New Jersey-based Merck, a major pharmaceutical company, has announced its intention to expand its Durham and Wilson operations and create over 400 jobs between the two communities in the next five years.
The company is in the process of developing a HPV vaccine and will be investing about $650m between Durham and Wilson manufacturing facilities over the next 60 months. Starting salaries for operations and support-function roles will be between $60,000 and $80,000 without requiring a college degree.
Merck opened a Durham manufacturing center in 2004, and now a 225,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is part of Merck’s expansion plans in Durham. In Wilson, the company Packaging operation will be expanded as well.
When expanding operations in a city, companies often find it wise to confer with their printing services to review and perhaps fine-tune their printing needs.
Ironically, a few hours following Merck’s press conference revealing its expansion plans, the company announced that it would be reducing its workforce by 150 full-time positions in Durham’s current operations. The reason for the reduction in the number of employees is that changes in market demand for the drug varicella has reduced the need for its bulk production.
According to the company, however, the 150 positions being dropped are included in Merck’s retention target. What this means is that a return to the company’s present staffing levels will have to take place before adding the estimated 425 new jobs.
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