Maintenance Area Lead

Job Description

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Maintenance Area Lead (Mgr.) to join the team in our state-of-the-art, single use multiproduct facility in Dunboyne, Co. Meath.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Accountable for hiring and developing people—coaching, setting priorities, mentoring, and providing growth opportunities—to build capabilities, foster scientific rigor and safety, elevate performance, and support career progression.
• Lead the Maintenance Team comprising or shift-based Technician Team, Scheduler, Planner and Equipment Engineers.
• Provide ongoing coaching and development support to the team to continuously improve performance and develop capability and skills.
• Lead the outsourced calibration provider, ensuring the provider operates to site requirements.
• Ensure maintenance and calibration status of process equipment is maintained to schedule and GMP requirements.
• Ensure up-time of process equipment.
• Ensure equipment downtime is appropriately investigated and improvement plans put in place.
• Ensure the highest standards of safety are maintained for all Team activities and equipment.
• Provide maintenance and calibration support to projects and new product introductions.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing investigations and improvement projects.
• Manage maintenance and calibration service providers and contractors.
• Develop and maintain and program of continuous improvement projects, in collaboration with Reliability Engineering and other functions, related to equipment maintenance and calibration.
• Maintain the maintenance and calibration processes in a state of Permanent Inspection Readiness.
• Prepare and continuously manage the local budget and associated projects to meet on plan targets.
• Work closely with other engineering functions to support engineering and site strategy.
• Work collaboratively on resolving obstacles and building relationships to maintain a highly effective and productive work environment.
• Act as a delegate and point of contact for the Plant Engineering Lead.

Your profile:

• BS/MS/PhD in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field.
• 3rd level qualification in Engineering, technical discipline or equivalent.
• At least 8 years relevant industry experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry or equivalent.
• Proven people lead with track record in developing people and teams.
• Proven ability around working cross functionally, focusing on meeting, tracking to schedules, and embracing an interdependent work culture.
• Good understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, utilities, and maintenance practices.
• Strong organization skills: the ability to manage multiple priorities and know when to escalate issues for resolution.
• Deep problem-solving capabilities.

We keep the patient at the very heart of all that we do and strive to find solutions and treatments for some of the world’s most challenging healthcare needs.

So, if you are ready to:

Invent solutions to meet unmet healthcare needs, Impact the future by driving one of the world’s leading healthcare companies, and inspire your team to reach their full potential and push the boundaries of science and technology, please apply today.

Required Skills:

Accountability, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Decision Making, Environmental Regulatory Compliance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HVAC Design, Maintenance Management, Maintenance Scheduling, Mechanical Equipment Maintenance, Mechanical Integrity, People Leadership, Predictive Maintenance, Process Improvements, Process Safety Management, Reliability Engineering, Six Sigma, Team Leadership, Training and Development

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

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:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

02/5/2026

*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.