1

External Manufacturing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

External Manufacturing Operations Associate Director (Ops AD), in partnership with the respective functional representatives, is responsible for ensuring the reliable supply of quality products at ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

External Manufacturing information

See salary details

$9

$18

$27

How much do external manufacturing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for external manufacturing in the United States is $18.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.14 and $20.91 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in External Manufacturing, and why are they important?

To thrive in External Manufacturing, you need strong project management skills, a solid understanding of manufacturing processes, and often a degree in engineering, supply chain, or a related field. Familiarity with ERP systems, quality management tools, and regulatory compliance standards is commonly required. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building abilities help professionals effectively coordinate with external partners and internal teams. These skills are crucial for ensuring product quality, on-time delivery, and successful collaboration with third-party manufacturers.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in External Manufacturing roles, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in External Manufacturing often encounter challenges related to managing supplier relationships, ensuring product quality, and coordinating timelines across multiple partners. Navigating different time zones, regulatory requirements, and production capabilities can create complexity. Proactive communication, clear documentation, and regular audits are essential strategies for addressing these challenges and maintaining smooth operations. Building strong partnerships with external vendors also helps in mitigating risks and supporting continuous improvement.

What is external manufacturing?

External manufacturing refers to the practice of outsourcing the production of goods or components to third-party manufacturers rather than producing them in-house. Companies use external manufacturing to access specialized expertise, reduce costs, scale production efficiently, or focus on core competencies. It is common in industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, and consumer goods. Effective management of external manufacturing partners is crucial to ensure product quality, compliance, and timely delivery.

What is the difference between External Manufacturing vs Contract Manufacturing?

AspectExternal ManufacturingContract Manufacturing
DefinitionOutsourcing production to a third-party company to produce goods on behalf of a brand or company.Engaging a third-party manufacturer to produce specific products or components under a contractual agreement.
FocusOverall production process management and supply chainSpecific product or component manufacturing
RelationshipTypically ongoing partnership with multiple projectsProject-based or short-term agreement
Common CredentialsManufacturing certifications, quality standardsManufacturing certifications, quality standards

External Manufacturing and Contract Manufacturing both involve outsourcing production to third parties, but External Manufacturing generally refers to managing the entire manufacturing process, while Contract Manufacturing focuses on producing specific products or components under contractual terms. Understanding these differences helps companies choose the right outsourcing strategy for their production needs.

More about External Manufacturing jobs
What cities are hiring for External Manufacturing jobs? Cities with the most External Manufacturing job openings:
What states have the most External Manufacturing jobs? States with the most job openings for External Manufacturing jobs include:
Infographic showing various External Manufacturing job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,403 per year, or $18.5 per hour.
Associate Director, External Manufacturing

Associate Director, External Manufacturing

MSD

Lansdale, PA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Job Description

The Global Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) at our company is excited to invite passionate individuals to join our dynamic team!

GPO is a diverse global organization committed to bringing a compliant, reliable supply of life-saving and affordable medicines to patients around the world. Our organization is responsible for the manufacturing and supply of all pharmaceutical products, packaging of the entire Human Health portfolio and commercialization of the small molecule new product pipeline. GPO manages a wide range of products serving communities in more than 175 markets around the globe with more than 7 billion doses of vital medicine distributed each year. Collaborating with other operating units and functions, GPO's commitment to enhancing the patient experience and improving access to life-saving treatments is achieved through a network of internal and external sites that support the enterprise and division's strategic priorities.

Our company's Small Molecule External Manufacturing organization is responsible for management of third party manufactures of our Company's products across drug substance, drug product and packaging operations. The organization helps launch and supply our critical medicines and vaccines around the world. The role of the Integrated Launch Excellence (ILE) platform within the organization is focused on the introduction/demonstration/validation of new products at EPs.

External Manufacturing Operations Associate Director (Ops AD), in partnership with the respective functional representatives, is responsible for ensuring the reliable supply of quality products at competitive costs from external manufacturing partners (EPs) and to integrating these EP into our company's supply chain appropriately and is the owner and primary point of contact for all interactions between our Manufacturing Division and EPs.

The successful candidate is responsible to establish boundaries and ground rules for engagement with the EPs, while ensuring compliance/quality readiness of these suppliers at all times through the implementation of risk assessments and frequent walkthroughs. The number of EPs an Ops AD is accountable for will depend upon factors such as: product type, size and/or complexity of supply agreement, geography, etc.; however will typically manage relationships that are highly complex in nature and of strategic importance.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Dispute resolution with appropriate escalation

  • Balancing our company's delivery requirements with contract manufacturer's production plan. Materials Management (ERP transactions, Logistics)

  • Oversight of shop floor production (determining when an ExM functional rep should be deployed to the contract manufacturer's facility)

  • Continuous Improvement activities

  • Partners with Procurement in the Identification/Selection of new contract manufacturers and Negotiation/Termination of Supply Agreements, as required

  • Facilitates the collection of contract manufacturer's capacity information (e.g. stated capacity, firm capacity, future capacity plans, time horizon/lead times required, comments/concerns, etc.), presents the information to Supply Chain Management and drives recommendations for capacity expansion at contract manufacturers, as required

  • Ensuring alignment of the Supply and Quality agreements

  • Executing ERP transactions associated with receipt and movement of company owned inventory, book-to-physical reconciling of company owned inventory at contract manufacturers, and documenting and witnessing destruction of company owned inventory

  • Ensuring contract terms agreed upon by our company and the contract manufacturer including, but not limited to, purchase orders, forecasts, deliveries, and invoice payments are executed in compliance with the Supply Agreement

  • Partners with the ExM Company Production System experts and other functionalities supporting ExM (e.g. technical, quality, procurement, etc.) to identify continuous improvement opportunities at contract manufacturers and supports

  • Project management support to the DP NA regional team, and to ensure a greater coordination of ongoing projects within the region

  • This position will require travel up to 50%

Education Minimum Requirement

  • Bachelor degree minimum in the Engineering, Medical, Science, Business, or related areas of study

Required Experience and Skills

  • No less than eight (8) years combined experiences in commercial/business and manufacturing (operations, project management, or quality, technology, supply chain etc.) function in pharmaceutical, chemical or related industry required (or equivalent combination of education/experience)

  • Knowledge of Drug Substance manufacturing, including common unit operations and shop floor activities.

  • Must possess excellent interpersonal, communication, project management, collaboration, negotiation, analytical and influencing skills

  • Has demonstrated strong leadership in a teamwork environment and with strong team coordination abilities

  • Cultural awareness and sensitivities

  • Fluency in English both verbal and written

Preferred Experience and Skills

  • Recent ExM Operations or site operations

  • Conversant on domestic and foreign regulations and compendia governing manufacturing operations

  • Lean project implementation

  • Strong influencing skills demonstrated at various levelsThe Ops AD is the owner and primary point of contact for all interactions between our Manufacturing Division and the assigned EPs. S/he is responsible to establish boundaries and ground rules for engagement with the EPs. This role will support management of critical site(s) in the U.S. for the Integrated Launch Excellence team. The number of sites an Ops AD is accountable for will depend upon factors such as: product type, size and/or complexity of supply agreement, geography, etc.."

Required Skills:

Adaptability, API Manufacturing, Business Management, Contract Management, Cultural Awareness, Decision Making, Interpersonal Relationships, Inventory Management, Invoice Processing, Operational Strategies, Process Improvements, Procurement, Production Scheduling, Project Coordination, Project Management, Project Manufacturing, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Assessments, Safety Management, Supply Change Management, Team Leadership, Teamwork, Vendor Management

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

$129,000.00 - $203,100.00

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:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

25%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Remote

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

06/11/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.