Director, Production

A brief overview 

The Senior Director/Director of Production is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing all aspects of Downstream production operations. This role demands a strategic thinker with extensive experience in production management, operational excellence, lean manufacturing, and cost management. This individual supports the VP of Production and site leadership in implementing the long-term strategic roadmap for production, ensuring alignment with overall site strategy, demand, and customer needs. This individual implements initiatives and policies to enhance quality, safety, and operational excellence following GMP manufacturing principles, routinely analyzing production budgets and making necessary adjustments. Additionally, this individual manages the design of the production organization, making appropriate adjustments in size and skillset, and setting/managing performance goals for the production workforce. This individual will directly work with his direct reports, select, hire and train new team members, routinely evaluate team members to ensure standards of performance are met, and assign responsibilities.

What you will do 

• Directs and works with production team of managers, coaches, chemists and technicians to manage production workflow, schedule and quality.

• Understands customer requirements and prepares the production plan accordingly, adapting as needed. Monitors production activities and adjusts schedule to ensure on-time delivery.

• Directs the development and implementation of process improvements to optimize production speed and quality

• Establishes and enforces production and quality standards, including cGMP guidelines.

• Selects, hires and trains direct reports; routinely evaluates team members to ensure standards of performance are met and assigns responsibilities. Motivates team members to deliver exceptional work and exceed expectations. Clearly communicates expectations, provides coaching and feedback, as needed, and takes prompt action to address performance issues.

• Ensures appropriate job training is in place for team members to achieve business objectives and development opportunities are engaged to support future leadership needs.

• Ensures that the final product meets or exceeds all quality standards and customer specifications

• Evaluates and recommends new equipment and technologies to improve production effectiveness

• Ensures a positive safety culture is in place within the area and is supported by robust safety processes in accordance with industry standards and legislation. This includes educating and directing team members to maintain a clean and safe work environment, the use of control points, appropriate equipment and resources, as well as established safety policies and written procedures, and environmental, health and safety training.

• Enhances professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, benchmarking state-of-the-art industry practices, and participating in professional societies.

• Collaborates effectively with colleagues within the broader network of Bachem manufacturing sites; contributing expertise and participating in improvement initiatives.

• Additional duties, as required.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry / biological chemistry / chemical engineering or related field with 8 or more years of related experience or

• Master’s degree in chemistry /biological chemistry / chemical engineering with 10 to 15 years of related experience or

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry / biological chemistry / chemical engineering with 15 to 20 years of related experience

• Strong knowledge of chemistry or chemical engineering with cGMP manufacturing focus

• Proficient with large scale manufacturing and process development

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Strong computer capability, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP.

• Ability to effectively organize, multitask, and work in a fast-paced, deadline driven work environment

• Ability to communicate in a proactive and solution-focused manner, including keeping management aware of potential issues

• Detail oriented with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve technical and analytical problems

• Ability to work independently and manage one’s time

• Communicate effectively and ability to function well in a team environment

• Experience with development and successful mana