Chief Operating Officer (GMP Manufacturing)

Korn Ferry; Calgary; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Korn Ferry's client, an animal health pharmaceutical manufacturer in Calgary, seeks a strategic, hands-on executive to oversee manufacturing, technical operations, quality, engineering, supply chain and operational excellence.

The role demands 12+ years in GMP-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing with proven cross-functional leadership and deep GMP/regulatory expertise, including IQ/OQ/PQ, process validation, and scale-up with Health Canada, FDA, and other agencies.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive leadership in GMP-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Cross-functional leadership across manufacturing, technical operations, engineering, supply chain and quality.
• Deep expertise in GMP manufacturing, regulatory compliance, IQ/OQ/PQ, process validation and operational excellence.
• Experience working with Health Canada, FDA and other regulatory agencies.
• Proven success leading scale-up, capacity expansion, facility upgrades or new facility commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Oversee manufacturing, technical operations, quality, engineering, supply chain and operational excellence.
• Lead scaling initiatives and facility upgrades for growth.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and quality systems across sites.

Skills

Leadership

GMP Expertise

Regulatory Compliance

Scale-up Experience

Job description

Our client is a rapidly growing animal health pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Calgary, Alberta, entering an exciting phase of expansion and operational scale-up. The organization is seeking a strategic, hands-on executive leader to oversee manufacturing, technical operations, quality, engineering, supply chain, and operational excellence.

Required Experience & Expertise

• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in GMP-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Proven leadership across manufacturing, technical operations, engineering, supply chain, and quality functions
• Deep expertise in GMP manufacturing, regulatory compliance, equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), process validation, and operational excellence
• Significant experience working with Health Canada, FDA, and other regulatory agencies
• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing scale-up, capacity expansion, facility upgrades, or new facility commissioning

Highly Preferred

• Animal health, veterinary pharmaceutical, sterile/injectable manufacturing, biotech, or broader pharmaceutical manufacturing experience
• Experience operating in a high-growth, scaling organization
• Lean/Six Sigma or continuous improvement background

This is an onsite executive leadership role based in Calgary, Alberta. Relocation assistance may be available for exceptional candidates.