Director, Operations – Downstream Processing (DSP)

In this senior leadership role, you will oversee the operational activities of a DSP manufacturing unit and lead an interdisciplinary team of process engineers, manufacturing specialists, shift team leads and biotechnologists. You will be accountable for the unit’s safety, quality, performance and on-time, in-full delivery.

As a member of the Manufacturing Leadership Team, you will play a key role in driving operational excellence, developing talent and ensuring the organization remains compliant, inspection-ready and equipped to meet its strategic objectives.

• Lead, develop and coach a multidisciplinary manufacturing team comprising process engineers, manufacturing specialists, shift team leads and biotechnologists.
• Oversee performance management, talent development, workforce planning, recruitment and employee relations within the DSP organization.
• Ensure the safe, compliant and efficient execution of DSP manufacturing operations in accordance with GMP, quality, customer and production requirements.
• Deliver manufacturing campaigns on schedule while meeting safety, quality and operational performance targets.
• Monitor performance indicators, resolve manufacturing issues and lead continuous-improvement initiatives across the production organization.
• Promote process standardization, innovation and the adoption of new technologies.
• Oversee resource and capacity planning, training strategy and operational-readiness activities.
• Provide strong cross-functional leadership and maintain effective collaboration with MSAT, Production Support, Quality Assurance, upstream-processing operations and other key stakeholders.
• Manage information flow and escalations to support timely, well-informed decision-making.
• Represent Manufacturing in customer meetings, audits and regulatory inspections.
• Maintain technical and quality oversight through the approval of change controls, risk assessments, workplace inspections and GMP documentation.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, sustainability and continuous improvement.
• Support capital-investment and facility-expansion projects as the manufacturing subject-matter expert, contributing to facility design, commissioning, qualification, automation and operational readiness.
• Act as deputy to the Head of Operations when required, ensuring leadership continuity and effective decision-making.

• MSc or an equivalent degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, biotechnology, bioengineering or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in biotechnological manufacturing, for example as a production biotechnologist or bioprocess engineer.
• Significant leadership experience within a GMP-regulated biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment.
• Fluency in both English and German.
• Strong understanding of DSP manufacturing operations, compliance requirements and operational-performance management.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams, developing employees and managing organizational change.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to align operational objectives with organizational strategy and identify financial and performance-improvement opportunities.
• Proven ability to build effective cross-functional partnerships, share knowledge and foster an inclusive working environment.
• Customer-focused approach with experience managing stakeholder relationships and using insights and data to drive improvement.
• Results-oriented mindset and a track record of delivering against KPIs, balancing competing priorities and securing stakeholder buy-in.
• High levels of accountability, integrity, adaptability and sound judgement.

This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible leadership role within a complex biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment. You will influence operational performance, team development and strategic site initiatives while contributing to the successful delivery of critical manufacturing programs.

If you have the required experience and are interested in this opportunity, we look forward to receiving your application.