Innovation Technical Manager

Opella; Virginia; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Opella is seeking an Innovation Technical Manager to provide technical leadership across innovation initiatives involving external manufacturing partners. You will evaluate manufacturing opportunities, manage risks and drive projects from concept to launch, collaborating with internal teams to meet quality, compliance, supply and commercial goals.

Based in Virginia with Brisbane collaboration, you will help deliver self-care solutions at scale, mentor talent and embed sustainability and social

Qualifications

• Experience leading technical projects within regulated manufacturing environments such as pharmaceutical, consumer health, OTC or nutraceuticals.
• Strong ability to assess manufacturing capabilities, conduct technical due diligence and manage complex project risks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Regulatory, Quality and Supply Chain.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical assessment, planning and execution of innovation projects involving external manufacturing partners, from feasibility to launch and post-launch review.
• Evaluate new and existing manufacturing partners through technical visits and due diligence, identifying opportunities and risks.
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, governance deliverables and risk mitigation strategies for successful execution.
• Collaborate with Innovation, R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Packaging and Finance to align priorities and decisions.
• Drive technology transfer and manufacturing readiness activities, including process scale-up, validation, packaging qualification and launch preparation.
• Lead sourcing assessments for innovation projects and influence partner selection based on capability, supply resilience and cost considerations.
• Capture lessons learned and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, sustainability, cost performance and ways of working across external manufacturing networks.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulated manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in a science-related discipline

Job description

Role: Innovation Technical Manager

Location: Viginia, Brisbane

You've built experience, now use it where bold ideas meet real impact. At Opella, we're challenging how self-care works for millions of people and need leaders and experts ready to shape what's next. As an Innovation Technical Manager , you'll bring your skill, your curiosity and your drive to make health simpler, smarter and more human.

About the job:

As Innovation Technical Manager, you will provide technical leadership and project management expertise across innovation initiatives involving external manufacturing partners. You will play a critical role in evaluating new manufacturing opportunities, assessing technical feasibility, managing risks, and ensuring projects move successfully from concept through to launch. Working across a broad network of internal teams and external partners, you will help deliver innovative products that meet quality, compliance, supply and commercial objectives while supporting Opella’s ambition to bring self-care solutions to consumers around the world.

• Lead initiatives that advance our brands and strengthen our reputation worldwide.
• Mentor and uplift emerging talent while pushing your own growth and influence.
• Put purpose into practice, embedding sustainability, access and social impact into every decision.
• Model the challenger mindset: question complexity, act with integrity and make things radically simple.
• Help shape a culture that’s ambitious, collaborative and serious about recognition and belonging.

Main responsibilities:

• Lead the technical assessment, planning and execution of innovation projects involving external manufacturing partners, from initial feasibility through to launch and post-launch review.
• Evaluate new and existing manufacturing partners through technical visits, capability assessments and due diligence activities, identifying opportunities, risks and recommendations.
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, governance deliverables and risk mitigation strategies to ensure successful project execution.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Innovation, R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Packaging and Finance to align priorities and support decision‑making.
• Drive technology transfer and manufacturing readiness activities, including process scale‑up, validation, packaging qualification and launch preparation.
• Lead sourcing assessments for innovation projects and influence manufacturing partner selection based on capability, supply resilience, quality and commercial considerations.
• Capture lessons learned and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, sustainability outcomes, cost performance and ways of working across the external manufacturing network.

About you:

• Experience leading technical projects within pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare, OTC, nutraceutical, food supplement or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of external manufacturing operations, technology transfer, process scale‑up, validation, packaging and product launch activities.
• Demonstrated ability to assess manufacturing capabilities, conduct technical due diligence and manage complex project risks.
• Skilled at building trusted relationships and working effectively across diverse stakeholder groups to achieve shared outcomes.
• Strong project management, planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to balance technical decisions alongside cost, timelines, supply continuity and business objectives.
• Bachelor's degree in a science‑related discipline or equivalent qualification.

This is more than the next step in your career, it’s a chance to lead change and help reinvent self-care for the world. If you're ready to challenge, inspire and deliver impact that matters, we're ready for you. We are challengers. We are Opella.

Opella values diversity in all its forms and is committed to fostering a workplace where everyone can belong and excel. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

About Us:

Opella is the self-care challenger with the purest and third‑largest portfolio in the Over The Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market globally.

Our mission is to bring health in people’s hands by making self-care as simple as it should be. For half a billion consumers worldwide and counting.

At the core of this mission is our 100 loved brands, our 11,000‑strong global team, our 13 best‑in‑class manufacturing sites and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers. Headquartered in France, Opella is the proud maker of many of the world’s most loved brands, including Allegra, Buscopan, Doliprane, Dulcolax, Enterogermina, Essentiale and Mucosolvan.

As a globally certified B Corp company, we are active players in the journey towards healthier people and planet. Find out more about our mission at www.opella.com.