R&D Manager (m/f/d), Molsheim

Merck - avec plus de 300 ans de progrès et plus de 38000 employés dans le monde, se positionne en leader sur le marché Pharmaceutique, Chimique, et des Sciences de la vie. Avec passion, engagement et innovation, nous poursuivons un objectif commun : améliorer la qualité de vie. C'est pourquoi nous avons besoin de vous!

Tasks

As Senior Manager of NovaSeptum R&D, you will provide strategic leadership and management for the development of innovative single-use sampling products for pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing. This role drives R&D strategy, translates business vision into executable technical objectives, and ensures the successful delivery of high-quality, market-driven solutions. You will lead and inspire a talented team, managing the full product lifecycle from concept through commercialization with a strong focus on cross-functional collaboration.
Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement R&D strategies, roadmaps, and long-range plans aligned with business goals to advance NovaSeptum’s product portfolio.
• Lead, mentor, and cultivate a high-performing, innovative R&D team by overseeing hiring, performance evaluation, and professional development efforts.
• Manage the NovaSeptum R&D project portfolio, ensuring on-time delivery, adherence to budgets, and quality standards for new product introductions (NPI) and product enhancements.
• Drive design, development, and validation of single-use sampling products, emphasizing design for manufacturing and assembly, scalability, and compliance.
• Collaborate effectively with Marketing, Operations, Quality, Clinical, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams to ensure products meet market demands, regulatory requirements, and commercialization success.
• Provide technical stewardship by guiding teams through complex challenges, benchmarking industry technologies, and evaluating emerging manufacturing innovations to maintain competitive advantage.
• Champion good engineering practices including DOE, statistical data analysis, and validation strategies throughout the development process.
• Oversee project planning processes, including development and maintenance of project plans, budgets, and timelines, aligned with organizational objectives.

Profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in product development and R&D leadership within medical device, pharmaceutical, or biotech industries, ideally with single-use systems or aseptic connectors.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Proven expertise in plastics product design and process development including injection molding, ultrasonic bonding, and film processing.
• Strong background and demonstrated success in design for manufacturing, qualification, validation, and new product introduction.
• Extensive experience leading cross-functional projects and managing technical teams in complex environments.
• Exceptional communication, strategic planning, project management, and leadership skills.