Head of Operations Payload Linker

Lonza Group; Oberwallis; On-site; CHF 240,000 - 340,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lean transformation programs

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Lonza Group Ltd. Visp is seeking an experienced Head of Operations Payload Linker to lead a large-scale manufacturing unit at the Visp site.

You will have end-to-end accountability for a ~300-employee operation, overseeing performance, safety, quality, compliance and on-time delivery. Reporting to the Global Head of Operations Advanced Synthesis, you will translate business strategy into operational excellence, develop leaders and partner with Quality, Engineering, MSAT and Supply Chain to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Process Engineering or related field.
• An MBA or Executive MBA is an advantage.
• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
• Senior leadership experience managing large, multilayered manufacturing organizations.
• Strong GMP, regulatory, and manufacturing performance management knowledge.
• Experience with budgets, capital investments and asset strategies.
• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder-management skills.
• Fluent English; German is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead a dedicated manufacturing unit within the Visp site, owning operational performance and governance.
• Define and execute strategies to optimize capacity, productivity, and resource allocation.
• Foster safety and quality culture, ensuring GMP compliance and data integrity.
• Drive production performance, reliability, right-first-time execution and continuous improvement.
• Own budgets and controllable costs; oversee asset lifecycle and capital investments.
• Inspire and develop a multidisciplinary leadership team and succession plans.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, MSAT, Supply Chain, and site leadership for seamless execution.
• Represent Operations in strategic discussions, audits and regulatory inspections.

Skills

Leadership

GMP knowledge

Strategic thinking

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Automation

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Process optimization

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Chemical Eng./Pharma/Related

MBA or EMBA advantageous

Tools

MS Office/ERP systems

Job description

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, theres no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And thats the kind of work we want to be part of.

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Head Operations Payload Linker to lead a large-scale manufacturing organization operating as a Site-in-Site within our Visp site. In this senior leadership position, you will have end-to-end accountability for a dedicated manufacturing unit of approximately 300 employees, overseeing operational performance, safety, quality, compliance, customer delivery, financial efficiency and asset management. Operating within the governance, infrastructure and shared-service framework of the wider Visp site, you will lead your unit with a high degree of operational ownership while ensuring seamless integration with site-wide functions and priorities. Reporting to the Global Head Operations Advanced Synthesis and serving on the Advanced Synthesis Visp Site Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in translating business strategy into operational excellence, developing high-performing teams and driving the long-term growth and competitiveness of our commercial and clinical bioconjugation (highly active payload linkers) operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a dedicated manufacturing unit within the Visp site, taking ownership of operational performance while leveraging shared infrastructure, services and governance.
• Define and execute operational strategies aligned with business priorities, optimizing capacity, productivity, workforce planning and resource allocation.
• Foster a strong safety and quality culture, ensuring adherence to GMP requirements, data integrity standards and regulatory expectations.
• Drive production performance, reliability, right-first-time execution and continuous improvement through Lean methodologies, automation and process optimization.
• Own operational budgets and controllable costs, oversee asset lifecycle strategies and sponsor capital investments to support sustainable growth and operational efficiency.
• Inspire, develop and empower a multidisciplinary leadership team, strengthening organizational capabilities, talent development and succession planning.
• Partner closely with Quality, Engineering, MSAT, Supply Chain, Project Management and Visp site leadership to ensure seamless execution and effective resource allocation.
• Represent Operations in strategic business discussions, customer interactions, audits and regulatory inspections, collaborating with key internal and external stakeholders.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Process Engineering or a related scientific or engineering discipline.
• An MBA or Executive MBA is an advantage.
• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations, ideally within drug substance manufacturing, with exposure to process development and technology transfer.
• Proven senior leadership experience managing large, multilayered manufacturing organizations in complex, matrix-driven environments.
• Strong understanding of GMP manufacturing, regulatory compliance, operational excellence and manufacturing performance management.
• Demonstrated experience managing significant operational budgets, capital investments, asset strategies and organizational transformation.
• Strong business acumen, strategic thinking and ability to translate operational priorities into measurable business outcomes.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills, with a proven ability to develop high-performing teams and influence across functions.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, automation or continuous improvement initiatives is highly valued.
• Fluent English is required; German is an advantage.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to take on a highly influential leadership position, leading a Site-in-Site manufacturing operation within one of Lonza's key pharmaceutical manufacturing locations. You will combine the ownership and accountability of leading a dedicated manufacturing unit with the capabilities, infrastructure and expertise of the wider Visp site. You will lead a sizeable organization, collaborate with senior stakeholders across the business and help shape the future of Commercial Bioconjugation manufacturing. Join us and help drive operational excellence, innovation and sustainable growth in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Every day, Lonza's products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically. People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference. Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Every day, our teams across the world work together to turn scientific breakthroughs into life-changing medicines that reach up to 100 million patients a year. Lonza is a place where people can make a unique impact, grow their careers and belong. You will feel at home at Lonza if you: Take ownership, step forward, and enjoy meaningful responsibility Love solving problems and thrive in a complex, fast-moving environment Are curious, always looking to learn and improve Work collaboratively, contributing to something bigger than yourself Are motivated to make a difference through work that impacts customers and their patients Why Lonza: We are a place of unique opportunity, where your ideas, expertise and ambition can make a real difference. Here, you will have the freedom to grow, the support to succeed and the chance to contribute to work that matters. We are the makers of the medicines of tomorrow. Join us. Be you.