The jobs will be spread between three of Merck’s – known as MSD outside North America - facilities:
110 production, engineering and quality control jobs will be added at the firm’s only standalone vaccine and biologics facility outside the US in Carlow; 50 manufacturing, quality, technology, and engineering roles will be added at the fermentation and sterile filling site in Brinny, County Cork; and 40 process and chemical engineers and organic chemists at an API facility in County Tipperary.
“Those taking up these new roles will be at the cutting edge of healthcare innovation and will play a key role in delivering MSD’s overall ambition to preserve and improve human life,” said Ger Carmody, Associate Vice President of MSD Ireland.
He added Ireland is a critical part of Merck’s global manufacturing network, and an increase in demand for its biologics and vaccines was driving the extra investment.
“Our Irish sites are involved in the production of over 60% of MSD’s global top 20 products.”
The company has been in Ireland for over 50 years, and while there have been some head cuts and facility closures over the past few years, these have been at small molecule API and finished product sites, such as in County Wicklow and County Dublin, due to the patent cliff and shifting demands.
Therefore, concurrently, Merck has been ramping up its more complex molecule sites, and last year €11.5m was invested in the 200,000 sq ft Carlow plant to support the monoclonal antibody Keytruda (pembrolizumab), which became the first US FDA approved anti-PD-1 therapy in 2014.
If interested in one of the positions, the firm invites you to see specifics on its website, or alternatively, attend the Career Zoo conference in the Convention Centre Dublin on Saturday, 20th February.