiasm, resilience and an operational excellence mindset.
- Proven track record of delivering performance against a balanced scorecard through people development, prioritisation and disciplined execution.
- Capability to interact and communicate with all levels of business leadership and operational teams.
Technical
- Strong understanding of end-to-end supply chain management in a pharmaceutical, or similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated leadership in change management skills with a continuous improvement / lessons learned focus.
- Solid business acumen with strong analytical, financial and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated experience with capacity planning, Sales Operations Planning, forecasting, inventory management, supplier management, procurement interfaces, logistics and warehouse operations.
- Demonstrated capability in balancing competing needs for both inline and pipeline delivery.
- Strong demonstrated experience in applying Operational Excellence methodologies, including MPS, Six Sigma and Lean.
- Knowledge of internal and external regulations and applicable quality / business systems.
- Familiarity with SAP or equivalent enterprise planning and supply chain systems.
Your profile
- Degree qualification in Supply Chain, Science, Engineering, Business or a related discipline; or equivalent relevant experience.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in supply chain, operations management, manufacturing, technical operations or a related role in the pharmaceutical industry or a similarly regulated operating environment.
- Demonstrated people leadership with experience as a leader of leaders.
- Experience working across site, regional and global supply chain networks is preferred.
This role is onsite and hybrid working is not available.
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. We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing talented and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when ideas come together in an inclusive environment.
So, if you are ready to:
Invent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs, Impact the future by driving one of the world’s leading healthcare companies, and inspire your team to reach their full potential and push the boundaries of science and technology, please apply today.
Required Skills:
Change Management, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Customer-Focused, Driving Continuous Improvement, Inventory Management, Lean Six Sigma Process Improvement, Logistics Management, Materials Management, Operational Excellence, People Leadership, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Production Scheduling, Regulatory Compliance, Strategic Planning
Preferred Skills:
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Current Contingent Workers applyHERE
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:
08/21/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the dayBEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the dayBEFORE the job posting end date.
Requisition ID: R407720
