Associate Director, Production

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across three 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 Associate Director of Production is responsible for managing and directing ll work activities related to research cells in Durham, NC. Ensures production delivery schedules are met, develops department budget, and continuously improves the production process. Supervises production staff, ensuring department goals are met, and providing constructive feedback. The Associate Director is also responsible for managing MSAT at the Durham site, which includes supervising MSAT scientists, ensuring successful technical transfers from R&D, and effective CAPA’s from process investigations. Interfaces with sales, marketing, tissue acquisition, and customers as needed.

• Responsible for managing and advising all work activities related to research cells in Durham, NC.

• Ensures production delivery schedules are met, develops department budget, and continuously improves the production process.

• Supervises production staff, ensuring department goals are met, and providing constructive feedback.

• Responsible for managing MSAT at the Durham site, which includes supervising MSAT scientists, ensuring successful technical transfers from R&D, and effective CAPA’s from process investigations.

• Using aseptic technique, performs primary isolations of specific cell types from human and animal tissues by using dissection or other isolation methods.

• Plans and coordinates product production activities with Supply Chain and Tissue Acquisition, taking into account tissue availability, inventory levels, and success rates.

• Works with team leaders daily to meet production schedules and streamline workflows.

• Maintains workflow and limits back orders by coordinating, scheduling, and directly supervising steps of the manufacturing process as needed

• Supervises, trains, coaches and conducts employee performance evaluations

• Ensures departmental documents reflect current practice and are reviewed according to site requirements.

• Uses cell culture experience to drive process improvements based on data analysis in line with lean principles.

• Measure and continuously improve labor utilization and production variances.

• Manages and coordinates MSAT team to ensure successful technical transfers from R&D to Production

• Manages MSAT workload and prioritization to ensure on time investigations and CAPA’s.

• Ensures budgets, schedules, and performance requirements are met.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree in Life sciences with 7-10 years cell culture/biology experience or bachelor's degree with 10+ years of cell culture/biology experience (Years of experience may substitute for education in some instances).

• Aseptic technique and experience in cell culture required

• Ability to use pipettes and other scientific equipment including microscopes, laminar flow biological safety cabinet, centrifuges.

• Ability to read and follow SOPs and understand the importance of GMP/ISO compliance.

• Ability to learn multiple procedures and understand importance of specific scientific techniques.

• Written and oral communication skills to include accurate and legible documentation skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Digital literacy including Microsoft Office and familiarity with databases.

• Organization skills, recordkeeping, filing, time management skills, regular attendance.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, team oriented, independent work skills.

• Analytical ability, both interpersonal and issue-related; good judgment and ethics; professional demeanor.

• Self-motivated, strong work ethic, and ability to “get the job done” and take ownership for results without direct authority.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.

Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.