Senior Director, Head of MSAT - Houston

Today, Lonza is one of the world’s largest healthcare manufacturing organizations operating across five continents.  While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

The Senior Director, MSAT position has primary responsibility for the Houston site’s MSAT department. The position is responsible for leading the Tech Transfer, Process Support, Data Science and Process Validation groups across assets/ modalities.

The role will ensure provision of direction, employee guidance, development and coaching to ensure the teams are aligned to the site strategy and are supporting the site to deliver on our current contracts and business pursuits.

Key responsibilities:

• 60% Group Leadership: Performs all functions associated with leading the multiple groups in the MSAT organization. This includes a focus on safety, resource planning, oversight of the groups work results, overview of group budgetary performance, oversight of Quality Records and Quality performance, providing guidance and advice on Lonza policy and procedures, promoting global interactions, mediating conflicts, providing technical input, providing guidance on company strategy, prioritizing work and assisting in establishing long term group direction and objectives.
• 20% Coaching and development of MSAT Team: Provides direct coaching, mentoring and development to each member of the MSAT management team both in execution of their group responsibilities and in their own personal development. Develop and coach direct reports for future leadership roles. In addition, provide coaching and mentoring to every member of the MSAT organization for their personal and professional development.
• 10% Customer project interaction: Engage with Program Managers and directly with our Customers to ensure projects are planned and implemented appropriately in order to deliver to and meet the needs of our customers and the business.
• 10% Engage and Communicate with Site Leadership Team: Engage interact and communicate with the Site Leadership team through SLT meetings, various Councils and the DMS to ensure SLT and the site is aligned to support successful delivery as a business to our Customers and to Lonza.

Key requirements:

Minimally 15+ years of biotech validated experience in process development, process scale up/manufacturing and Process Validation. Experience with Cell Therapy and Viral Vector production preferred, current Good Manufacturing Practices, US / EU regulations, supervision.

Competencies and Behaviors

• Cultivates a culture that accepts errors as a source of innovation
• Deliberately uses a structured approach to evaluate work experiences and applies findings to new situations
• Acts as a change leader by visibly demonstrating public commitment to change, and aligning and helping others accept change
• Initiates positive transformations within and beyond their domain
• Challenges others to work differently when the business environment requires it
• Empowers and encourages others to bring new ideas forward and ensures learning from both success and failures
• Leads ambiguity through effective communication, removes barriers and overcomes resistance skillfully

Business Insight

• Translates corporate strategy into critical success factors and creates breakthrough implementation plans
• Acts as a key communication link between operational layers and upper management
• Communicates business strategy, measures and tactical plans efficiently to all team members and helps them make sense of complexity and uncertainty
• Exhibits a sophisticated understanding of the critical success factors needed to differentiate and improve the business in order to make Lonza more competitive
• Demonstrates timely and accurate decision making, ensuring delegation or partner concern where appropriate

Collaboration

• Develops inclusive relationships and alliances engaging internal and external team members
• Builds systems and processes that enable others to be heard
• Creates mechanisms to share information and knowledge across functions
• Exhibits skillful communication to ensure peers (and team) develop relationships across functions
• Drives active participation, ensuring all voices are heard, in person or virtually
• Builds and effectively leads complementary teams to enhance Lonza’s global competitiveness and fuel innovation

Customer Focus

• Leads and drives th