Director, Technical Operations, Small Molecule Drug Substance

MSD

Remote

Quick summary

Work type
Remote
Location
Remote
Salary
$173,200–$272,600 / yr
Posted
3 days ago
Closes
Jul 20, 2026

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $209k
This role $223k
$158k most similar roles pay here $285k

This role pays more than 60% of similar roles. Most pay $170,000–$248,025 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $223k versus about $209k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About MSD

MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) is the international name for Merck & Co., a major U.S.-based pharmaceutical company.

MSD currently has 21 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $129,000–$203,100 across 21 roles with salary data.

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View all roles at MSD

At a glance

TL;DR · Director, Technical Operations, Small Molecule Drug Substance

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The Director and Technical Operations Leader role is a senior position within an agile small molecule manufacturing site, focusing on bringing important medicines to patients in the U.S. This leader will oversee technical operations with deep expertise in drug substance manufacturing processes, equipment, validation, and troubleshooting, ensuring compliance and operational excellence. Responsibilities include leading cross-functional teams across Science and Technology, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Regulatory functions, driving right-first-time execution, and supporting deviation reduction and CAPA effectiveness. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's Degree in Science or Engineering, 10+ years of experience in small molecule drug substance process development and manufacturing technical operations, and strong knowledge of GMP, ICH guidelines, and Quality Systems. Key skills include business process improvements, operational risk management, innovation, and transformational leadership, with the ability to manage complex investigations and drive organizational change.

Skills

GMP ICH Guidelines Process Safety Quality Systems Decision Making Cross-Functional Leadership Change Management Operational Excellence Stakeholder Communications Strategic Thinking Succession Planning Technical Issues Technology Transfer Transformational Leadership Business Process Improvements Capital Management Chemical Process Development Manufacturing Scale-Up Operation Risk Management Process Improvements Risk Assessments

What you'll do

  • Leads technical operations for small molecule drug substance manufacturing, ensuring robust processes and equipment.
  • Manages product introductions and technology transfers to ensure on-time, right-first-time execution at the site level.
  • Solves complex technical issues and supports regulatory compliance through strong GMP and data integrity practices.
  • Monitors commercial performance trends to drive preventive actions and continuous improvement in operations.
  • Builds a culture of safety, scientific rigor, and continuous improvement within Technical Operations teams.

What we're looking for

  • Deep expertise in small molecule drug substance manufacturing operations.
  • Proven track record in new product introduction and technology transfer.
  • Strong GMP, ICH guidelines, process safety, and quality system knowledge.
  • Extensive experience leading complex investigations and driving organizational transformation.
  • Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influence skills.
  • Ability to build and lead teams for technical and operational excellence.

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