Job Description

The Site Digital Technology Lead serves as the primary Digital Technology partner for the site, ensuring alignment between business objectives and Information/Operational Technology (IT/OT) capabilities. This role provides strategic guidance to site leadership, drives digital transformation initiatives, and ensures the reliable, compliant, and secure operation of Digital Technology services and systems.

The individual acts as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders, identifies opportunities to leverage technology to improve operational performance, and leads the delivery of complex IT/OT initiatives in alignment with global Digital Technology strategies and standards.

Primary Responsibilities (but not limited to)

• Accountable for Digital Technology strategy, governance, operations, and value delivery at the site, ensuring alignment with business objectives and enterprise Digital Technology strategies.
• Serve as a key member of the Site Leadership Team, contributing to strategic business planning, capital investment decisions, risk management, and long-term organizational objectives.
• Leadership of local site IT team
• Lead digital transformation initiatives and champion innovative technologies, data-driven decision making, and continuous improvement opportunities that deliver measurable business value.
• Lead the successful delivery of complex Digital Technology initiatives at the site, ensuring stakeholder alignment, risk management, operational sustainability, and realization of business value.
• Serve as a key liaison between site stakeholders and regional/global Digital Technology teams, ensuring alignment of priorities and effective delivery of business capabilities.
• Act as IT Single Point of Contact for the site, provide business stakeholders necessary feedback and input for business projects and IT operations
• Manage Digital Technology investments and budget effectively, identifying opportunities to optimize costs while maintaining service quality and supporting business priorities.
• Ensures SDLC (System Development Life Cycle) and CSV (Computer System Validation) compliance according to the our company’s guidelines
• Brings together the right stakeholders to ensure compliance and sustainability of IT solutions
• Participate in regulatory audits of the site
• Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders on Digital Technology and OT capabilities, providing recommendations that support strategic and operational decisions.

Education Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Information Technology/Science, MS or MBA preferred

Required Experience and Skills:

• 7+ years of related IT and/or Automation leader
• Experience with Digital transformation in large organization
• Experience with working in a matrix organization environment and ability to influence other business leader
• Proven ability to communicate with and manage senior stakeholders
• Experience developing technology roadmaps and translating business requirements into technology solutions.
• Experience operating effectively in a global matrix organization.
• Strong communication skills with ability to align the organization on complex technical decisions
• Strong experience with agile principles

Functional & Technical Competencies: 

• Deep understanding of pharmaceutical, vaccine, biologics, animal health, or healthcare manufacturing operations.
• Expertise in GxP regulated environments and Computer System Validation (CSV) requirements.
• Strong knowledge of Operational Technology (OT) and industrial automation platforms.
• Understanding of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), SCADA, historian systems, automation architectures, and industrial networking.
• Cybersecurity principles and risk management within manufacturing environments.
• Digital transformation leadership and value realization.
• Data and analytics literacy.
• Vendor, partner, and contract management.
• Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Business continuity and operational resilience planning.
• Stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Program and project leadership.
• Fluent English communication skills.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:

Benefits Management, Benefits Management, Business Alignment, Business Analysis, Business Decisions, Business Informatics, Business Process Improvements, Business Process Transformation, Business Transformation, Cost Efficiency, Digital Transformation, Emotional Resilience, Executive Leadership, Governance Management, Investment Planning, Lateral Thinking, Matrix Management, Process Alignment, Program Management, Project Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Objectives {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

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:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

10/23/2026

*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.