Student Placement - Pharmaceutical Packaging Integrated Process Team and Technical Operations Team

We offer exciting 12-month placement opportunities for university students approaching their penultimate study year and who are looking for an industry placement as part of their degree. A placement with us will give you the opportunity to collaborate alongside subject matter experts, bring your own ideas and share real responsibility whilst delivering on meaningful projects that help on our mission to save and improve lives, all whilst working alongside a passionate, diverse and inclusive workforce.

Who we are…

We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicines, oncology, vaccines and animal health products. We are driven by our purpose to develop and deliver innovative products that save and improve lives. With over 70,000 employees operating in more than 140 countries, we offer state of the art laboratories, plants and offices that are designed to Inspire our employees as we learn, develop and grow in our careers. We are proud of over 125 years of service to humanity and continue to be one of the world’s biggest investors in Research & Development.

We are officially certified by the Top Employer Institute and been awarded the exclusive Top Employer United Kingdom Certification for the third year running.

Important note regarding this particular student placement:

Merck & Co. Inc., (headquartered in Kenilworth, NJ, USA also known as MSD outside the US, Canada & Puerto Rico), has made the decision to spin-off products from its Women’s Health, trusted Legacy Brands, and Biosimilars businesses to form a new, independent company. This new company, named “Organon”, will become an independent, publicly traded company in 2021 with its global and US headquarters to be based in Jersey City, New Jersey.

We intend to move this position to this new company (NewCo) when it becomes independent. For this exciting new opportunity, we are seeking students with an entrepreneurial and learning spirit who are interested in a career of purpose, personal growth and leadership. Working together, we will make a significant impact on the health and lives of people around the world.

NewCo Vision

NewCo will improve the lives of people globally by unleashing the promise of trusted brands across women’s health and other important therapeutic areas. We are committed to becoming the world’s leading women’s health company investing in innovations that support women’s well-being.

NewCo Objectives

• Invest in innovations to support women’s well-being, fueled by our leading contraceptives and fertility business.
• Establish a leading position in biosimilars, focusing on oncology and inflammatory diseases, and being a partner in the commercialisation of biosimilars worldwide.
• Realise the value of trusted dermatology, pain and cardiovascular portfolio.

Job Description

Our Manufacturing & Supply Division is committed to be the most trusted supplier of bio-pharmaceuticals worldwide. Our facilities, along with our external contractors, suppliers, and partners, create an interdependent global manufacturing network that’s committed to delivering a high quality, reliable supply to customers and patients on time, every time.

Our Manufacturing Operations teams are the people that make our products. We work in the manufacturing plants with a “Safety First, Quality Always” mindset striving for continuous improvement. We work in the local plant connected to our global manufacturing network to ensure the highest quality of raw materials, intermediates and finished products.

A role in our Technical Operations and Integrated Process Teams (IPT) will provide you with the opportunity to gain practical experience in a technical support role for the production of pharmaceutical products.

These placements will help build a strong foundation for success in your future, whilst working in a professional and friendly environment. Throughout your twelve-month placement you will be provided with the opportunity to support, develop and improve our manufacturing and packaging systems and processes.

Working in a professional and inclusive environment a role in our Integrated Process Team (IPT) will provide you the opportunity to gain practical experience in a technical support role for the production of pharmaceutical products.

There are roles available for both the Pharmaceutical Technical Operations Team and Pharmaceutical Packaging Integrated Process Team.

Pharmaceutical Packaging Integrated Process Team (IPT)

Duties:

• Provide day to day assistance to the IPT Coaches, IPT Production Lead and Supply Chain Coordinators as well as involvement in assisting specific IPT improvement projects
• To implement improvement projects as directed by IPT Production Lead or Supply Chain Lead
• To assist with investigations and follow up issues arising from safety incidents, atypicals or customer complaints, establishing assignable causes for events and proposing appropriate actions to minimise rework and improve processes
• To participate as directed in Continuous Improvement projects to realise improvements in Safety, Quality, Supply or Cost
• To comply with the standards in company policies, procedures, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures
• To assist with any IPT projects or tasks as outlined by IPT Coaches or Production Lead.

For a role within our Pharmaceutical Packaging Integrated Process Team you will need to be studying a science, engineering or business related discipline.

Pharmaceutical Technical Operations Team

Duties:

• Implement process improvement projects
• Participate in process and cleaning validations, validation protocols and in-process validation sampling
• Undertake annual product and cleaning reviews
• To assist with reviews of equipment performance and installation and operational testing of new equipment
• To assist with investigations and follow up issues arising from manufacturing, packaging or laboratory atypicals, establish assignment causes for atypical processing events and propose appropriate actions to minimise rework and improve capability
• To comply with the standards in our Company’s policies, procedures, guidelines and standard operating procedures
• To assess downstream impact to site as a result of supplier changes
• To assist in the successful introduction of new product to site via technical assessment and project support.

For a role within our Pharmaceutical Technical Operations Team you will need to be studying a science, technology, maths or engineering (STEM) related discipline.

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)

As a student on placement working in either Technical Operations or the Integrated Process Team you will need to comply with the following:

Compliance with our Company’s Global Policies, Procedures and Guidelines, regulatory requirements and execute Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in the performance of day-to-day activities and all applicable job functions.

Responsible for:

• Attending and successfully completing applicable GMP training, including training in local operating procedures
• Ensuring you are suitably trained to perform your job
• Ensuring that this training is accurately recorded in your training record
• Ensuring that your job is performed in accordance with the training and in compliance with procedures relevant to the role/activity
• Bringing to the attention of management any violation in cGMPs and/or other concerns which may affect the safety, efficacy, or purity of our Company’s product

Technical Specifications

You will be looking to complete a 12-month placement in your third or penultimate year of study, returning to your course at the end of the placement
Studying the relevant degree for the listed role (or equivalent qualification)
Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Qualities we look for

• Operates with a high level of integrity, transparency and accountability
• Comprehends and aligns with our organisation’s core values
• Aligns and fosters a culture of diversity and inclusivity
• Demonstrates initiative, proactivity and academic curiosity
• Encourages and boosts their colleagues through teamwork
• Demonstrates clear and effective communication
• Demonstrates a desire to learn and improve their performance through feedback
• Display excellent attention to detail and the ability to deliver to deadlines
• Demonstrates the ability to build effective working relationships quickly
• Demonstrates problem solving skills and thinks creatively to overcome obstacles
• A self-starter who can be relied upon to work with minimal supervision
• Be able to demonstrate a “can-do” attitude and desire to continuously improve
• Learns from and helps others to overcome obstacles

Start Date

Summer 2021

How to apply:

Please complete the online application form and attach an editable CV and cover letter (not a PDF, please submit the CV and cover letter as 1 document).

In your cover letter we would encourage you to answer the following questions; Why are you applying to our organisation and why are you applying for this role? Additionally, you may include any additional information you feel further supports your application.

Maximum word count for your cover letter: 300 – 400 words. Please do not exceed this.

Our recruitment process for this role is: An online application, an online assessment, a telephone interview and then a final virtual assessment.

Deadline for applications:

We assess applications on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. This role will be removed once this position has been filled

Other important information:

Our presence in the UK goes back a long way. For over 80 years, we’ve been researching, developing and supplying new medicines and vaccines that prevent and treat diseases that occur at every stage of life.

Today we're one of the top five biopharmaceutical companies in the UK and employ over 2,000 people across five sites in Hertfordshire, Northumberland, Buckinghamshire, Edinburgh and London.

How is our organisation in the UK adjusting our hiring process with COVID-19?

At our organisation in the UK our key priorities during the current COVID-19 outbreak are both maintaining supply of critical medicines to our patients and ensuring the health and safety of our employees and candidates. In support of Government measures to limit the spread of infection, we have therefore developed a new flexible, virtual route for candidates applying and interviewing for our open roles.

Equal Opportunities

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

What we look for…

In a world of rapid innovation, we seek brave Inventors who want to make an Impact in all aspects of our business, enabling breakthroughs that will affect generations to come. We encourage you to bring your disruptive thinking, collaborative spirit and diverse perspective to our organisation. Together we will continue Inventing For Life, Impacting Lives while Inspiring Your Career Growth.

INVENT.

IMPACT.

INSPIRE.

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