Director, Site Communications – U.S., Human Health Manufacturing

The Director, Site Communications – U.S., Human Health Manufacturing is responsible for leading strategic communications for all of our Company’s Human Health manufacturing sites in the United States, including manufacturing sites in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia and Delaware. These sites play a critical role in supplying pharmaceuticals, vaccines and biologics to patients globally.

This role will develop and execute communications strategies that support site and network business objectives, drive employee engagement, enable effective change, and build and protect the reputation of our Manufacturing Division with employees, local communities, and external stakeholders. The Director will partner closely with the U.S. Director for Site Communications, Operating Unit Leaders, the Executive Director, our Manufacturing Division's Communications and in-country communications/corporate affairs colleagues, to ensure communications are locally relevant and aligned to global Manufacturing Division priorities.

 This Director is a strategic advisor to the Site Leadership Teams (SLTs) and works closely with Plant Managers (PMs) and cross‑functional program leads to ensure communications are fully integrated into project governance and delivery.

• →Lead a team of four U.S. HH site communicators who support communications at all HH manufacturing sites throughout the United States, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia and Delaware.
• →Lead high visibility, sensitive communications (e.g., workforce restructurings, environmental or safety incidents, regulatory enforcement) and collaborate with our Manufacturing Division's senior leaders, corporate affairs and legal.
• →Work closely with the U.S. and Asia Site Communicators to ensure global alignment across all HH sites and the maximization of resources to capitalize on efficiencies and standardize best practices – align with Animal Health when applicable
• →Develop integrated communications strategies and plans for the U.S. Human Health manufacturing sites that:
  • →Reflect diverse markets, cultures, languages and regulatory environments.
  • →Support business priorities in operational excellence, quality, safety, talent and transformation.
  • →Align with Manufacturing Division and Human Health strategies.
• →Lead end-to-end communications that help employees across U.S. sites understand the Manufacturing Division strategy, performance, and priorities, and that foster a strong culture of safety, quality, compliance, and inclusion.
• →Partner with HR, Operations, EHS, Quality and local communications/corporate affairs teams to:
  • →Support change management initiatives, organizational design changes and network transformations.
  • →Communicate around talent, capability-building, and engagement efforts.
  • →Enhance leadership visibility and two-way communication between leadership and employees.
• →Coordinate and, where appropriate, lead external communications for U.S. Human Health manufacturing sites, in close partnership with corporate affairs, including:
  • →Local and regional media engagement and inquiries related to the sites.
  • →Community, government and stakeholder relations, including engagement with local authorities, NGOs and business associations.
  • →Communications support for major announcements (investments, expansions, employment, sustainability initiatives, etc.).
• →Lead issues management and crisis communications support for U.S. manufacturing sites:
  • →Develop and maintain localized crisis communications plans and scenarios.
  • →Prepare and adapt messaging, Q&As and materials for local languages and stakeholders.
  • →Coordinate response with the Executive Director, global crisis teams, and local communications leads during incidents or business disruptions.
• →Support communications related to regulatory inspections and approvals, major capital projects, technology transfers, new product introductions and other critical milestones across U.S. sites.
• →Ensure communications fully comply with global company standards and local legal, regulatory and industry requirements, working closely with Legal, Compliance, Quality and in-country communications teams.
• →Develop and tailor content for U.S. audiences (leader messages, intranet content, presentations, videos, talking points, FAQs, etc.), ensuring clarity, cultural relevance and consistency with global Manufacturing Division messages.
• →Build and help lead a community of practice across U.S. site communicators and relevant partners, sharing best practices, tools and guidance to elevate communications capabilities and impact.
• →Establish and track KPIs to measure the effectiveness of communications initiatives; provide regular insights and recommendations to site and regional leadership and the Executive Director.
• →Co-lead senior executive visits and events at U.S. sites, including visit planning, messaging, employee engagement activities and media/community components as appropriate.
• →Manage and oversee external agencies, consultants and vendors in the U.S. to support communications projects, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness and adherence to standards.
• →Actively coordinate with global Manufacturing Division communications colleagues to ensure alignment and mutual support across regions.
• →Represent the Manufacturing Division to enterprise and product communications councils/teams and ensure our Manufacturing Division is reflected in the enterprise storytelling.
• →Lead global communications in support of the External Manufacturing (ExM) team including development and execution of communications plans in alignment with ExM executive leads.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Business or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of communications experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, med tech, biotech or similarly regulated industries; strong experience in international and/or multi-country communications required.
• Direct experience working in or supporting manufacturing, operations or supply chain environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across multiple stakeholder and sites; experience localizing global strategies for site-level implementation.
• Proven track record in issues management and crisis communications, preferably in a manufacturing or operational context.
• Strong understanding of the pharmaceutical environment and familiarity with relevant U.S. and local regulatory and compliance requirements impacting communications.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills; proficiency in English required.
• Demonstrated ability to counsel and influence senior leaders, build trusted relationships and provide well-reasoned, strategic communications recommendations.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to anticipate emerging issues, assess reputational risk, and propose proactive communications approaches.
• Excellent planning and project management skills; able to manage diverse stakeholders, multiple markets and competing priorities under tight timelines.
• Experience working in a matrixed, global organization and collaborating across time zones and functions.
• Experience leading or coordinating virtual and cross-cultural teams and/or networks of communicators preferred.
• Travel required: approximately 25–30% across U.S. manufacturing sites and to regional/global meetings.

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The salary range for this role is

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.