Associate Director - Head of Purification Development

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.

Key accountabilities and duties

Management of the Mammalian Purification Process Development group in Visp covering chromatography and filtration purification steps. Manages a team of scientific and process experts responsible for the successful development and optimization of protein purification processes. Is accountable for the performance and results of the assigned area including cost control. Is a member of the Mammalian Process Development Services Leadership Team. Additional expectations for this role are listed next:

• Manages a team of scientific, technical experts and technicians for protein purification within the Mammalian Process Development Services with full responsibility for all aspects of human resource management
• Accountable for coordinating the allocation of team members' resources to fulfill all customer projects
• Ensures a good information exchange from the upper management levels to their team and the other way around through regular team meetings and escalation of issues
• Implements the Lonza culture via openness for change and new insights, collaborative teamwork and continuous improvement
• In charge of coordinating all aspects of the organization, technical evaluation, cost management, and prioritization of tasks for delivering the assigned process development programs.
• Ensures that the groups deliver high quality development services to customers within the agreed timelines
• Responsible for developing cost efficient processes and running improvement programs to reduce cost and increase efficiency through Operational Excellence and Innovation initiatives
• Develops an innovation culture in their department and anticipates, evaluates and implements technical innovations and trends

Qualifications and skills

• Master or PhD degree in relevant field of expertise (biotechnology, chemical engineering, protein chemistry)
• Experience in biopharma process development, preferably in the area of mammalian purification development and manufacturing
• Broad and deep understanding of protein purification, good understanding of business and financial processes
• Strong leadership skills, excellent communication skills, networking skills, ability to engage customers to develop positive relationships, strong team orientation
• Structured, focused and well-organized work attitude, open-minded for new insights and suggestions, agile, highly motivated and multifaceted drive, solution-oriented

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 insights 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 significant difference.