Director of Operations

Lumino; München; Hybrid; EUR 150.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading medical cannabis organization in Germany is seeking an Operations Director to transform its Quality department into a functional Operations unit. This role will oversee a small team, ensure compliance across operations, and manage financial aspects. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in pharmaceutical operations and a flair for leadership. This is a hybrid position with a salary range of €150,000 to €180,000 plus performance bonuses, offering a pathway to a COO position.

Leistungen

Performance-based bonus

Travel and relocation support

Qualifikationen

• 5–10 years’ experience in pharmaceutical operations, ideally in medical cannabis.
• Comfortable operating in lean structures with cross-functional responsibility.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

Aufgaben

• Redesign the quality department into a delivery-driven unit.
• Ensure adherence to GDP, GMP, and QA across operations.
• Oversee P&L, budgeting, and cost control.

Kenntnisse

Pharmaceutical operations experience

Lean management

Excellent communication skills

Leadership skills

German fluency

English fluency

Jobbeschreibung

Operations Director / COO

Location: Germany or Switzerland (Hybrid)

Type:Full-Time

Salary: €150,000 base + bonus potential (flexible up to €180,000 depending on experience)

Role Overview

This is a critical leadership position aimed at transforming the existing Quality department into a fully functional Operations unit. The Director of Operations will report directly to the Managing Director and work closely with leadership and board members to execute strategic goals. This role will evolve into a COO position.

The Operations Director will oversee the distribution business and manage a lean team across quality (including the QP), logistics (partnering with a top-tier 3PL), finance (internal and outsourced), IT/security, and product management.

This individual will be responsible for reshaping operations from the ground up. With change management at its core, the role will lead the modernisation of internal processes and team structures, ensuring our client is fully equipped to handle its next phase of growth.

The successful candidate will bring a blend of pharma experience and startup agility, ideally with prior exposure to medical cannabis or regulated emerging sectors. This is a strategic stepping-stone to a COO role, with succession planning already envisioned.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Transformation: Redesign the quality department into a delivery-driven unit with defined KPIs and ownership.
• Compliance Oversight: Ensure full adherence to GDP, GMP, audit preparation, batch release, and QA across operations.
• Logistics & Supply Chain: Coordinate with a leading 3PL to manage product flow, cold-chain requirements, and inventory tracking.
• Financial Management: Oversee P&L, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control. Liaise with outsourced accounting partners.
• Supplier & Customer Management: Interface between manufacturing partners and end-customers, understanding pharma manufacturing, regulatory constraints, and IP/patent frameworks.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead a lean team across functions including:

• Overhaul and streamline QA and regulatory processes to increase speed and efficiency
• Lead supply chain forecasting
• Oversee procurement, logistics, warehousing, and order fulfilment
• Manage the onboarding of new products and liaise with technical and commercial conversations with suppliers
• Lead and negotiate supply and quality agreements
• Ensure lifecycle management of pthe roduct portfolio from pre-launch
• Use project management tools
• Responsible for tracking P&L against 3rd party contract
• Manage forecasts against international API sales, analysing market for trends
• Ensure orders are filled and with tracking against supply chain

Ideal Profile

Industry Background:

• 5–10 years’ experience in pharmaceutical operations, ideally in a medical cannabis context (2–3 years minimum in Germany preferred).

Skillset:

• Entrepreneurial and hands-on, with a strong process orientation.
• Comfortable operating in lean structures with cross-functional responsibility.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with a diplomatic but firm management style.

Language Requirements:

• German and English fluency required.
• Additional languages such as French, Spanish, or Italian are a plus.

Work Location & Structure

A hybrid role with flexibility but regular presence expected in one of the following:

• Berlin
• Munich
• Lausanne

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: €150,000–€180,000, depending on experience and structure.
• Performance-based bonus
• Travel and relocation support negotiable.

Recruitment Process

• 2–3 interview rounds, including Managing Director and board members.
• Face-to-face meeting required as part of final assessment.

Why Join?

This is a rare opportunity to take operational leadership of a fast-evolving organization with a solid legacy, dynamic team, and ambitious future. You will be pivotal in shaping a new industry standard in medical cannabis and pharma logistics, with full backing from seasoned leadership and a clear path to becoming COO.

Interested?

Apply now or reach out directly to Ellen via LinkedIn or email [e-mail] to learn more. All applications will be handled with the strictest confidentiality.