Project Leader

**Job Description**:
**Project Leader Bioprocess Technology Solutions**
- We are looking for an expert in either viral antigen production, bacterial antigen production (Upstream and Downstream processing) or vaccine manufacturing. You are recognized as a technical expert and scientific contributor._

For our Animal Health location in Cologne, we are currently recruiting a **Project Leader Bioprocess Technology Solutions (M/F/d)**

**Welcome in our team**

The global Bioprocess Technology Solutions (BTS) team (~230 employees) drives and executes Bioprocess technology excellence in close alignment with their partners in R&D and Manufacturing in order to ensure robust product introductions, product transfers and a reliable product supply to customers. BTS has considerable expertise in viral cell culture, bacterial fermentation, downstream processing, purification, freeze drying and vaccine formulation. They are responsible for seed development, new product process development, validation/qualification and commercialization of our animal health large vaccine pipeline. Our global Product Development Team (~75 employees) provides process development, and process improvement of the Large Molecule (LM) vaccine portfolio covering the discovery, pre-development and development phase as well as transfer from R&D to Manufacturing.

**Tasks and responsibilities**

Reporting into the Product Development Europe team (based in Boxmeer), you are responsible for directing (part of) the LM process development of the R&D vaccine portfolio for all species in Europe. Projects have moderate to high complexity and are covering the discovery, pre-development, development phase, transfer, regulatory, launch and post-launch phase. This role requires close collaboration with BTS, ATS, Quality departments and Manufacturing at different LM sites, R&D species teams, Discovery & Technology, Regulatory Affairs, Procurement, Global Supply Chain and Network Strategy.

**Main tasks and responsibilities**
- Managing BTS projects of moderate to high complexity and overseeing project budgets from an end-to-end perspective;
- Leading the team to prioritize project work based on analysis of strategic importance, tasks, outstanding, obstacles, barriers and deadlines;
- Coaching, training and raising level of new talents for strategic positions within R&D, BTS, regional teams and production;
- Communicating and exchanging of know-how between global BTS departments and between Global R&D and Manufacturing to benefit from synergies and optimize utilization of knowledge and technology;
- Following external developments / trends in vaccine process development on specific focus areas.
- Performing project related literature searches and publishes and presents technical papers to internal and external audiences.
- Operational responsibility for development of (improved) processes on one or a couple of focus areas such as upstream, downstream, Vaccine Manufacturing, IPC, FPC, media, bacteriological, viral, monoclonal, expression system) and involved in resolving manufacturing and supply issues of our vaccine portfolio according to the needs of Manufacturing;
- Is open for general tasks with the organization related to lab coordination and global events;
- Recommending new areas of technology research and development;
- Managing interns and students, with universities (bachelor/master’s degree);
- Consultant of GSC management, business development and legal on their expertise.

**Your profile**
- Master’s degree in Technology / Engineering;
- Experience in leading and developing a science & technology orientated team in a complex (Bio)pharmaceutical environment; several years of work experience is required;
- Proven track record of managing multidisciplinary project portfolios in the areas of development / commercialization / tech transfer / supply of products;
- Experience with interacting on a global level;
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work independently and make decisions in a constantly changing environment;
- Understanding of Regulatory/compliance requirements;
- Excellent command of the German and English language;
- Living within reasonable distance from Cologne.

**Who we are**

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.

**What we look for**

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration wi