Lab of the Future Lead (m/w/d) (80-100%)

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

Lab of the Future Lead (m/w/d) (80-100%)

• An agile career and a dynamic work culture
• An inclusive and ethical workplace
• Compensation programs that recognize high performance
• In addition to a competitive salary, you can expect numerous lifestyle, family, and leisure benefits.
• Relocation support for eligible candidate

The Lab of the Future Lead (Director level) defines and advances the future laboratory and analytical agenda across Integrated Biologics, Advanced Synthesis and Specialized Modalities, working closely with the QC organization and relevant analytical functions.

The role develops end-to-end concepts for highly automated and increasingly autonomous laboratories, integrating analytical workflows, laboratory equipment, robotics, automated sample handling, digital systems and data into a coherent future-state operating model.

A key focus is identifying how advanced analytical technologies, robotics and automation can transform laboratory operations across QC, R&D and Analytical Development, while also evolving how manufacturing processes are monitored, controlled and released. This includes the integration of PAT, online and at-line monitoring, process prediction, real-time analytics and advanced decision-support capabilities to reduce reliance on traditional offline testing and enable faster, more predictive operations.

The Lab of the Future Lead drives lighthouse projects and pilots to evaluate and validate emerging technologies, translates successful solutions into scalable standards and deployment concepts, and works closely with QC, R&D, Analytical Development, Engineering, Automation, Digital/IT, Advanced Manufacturing Technology and manufacturing functions.

As a core member of the Advanced Industry LT, the role connects laboratory and analytical evolution directly with the future manufacturing operating model, enabling safer, faster, more predictive, robust and cost-effective quality operations while maintaining regulatory and compliance requirements.

The role is based in Basel, Switzerland.

What you will do

• 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 application of 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 that support scalability and replication

Process Analytics & Future Operations

• 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 where appropriate

Lighthouse & Technology Development

• 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

Integration with Quality, R&D, Manufacturing & Data

• 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

Scale-Up & Replication

• Convert proven solutions into scalable laboratory and analytical concepts
• Support replication across platforms, sites and future builds
• Standardize successful equipment, automation and workflow concepts where appropriate
• Feed analytical learnings into future manufacturing, QC and product-release strategies

What we are looking for

• Bachelor or Master in the field of Analytical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or a related discipline
• Laboratory Strategy & Future-State Design: Ability to translate QC, analytical and business needs into an integrated laboratory roadmap, design principles and target operating model.
• QC & Analytical Sciences: Strong understanding of analytical testing, laboratory operations, method lifecycle, GMP requirements and product-release processes across relevant modalities.
• Laboratory Automation & Digital Workflows: Knowledge of automated sample handling, laboratory informatics, connected instruments, orchestration and digital workflow design.
• Process Analytics & Predictive Quality: Ability to connect PAT, process monitoring, advanced analytics and laboratory data to support prediction, real-time release and release by exception.
• End-to-End Quality Systems Thinking: Ability to integrate methods, samples, instruments, data, automation, people and compliance requirements into coherent future-state solutions.
• Cross-Functional Program Leadership: Demonstrated ability to mobilize and align multidisciplinary teams across QC, platforms, sites and global functions without relying on direct authority.
• Executive Communication & Influence: Ability to communicate complex laboratory concepts, trade-offs, evidence and recommendations clearly to senior quality, business, technical and operational stakeholders.
• Lighthouse Governance, Replication & Scale-Up: Experience defining hypotheses, value measures, risks and decision criteria, and converting validated solutions into reusable standards and deployment requirements

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Reference: R80282

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, 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.