Head of Facilities & Engineering

About the Role

QP Group is collaborating with a leading European Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) to establish a cutting-edge sterile drug product manufacturing facility based in Germany. The site requires a Head of Facilities & Engineering to spearhead the engineering department's development and operations, including facilities, equipment engineering, automation, and utilities within a new GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the engineering team on-site, fostering a robust culture prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure facility readiness by overseeing installations, Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV), and preparing for regulatory inspections.
• Take responsibility for equipment engineering and automation systems, including digital platforms such as Building Management System (BMS), Energy Management System (EMS), DeltaV, and Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Manage commissioning and qualification activities, along with leading significant capital projects.
• Supervise the management of clean and plant utilities, including HVAC, electrical infrastructure, and maintenance strategies.
• Handle equipment and utility deviations through root cause analysis (RCA), corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and change control processes.
• Oversee the budgeting, forecasting, and asset management associated with facilities and engineering operations.

Experience and Qualifications

• Doctorate degree plus 6 years, Master's degree plus 10 years, or Bachelor's degree plus 12 years in an engineering or technical field.
• At least 6 years of leadership experience managing teams or complex organizational structures.
• Documented success working in GMP-regulated manufacturing environments with readiness for inspections.
• Proven expertise in CQV processes, capital project execution, and facilities/utilities management.
• Strong capabilities in stakeholder management, financial oversight, and a mentality suited for start-up or growth-phase operations.