Production Team Lead

Start People; Zwijnaarde; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

START PEOPLE is looking for a Production Team Lead in Zwijnaarde, Belgium, to oversee daily production of personalized cell therapies in a cGMP environment. The role requires coordination of multiple operational units within the CAR‑T process, ensuring activities are compliant with regulations.

Prior leadership experience is not mandatory; however, strong GMP experience and a commitment to guiding a team are essential. The position offers an opportunity to contribute to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Solid GMP experience in production or closely related fields.
• Ability to naturally take ownership and coordinate activities smoothly.
• Comfortable guiding and training team members.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and supervise operational units in CAR‑T manufacturing.
• Collaborate closely with various operational departments.
• Manage all quality-related production aspects in cGMP environments.
• Ensure proper training and promote continuous learning culture.
• Drive operational improvements for efficiency and quality.

Skills

GMP experience

Leadership ability

Coordination skills

Job description

As a Production Team Lead, you will be responsible for the daily production of personalized cell therapies for both clinical and commercial use in a sterile cGMP environment. You will coordinate the different units within the CAR‑T process and ensure that all activities are carried out safely and in full compliance with cGMP requirements — while steering and organizing the operations from your office‑based workspace, keeping a strong overview of the production flow and acting as the central point of coordination for the team.

If you don't have prior leadership experience yet, that is also okay. If you have solid GMP experience (ideally in production or close to production) and you naturally take ownership, coordinate smoothly, and feel comfortable guiding others, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and supervise operational units within the CAR‑T manufacturing process, including component preparation, production support, CAR‑T processing, filling & finishing, and cryopreservation.
• Act as the first point of contact for production issues and collaborate closely with Manufacturing Operations, QC IPC, Quality, Facilities & Engineering, MS&T/Manufacturing Excellence, Training, Planning, and Supply Chain.
• Serve as a domain expert for Quality and Operations in cGMP environments and play a key role during GMP inspections and external audits.
• Manage all quality-related production aspects, including procedures, work instructions, logbooks, transfer forms, batch record review and release, and overall cGMP compliance.
• Coordinate quality system activities such as Change Controls, Deviations/Events, and CAPA.
• Ensure proper training of team members and promote a culture of continuous learning.
• Drive operational excellence by initiating improvements that increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance overall quality.