Manager, Production; Operations

Production Operations Manager in Springfield, MO

Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives 

Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers’ therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients’ lives.

We proudly offer

• Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment) 
• Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
• Career advancement opportunities 
• Education reimbursement
• 401K program with matching contributions
• Learning platform
• And more! 

Summary:

The Production Operations Manager is a key driver of quality, safety, and operational excellence within Curia's GMP manufacturing environment. Partnering closely with the Director of Production, this role helps ensure Production processes are executed with the highest standards of compliance, employee safety, and product quality while continuously improving operational performance.  From developing best practice guidelines and building robust procedural frameworks to training the team and tracking meaningful metrics, this position is instrumental in shaping a Production department that performs at the highest standard every day. This helps ensure that every batch is manufactured safely, compliantly, and with the quality our customers and patients depend on.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader, problem solver, and champion of quality who leads through influence and example. They are energized by improving systems, developing people, and strengthening processes. This individual can identify opportunities, address root causes, and implement sustainable solutions that improve safety, quality, compliance, and operational performance.

Essential Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Champion a culture where safety, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement are shared responsibilities and embedded in daily decision making.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Production to assess current operational practices, benchmark against industry best practices, and develop a roadmap for ongoing improvement.
• Lead or support the development and implementation of best practice guidelines and standard operating procedures that reflect current cGMP standards and site-specific operational needs.
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective action for operational gaps, deviations, and recurring issues, ensuring sustainable solutions are implemented and sustained.
• Monitor and analyze key department metrics related to safety, quality, compliance, productivity, and schedule attainment; identify trends, communicate insights, and drive actions that improve overall performance.

Program & Procedure Development

• Author, revise, maintain, and approve Production SOPs, work instructions, and MBRs to ensure they are accurate, current, and aligned with cGMP requirements.
• Develop and standardize programs and procedural frameworks that create consistency across shifts and support scalable growth of the Production function.
• Review and approve deviations, CAPAs, validation protocols, and summary reports in support of site compliance goals.
• Develop and maintain systems to track department deliverables and operational improvement initiatives.

Operational Coverage & Support

• Participate in production planning activities and support execution of the weekly production schedule within cleanroom and inspection areas.
• Liaise with internal departments (QA, QC, Engineering, Regulatory, Validation) to facilitate issue identification and resolution.
• Represent the Production department during internal tours, audits, and regulatory inspections as needed.
• Ensure facility, equipment, and personnel always operate in a safe manner.
• Perform hazardous waste handling operations in accordance with Curia procedures, including container filling, identification, labeling, and tracking from generation point to central accumulation area.
• Serve as backup coverage for Production Supervisors during planned and unplanned absences, ensuring continuity o