Head of Major Capex Project Management USA
Merck Group.com
195k - 293k USD/year
Office
2355
Full Time
Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join MilliporeSigma.
Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.
This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.
Your Role:
As Head of Major Projects within Life Science Engineering & Technology, you lead a team of project managers responsible for major engineering projects and programs in the US region. Your team manages the major capex portfolio by supporting planning with project execution accountability. The portfolio includes programs of engineering projects of moderate to high complexity that range from 25M€ ($25 M) to 100M€-200M€ (~$100-200M) with an annual spend of 200M€ to 400M€ (~$200M - $400M). The portfolio spans multiple regions in the US, principally in the mid-west and northeast.
Your team is responsible for capital project planning, approval, and execution. You ensure application of project management best practices, and stage-gate process to develop sound project scope, schedule, budget, and execution plans. Front-End-Loading ensures projects are well planned and executed to achieve desired outcomes including budget, schedule, safety, and quality. In this role, collaboration with engineering, project management, PMO, and site teams is essential to support all capex in the region.
The capex portfolio requires collaboration with operations and commercial stakeholders to achieve the overall business objectives and investment approvals. You are an excellent communicator and ensure alignment across project teams and key stakeholders, clear obstacles, and simplify processes. You mitigate risks, resolve issues, and drive solutions that solve critical business needs with innovative solutions that create value, capital efficiency, and competitive advantages.
Your team are engineering project managers responsible for executing large capex projects. You coach and mentor the team to create effective and engaged project teams. You create a culture of teamwork, transparency, ownership and accountability, safety, problem solving, achievement of results, innovation, and efficiency. The head of major projects ensures full transparency on status of projects with respect to budget, schedule, scope and risks.
You are a thought leader and help to develop and improve processes, tools, contribute to continuous improvement, and sharing of best practices among your peers and other parts of the organization.
Who You Are
Minimum Qualifications:
- Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Science required (Chemical or mechanical Eng preferred) with minimum of 12 years engineering experience and 5+ years of functional management.
- Experience in a manufacturing, engineering design, and construction environment with increasing levels of responsibility (pharmaceutical, GMP industry preferred)
- Proven track record of managing large or complex engineering capital or construction projects.
- Experience managing a functional group
Preferred Qualifications:
- Project Management Professional Certification (PMI PMP)
- MBA or MS Engineering or related field desirable
- Knowledge leader of formal project management processes and tools, utilizing these tools to initiate, manage and close complex projects
- Strong business acumen and/or operations experience to support strategy and business case development
- Experience managing portfolios of small to large capital projects’ scope, budget, and schedule through project life cycle
- An understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing facility design requirements and standards; qualification and validation processes; design, permitting, and construction processes; and quality systems
- Ability to communicate actively with stakeholders at all levels within the organization (e.g., business leaders, functional leaders, team members) to achieve best results
- Independence, assertiveness, and ability to make decisions at the right level quickly and confidently, with skills for people interaction and cross functional teamwork across departments and external project team
- High proficiency in communication and interpersonal skills and leading in matrix environments – able to influence without direct authority to achieve desired outcomes.
- Strong in leadership, relationship building, and negotiation strategies; ability to influence, network, drive and manage change
- Ability to identify and evaluate problems, develop optional solutions, effective decision making, and implementation
- Good understanding of project delivery models, contracting methods, and negotiations
Pay Range for this position: $195,200-292,800
The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here.
What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!
Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!
Head of Major Capex Project Management USA
Office
2355
Full Time
195k - 293k USD/year
September 19, 2025