Operations Technician- fixed term

Job Description

Production Technician – Bacterial Vaccines

Location: Milton Keynes

Contract: Fixed-term, up to 2 years Start: ASAP or by agreement

Launch your career in pharma with real hands-on experience. Our Integrated Production Team manufactures bacterial vaccines at scale for cattle, sheep, and chickens. This up-to-two-year role is perfect for:

• Recent graduates ready to build a career in the pharmaceutical industry
• Early-career professionals seeking structured development and GMP exposure
• Operations/production technicians who want to step into the world of vaccines and bioprocessing

About the Role You'll help produce antigens from large-scale anaerobic fermentations and support downstream concentration, purification, and blending activities. Working to cGMP standards, you'll rotate through core tasks, build practical skills, and contribute to safe, compliant, and efficient operations. You'll report to the Area Lead Technician and collaborate across IPT1.

What You'll Do

• Manufacture intermediates (media and antigen) to the production schedule under local Regulatory and GMP requirements
• Prepare, stage, operate, and maintain a range of mechanical and laboratory equipment (including fermentation vessels)
• Follow SOPs with strong Good Documentation Practices (GDP)
• Participate in the Site Tier Process and daily operations huddles
• Use MPS tools and methodology to support investigations and implement CAPAs
• Contribute to continuous improvement and safe-by-choice culture
• Take part in company-sponsored training and development activities
• Demonstrate inclusive behaviors and teamwork across shifts/functions

What You'll Learn

• End-to-end exposure to large-scale anaerobic fermentation and bacterial antigen processing
• Practical GMP, GDP, aseptic techniques, and inventory control concepts
• Root-cause problem solving, CAPA, and lean/MPS tools in a regulated environment
• Cross-functional collaboration in a high-impact biomanufacturing setting

About You

• Education: Bachelor's (or equivalent) in Science/Biology/Biotechnology preferred; A-Levels (or equivalent) with strong interest in a scientific field also considered
• Beneficial (not essential): experience in a production laboratory or manufacturing environment
• Knowledge/skills:
• Working knowledge of cGMP and inventory control concepts
• Understanding of fermentation principles and operation of fermentation vessels
• Familiarity with aseptic techniques and procedures
• Experience with large-scale bacterial antigen processing is a plus
• Attributes: detail-oriented, safety-minded, eager to learn, collaborative, and disciplined in documentation

Why This Role

• Ideal entry point into pharmaceutical manufacturing with structured onboarding
• Mentorship from experienced technicians and leads
• Real responsibility in a high-quality, compliant environment
• Exposure to bioprocessing and vaccine operations that accelerates career growth
• Competitive pay and benefits

Contract Details

• Fixed-term contract up to two years
• Full-time role based on-site in Milton Keynes
• Shift or weekend work may be required to meet the production schedule [confirm if applicable]

Closing date for applications: 30/11/2025

Required Skills:

Accountability, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Computer Literacy, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Manufacturing Operations, Pharmaceutical Production

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:

Temporary (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

12/1/2025

• 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.

Requisition ID:R372467