Senior Director of Manufacturing and Operations

Position Overview

A collaborative organization in the life sciences sector is seeking a seasoned Senior Director to lead Manufacturing and Operations. This role offers the opportunity to impact and shape a regulated manufacturing environment through strategic and operational leadership. Reporting to executive management, the successful candidate will drive excellence in manufacturing performance, foster continuous improvement, and promote organizational growth while strictly adhering to quality and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the manufacturing, supply chain, production planning, facilities, and operational teams to meet company objectives.
• Enhance operational results by boosting productivity, efficiency, quality, reducing costs, and ensuring timely delivery.
• Design and implement strategies that facilitate business expansion, manufacturing scalability, and operational excellence.
• Foster a high-performance work culture via strong leadership, accountability measures, coaching, and talent development programs.
• Promote Lean Manufacturing methodologies, continuous process improvement, process optimization, and modernization initiatives.
• Manage production planning, inventory control, purchasing activities, supplier performance, and resource efficiency.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Engineering, and Research & Development teams to support product launches, technology transfers, process validations, and regulatory compliance.
• Set and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), utilizing data analytics to support informed decision-making and ongoing enhancements.
• Oversee departmental budgets, capital investments, and initiatives aimed at reducing costs, aligning with the overall long-term operational strategy.
• Ensure strict compliance with regulatory requirements such as GMP, ISO 13485, Health Canada, and FDA standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Life Sciences, or related fields.
• Between 7 to 10 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing and operations within regulated industries such as biotechnology or pharmaceuticals.
• Proven track record of managing manufacturing operations, leading continuous improvement efforts, and directing cross-functional teams.
• In-depth understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles, ERP and MRP systems, quality management systems, production planning, and operational performance metrics.
• Lean Six Sigma certification is a valuable addition.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with a strong results orientation, experienced in enhancing operational effectiveness, managing organizational transformations, cultivating high-performing teams, and establishing scalable manufacturing operations that support sustainable business growth.