Business Excellence Lead (Director)

Job Description

Our site in Durham is seeking an experienced Business Excellence Lead (Director Level) to join our team. This role is pivotal in supporting and realizing our business objectives and a valued and trusted partners to our key stakeholders. If you are passionate about driving transformational change and have a strong background in operational excellence, we invite you to apply and be part of our dynamic team.

The Business Excellence Lead (Director) is an extended leadership role responsible for defining and executing the site’s strategy, driving operational excellence, and ensuring alignment across key functions to achieve business objectives. This individual partners closely with site leadership to lead continuous improvement initiatives, oversee critical projects and portfolios, and build organizational capability through effective training and development programs. With accountability for ensuring compliance, quality, and performance, the role plays a key part in enabling transformational change, improving efficiency, and delivering sustained operational success across the site.

Responsibilities

• Member of the Extended Site Leadership Team with responsibility for the MPS, PMO, L&D and University collaborations
• Lead the development of Site Strategy / Hoshin ensuring that the long-term business plan is aligned with the site mission, Operating Unit and our manufacturing division's Strategy
• Develop and deploy the site MPS strategy. Drive and be accountable for the implementation of the MPS Foundational Competencies Program at the Durham site
• Ensure that the site strategy and annual hoshin are governed and executed to deliver for the site and Operating Unit
• As part of the site PMO, manage portfolios of site initiatives and projects across the site and ensure that projects are visible to the key stakeholders on site and otherwise as appropriate
• Ensure that learning and development objectives are aligned with the business strategies
• Continuously examine and implement novel ways to deliver training across the site with a strong focus on compliance and improved user experience
• Leverage Strategy Realization Framework (Change Execution Management) and support upskilling of appropriate site resources to ensure successful strategy realization
• Ensure compliance with cGMP and other business compliance regulations
• Participate in and comply with our Manufacturing Division's Quality Management System (QMS) requirements, including ownership as relevant to you
• Participate and comply with EHS regulations & practices and allocate adequate resources, including instruction and training, for your function
• Participate in risk assessments, inspections, audits, incident investigations, etc., and ensure follow-up of related CAPA’s
• Be available to lead large, cross-functional initiatives, as the opportunities arise

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Science, Engineering.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry or a similar operating industry; OR MS + eight (8) years of required experience; OR PhD + five (5) years of required experience
• Knowledge of and experience in applying Six Sigma and Lean methodologies
• Hands-on application of lean tools and techniques: standardized work, scientific problem solving, value stream mapping, mistake proofing, SMED, 5S-Visual Factory, and capacity analysis
• Capability to interact and communicate with all levels of business leadership and operational teams
• Strong understanding of Learning Management system and industry best practices on Training & Qualification
• Strong business acumen and demonstrated capability for defining and implementing strategic initiatives
• Demonstrated leadership in Project Management and change execution management skills with continuous improvement focus
• Proven experience in coaching and teaching others to think, behave, and apply lean methods and tools
• Experience enabling and leveraging diverse perspectives, talents, etc. to achieve business outcomes
• Demonstrated ability in holding team members accountable for results and managing performance
• Strong ability to influence at all levels in the organization, demonstrating effective stakeholder management skills
• Proven ability to drive transformational change and be a strong leader & presence for operational excellence

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Benchmarking, Business Acumen, Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR), CAPA Management, Clinical Systems Implementation, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Data Analysis Tools, Decision Making, Electronic Value-Stream Mapping, GMP Training, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Innovation, IT Implementation, Lean Design, Lean Management, Lean Process Improvements, Learning and Development (L&D), Learning Management Systems (LMS), People Leadership, Poka-Yoke, Professional Integrity, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Quality Control Management {+ 8 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

The salary range for this role is

$173,200.00 - $272,600.00

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:

08/5/2026

*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.