Job detail for Associate Director Facility Management

Job Description

Do you have extensive experience in Facility Management, a completed bachelor's or master's degree, and are you an inspiring people leader? Do you want to make a visible impact at one of the largest pharmaceutical sites in the Netherlands? Then we are looking for you!

For our location in Haarlem, we are looking for an Associate Director Facility Management.

Welcome to our team

From Haarlem, we produce and distribute medicines and vaccines for patients all over the world. Our site plays an important role within the global network and combines high-quality production and packaging activities with a strong focus on quality, safety, and innovation.

The Facilities, Engineering & Maintenance (FEM) department supports this mission by ensuring a safe, efficient, and inspiring work environment. As Associate Director Facility Management, you are part of the FEM Leadership Team and are responsible for all hard and soft facility services, workplace experience, and hospitality on our campus in Haarlem.

About the role

As Associate Director Facility Management, you are responsible for facility services at our site. You ensure the continuity of all facility processes, manage a team of six employees, and act as the strategic partner for our Integrated Facility Management (IFM) partner. You switch effortlessly between operational challenges, tactical improvements, and strategic developments, playing a crucial role in creating a safe, compliant, and attractive work environment.

The role carries broad responsibility, with you being active at operational, tactical, and strategic levels. You will spend approximately 30% of your time on operational issues. You support escalations, facilitate decision-making, and help the team with daily challenges to ensure that services continue to run smoothly and effectively.

The largest part of the role, approximately 50%, focuses on tactical activities. You develop medium-term plans, initiate and lead continuous improvement trajectories, ensure the effective deployment of people and resources, and work closely with stakeholders from various disciplines to achieve shared objectives.

You will spend the remaining 20% of your time on strategic topics. You contribute to the long-term development of the facility organization and make a significant contribution to the future facility and campus strategy of our Haarlem site. In doing so, you help the organization prepare for future developments and changing needs.

**Tasks and **

Your tasks include, among others:

• Ensuring safe, high-quality, and efficient execution of all hard and soft facility services, including building maintenance, technical infrastructure, cleaning, catering, security, and grounds management.

• Further developing the Workplace Experience and creating a modern, welcoming, and inspiring work environment that aligns with our organization's identity and culture.

• Acting as the primary contact person for the IFM partner and managing contract performance based on SLAs, KPIs, and governance agreements.

• Ensuring full compliance with GxP, EHS, and other relevant laws and regulations, and acting as a subject matter expert during audits and inspections.

• Being responsible for preparing, monitoring, and defending the annual facility budget (Profit Plan) and realizing cost optimizations.

• Leading, coaching, and developing a team of six professionals within Facility Management.

• Building strong relationships with stakeholders within Operations, Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, HR, and Engineering, among others.

• Leading improvement initiatives and strategic projects in the areas of facility management, space planning, and campus development.

Your profile

• Completed bachelor's or master's degree in Facility Management, Real Estate Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a similar field;

• At least 8 to 10 years of experience in Facility Management or a similar role;

• At least 3 to 5 years of experience in a leadership position;

• Experience within a highly regulated environment, such as the pharmaceutical industry, biotech, food industry, chemistry, or high-tech manufacturing;

• Thorough knowledge of GxP, safety, and compliance requirements;

• Demonstrable experience with contract management and managing external suppliers and service providers;

• Strong financial insight and experience with budget management, forecasting, and cost control;

• Excellent communication skills in both Dutch and English;

• A people-oriented leadership style, combined with strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

We offer

Working at our organization means contributing to improving the health of people worldwide. You will join an international environment where collaboration, innovation, and personal development are central. In addition, you can count on attractive employment conditions:

• A challenging and visible leadership position within a dynamic campus environment;

• A competitive salary commensurate with the seniority of the role;

• Annual incentive scheme;

• Excellent pension scheme;

• Extensive package of secondary employment benefits;

• Opportunities for national and international career development;

• Flexible and hybrid working options to support a good work-life balance.

Do you have questions about this vacancy?

Send your question along with the vacancy number and the title of the vacancy to this email address: RecruitmentNL@MSD.com. You can only apply via the website.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Driving Continuous Improvement, GMP Compliance, Maintenance Management, People Leadership, Process Control Systems, Reliability Engineering, Technical Writing, Utility Systems

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:

10/30/2026

***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.