Production Project Lead

Novocol Pharma, a Septodont company; Cambridge; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company is seeking a Production Project Lead in Cambridge to manage production projects and ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices. This role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams, leading continuous improvement initiatives, and maintaining project schedules. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree, project management experience, and a proactive problem-solving approach.

Benefits

Excellent Compensation/benefits Package

Bonus and reward programs

Discounted gym memberships

Programs supporting work-life balance

Employee recognition program

Professional and personal development programs

Social events and spirit days

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' production/operations experience.
• Experience in Pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic industry is a plus.
• Strong proficiency in project management practices and tools.

Responsibilities

• Acts as Production lead for projects, ensuring compliance with GMP.
• Coordinates with cross-functional teams through project lifecycle.
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives to optimize production.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Project Management

Interpersonal Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor of Engineering / Science degree

PMP certification

Job description

Company Details

Novocol Pharma is a growing contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), specialized in sterile injectable cartridges and combination product manufacturing. We strive for excellence and customer-centricity to deliver value to global pharmaceutical clients through contract services for drug development and commercial manufacturing. With over 40 years in operation, our team of 600 employees and modern facilities, located in Cambridge, Ontario provide a personalized and responsive experience for our customers. We are focused on serving our strategic partners and patients with quality, integrity, and value.

Our employees are our number one asset! We offer developmental opportunities, excellent compensation and benefit programs, discounted gym memberships, work/life balance programs, employee recognition, social events and spirit days.

We are a proud member of the Septodont group of companies. Septodont is a pharmaceutical and medical device company with a global leadership position in dental pain management. The group counts over 2000+ employees worldwide and has remained a 100% family owned company for over 90 years. Our Cambridge facility serves as a significant manufacturing site within the Septodont group with high volume dental anesthetic production for a global customer base.

We have an opportunity for a Production Project Lead.

Job Summary

The Production Project Lead is accountable to the Production Manager. The production lead will be responsible for project work, special projects and successfully aligning commercial production with project work. This is done in accordance with the requirements outlined in Standard Operating Procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices.

Internal Job Posting Grade 9B

The due date for internal applicants to apply for this role is June 17, 2025

Responsibilities

• Acts as the Production lead and facilitator for projects working closely with Project Management, and cross functional team.
• Pharma projects
• CDMO projects
• Technology transfer
• Process improvements
• Inter-site harmonization
• Manufacturing compliance
• Represent Production to work closely with cross functional project team (Production, Maintenance, R&D, QA, QC, Tech Services, Supply Chain and Project Management) through the project life cycle to achieve the project deliverables and milestones.
• Create and maintain action plans, project schedules and milestones, resource planning, performance tracking, labour tracking, reports for production and production support activities.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Project Management and Production to ensure project line execution dates are planned, communicated and scheduled into the Production plan and schedule.
• Lead and facilitate targeted team meetings effectively; providing clear agenda, objectives, targets, metrics, risks/mitigation actions and minutes.
• Prepare SOPs, Batch records, BOM creation, routings and align AX transactions and other batch documentation for approval and execution, in collaboration with Production, Tech Services and Project Management.
• Prepare training packages, training documentation and coordinate the execution of training to the production team, in collaboration with Production SMEs, Tech Services, and Operations Trainer.
• Champion/Lead a team of SMEs from Maintenance, Production, Tech Services, Project Management and Supply Chain to ensure appropriate inventory of raw materials, components, operating supplies and spare parts.
• Oversees the execution of various studies such as production trials, technology transfer studies, or development and commercial batches on the production floor
• Design optimal production flow layouts, workstation setup and crewing model with support from various departments.
• Collaborate with Project Management and Finance to create the costing model for various commercialization projects.
• Provide pertinent production information for proposals and costing to Project Management, Finance and Business Development.
• Implement and maintain methodology for tracking actual production metrics (cycle times, labour hours, downtime, OEE, scrap, deviation, cost, etc), provide opportunities for improvement and standard reporting.
• Lead Continuous Improvement initiatives to optimize future batch execution.
• Create memos, reports, Power Point presentations, letters, agendas, itineraries, and any other such confidential materials and/or administrative support as required.
• Provides assistance on a wide range of organizational, departmental projects, and other duties as assigned.
• Follows GMP and regulatory requirements and ensures quality standards are met.
• Observes and supports all safety guidelines and regulations.
• Demonstrates the Company Mission, Vision
  
  

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Engineering / Science degree is a requirement.
• PMP certification is considered an asset.
  
  

Experience

Minimum 3 years' production/operations experience

Experience within a Pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic industry is considered an asset.

Exceptional Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Power Point, Word, Project, Visio).

Demonstrated Experience Leading Interdisciplinary Development Teams Is Required.

Strong proficiency with project management practices, tools and methodology with experience in most phases of development and commercialization projects.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Independence with a proactive approach to solving problems; innovative thinking and meeting challenges tenaciously with a positive attitude.

A self-learner with expertise in balancing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.

Flexibility to occasionally work outside of normal business hours.

What we offer:

Excellent Compensation/benefits Package.

Bonus and reward programs

Discounted gym memberships

Programs supporting work life balance

Employee recognition program

Professional and personal development programs

social events and spirit days

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, and thank all applicants in advance; however, we will be corresponding only with those selected for an interview.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment and selection process.

Recruitment Fraud – please be aware of recruitment fraud. Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada Inc. will never ask for banking information, money or any personal information up front. We will only respond to official applications submitted through our careers site. In addition, we will only use official corporate e-mail addresses (septodont.com or novocolpharma.com) to communicate with applicants. Should you be contacted without submitting an application, please delete the message and advise your e-mail provider.

Contract type

Permanent