Director, Lab of the Future — Automation & Digital Lab

Lonza; Basel; Hybrid; CHF 210,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Lifestyle and leisure benefits

Job summary

The Lab of the Future Lead at Lonza in Basel leads the future of laboratory operations, integrating automated workflows, robotics, and digital platforms across QC, R&D, and manufacturing. This director-level role focuses on scalable, compliant, and fast-release laboratory concepts that connect analytical data with process controls.

You will drive lighthouse initiatives, evaluate new analytical and automation technologies, and collaborate across QC, Analytical Development and Manufacturing to

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master in Analytical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or related discipline.
• Ability to translate QC, analytical and business needs into an integrated laboratory roadmap and operating model.
• Strong understanding of analytical testing, laboratory operations, GMP requirements and product-release processes.

Responsibilities

• Define the Lab of the Future vision, roadmap and target operating concepts.
• Develop end-to-end concepts for highly automated and autonomous laboratories.
• Integrate workflows, analytical equipment, robotics, sample handling, digital systems and data.
• Align future laboratory concepts with QC, R&D, Analytical Development, platform and manufacturing strategies.
• Identify opportunities to automate sample preparation, movement, testing, equipment interaction and result handling.
• Evaluate next-generation analytical equipment and automation-ready instrumentation.
• Drive robotics for repetitive, high-frequency and contamination-sensitive laboratory activities.
• Define interfaces between laboratory equipment, robotics, automation systems and digital platforms.
• Promote equipment and automation standards to support scalability and replication.
• Drive integration of PAT, online/at-line monitoring and real-time analytical capabilities into future manufacturing concepts.
• Identify opportunities to shift from offline testing toward continuous monitoring and predictive quality assurance.
• Develop use cases for process prediction, advanced analytics and intelligent decision support.
• Connect analytical data with process control strategies and future operating models.
• Support evolution toward faster release approaches, including real-time release or release by exception.
• Identify and lead high-value laboratory lighthouse projects and pilots.
• Evaluate emerging analytical, automation, robotic and process-monitoring technologies.
• Define success criteria covering quality, productivity, cycle time, labor reduction and scalability.
• Translate validated technologies into reusable standards and deployment requirements.
• Align analytical capabilities with future manufacturing and process requirements.
• Partner with QC, R&D and Analytical Development on future laboratory and analytical operating models.
• Connect laboratory data, PAT, process monitoring and predictive analytics with manufacturing operations.
• Work with Data Strategy & Products and Advanced Manufacturing Technology on system, data and technology integration.
• Convert proven solutions into scalable laboratory and analytical concepts.
• Support replication across platforms, sites and future builds.
• Standardize equipment, automation and workflow concepts where appropriate.
• Feed analytical learnings into future manufacturing, QC and product-release strategies.

Skills

Executive communication

Cross-functional leadership

Laboratory automation

GMP knowledge

Process analytics

Digital workflows

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor or Master in Analytical Sciences / Chemistry

Job description

The Lab of the Future Lead at Lonza in Basel leads the future of laboratory operations, integrating automated workflows, robotics, and digital platforms across QC, R&D, and manufacturing. This director-level role focuses on scalable, compliant, and fast-release laboratory concepts that connect analytical data with process controls.

You will drive lighthouse initiatives, evaluate new analytical and automation technologies, and collaborate across QC, Analytical Development and Manufacturing to