Job detail for Operational Coach Fill & Finish Production

Job Description

Help build the future of our vaccine facility

Do you want to play a key role in one of the most advanced production environments within the pharmaceutical industry? Are you an inspiring leader who knows how to connect people, foster talent, and at the same time gets energy from technical challenges?

Then this is your chance! For our team in De Bilt, we are looking for a:

Operational Coach Fill & Finish Production

Welcome to our team

Our Animal Health production site in De Bilt produces vaccines that contribute to animal health worldwide. At our location, approximately 150 colleagues work daily on a safe, reliable, and high-quality production process.

Due to the growing demand for our products, we are investing heavily in expansion, new technologies, and further of our organization. Our Fill & Finish department plays a crucial role in this. Here, vaccines are filled into ampoules according to strict GMP, quality, and safety guidelines.

You will work closely with colleagues from Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, and Supply Chain. Together, you ensure an efficient operation and a culture of continuous improvement.

About the role

For our production site in De Bilt, we are looking for an Operational Coach Fill & Finish Production. In this role, you combine people-oriented leadership with technical affinity and a strong focus on operational excellence.

You lead a team of operators and are a visible, engaged coach on the shop floor. You support employees in their development, stimulate ownership, and create a safe and result-oriented work environment. In addition, you make an important contribution to the further optimization of our modern filling line.

You do not need to solve technical malfunctions yourself, but you possess sufficient technical insight to understand the root cause of problems, ask the right questions, and successfully realize improvement initiatives.

Tasks and include

• Leading, coaching, and developing a team of approximately 15 to 20 operators.
• Creating a culture in which ownership, collaboration, and continuous development are central.
• Being present on the shop floor daily to guide, support, and motivate employees.
• Ensuring a safe work environment and actively promoting the principle of Safety First, Quality Always.
• Ensuring compliance with GMP, quality, safety, and compliance guidelines.
• Analyzing technical disruptions and process deviations and contributing to structural solutions.
• Executing and guiding root cause analyses and improvement trajectories.
• Collaborating with Engineering, Maintenance, Automation, Quality, and external suppliers to further optimize production processes.
• Initiating and leading improvement projects aimed at increasing the reliability, efficiency, and availability of the filling line.
• Stimulating an open improvement culture in which deviations are discussable and employees actively contribute to continuous improvement.

Your profile

• Completed Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical field (e.g., Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Process Technology).
• Experience in managing, coaching, and developing employees.
• Experience within a production environment, preferably in a regulated industry such as pharma, biotech, food, or chemistry.
• Strong technical knowledge of automated production installations.
• Experience with analyzing and solving complex technical malfunctions.
• Affinity with continuous improvement, for example via Lean, TPM, RCA, or similar methodologies.
• Good communication skills in both Dutch and English.
• Practical, hands-on attitude and visibly present on the shop floor.
• Natural coach with strong collaboration and change management skills.
• Proactive, technically curious, reliable, and stress-resistant, with an eye for both people and process.

Working hours

This position has flexible working hours that align with the needs of the production organization.

To optimally support employees and remain involved in the operation, we expect you to work a shifted shift from 12:30 PM to 9:00 PM at least two days per week. The other working days are planned in consultation. This allows you to stay involved with both the day and evening shifts and be present at the moments when your coaching and technical support make the difference.

What do we offer?

Working with us means working in an innovative production environment where people, technology, and quality come together. You get the space to develop yourself further and make a direct contribution to the health of animals worldwide.

In addition, we offer:

• A competitive salary matching your experience.
• Annual Incentive Plan.
• 35.5 vacation days per year.
• 8% holiday allowance.
• 3% end-of-year bonus.
• An excellent pension scheme.
• Travel allowance.
• Ample training and development opportunities.
• Growth opportunities within an international organization.
• Working with modern technology in a rapidly growing production environment.

Animal Health

Our Animal Health division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive impact in animal care and the world's food supply, and we have a deep sense of responsibility to our customers, consumers, animals, society, and our planet. Through our commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, we offer veterinarians, farmers, pet owners, and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary medicines, vaccines, and health management solutions and services, as well as an extensive range of digitally connected identification, traceability, and monitoring products. We invest in dynamic and extensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. We are active in more than 50 countries, while our products are available in approximately 150 markets.

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:

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Operational Efficiency, People Leadership, Process Improvements, Production Planning, Production Scheduling, Safety Protocols, Teamwork

Preferred Skills:

Downstream Processing, Manufacturing, Production Processes

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:

10/22/2026

*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.