Senior Director, Pharmaceutical Technical Services/Manufacturing Science (m/f/d) - Pharma

Elanco; Cuxhaven; On-site; EUR 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Autonomy & Growth

Career Development

Dynamic Environment

Job summary

Elanco is seeking a Senior Director TS/MS to provide technical leadership at the Cuxhaven site for vaccine manufacturing. You will drive strategic initiatives, regulatory readiness, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure top-tier product quality and process performance.

The role requires extensive pharma/biopharma experience, 15+ years, and a proven record of leading teams in complex manufacturing environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years pharma/biopharma experience.
• At least 5 years in commercial vaccine manufacturing.
• Over 10 years leading teams or organizations.
• Familiarity with EU-GMP Quality Standards.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and strategic leadership for TS/MS at the Cuxhaven site.
• Oversee product stewardship, monitoring, and process validation.
• Lead tech transfer of new products from R&D to site (Elanco Tech Center).
• Champion data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Central TS/MS functions and R&D for knowledge sharing.
• Lead regulatory audits and ensure cGMP compliance.

Skills

Vaccine Manufacturing

People Leadership

EU-GMP Knowledge

Strategic Planning

Data-Driven Decision-Making

Education

Bachelor's in Science

Advanced Degree (MS/PhD) preferred

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals! As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People. At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights. Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today! Your Role: Senior Director, Technical Services/Manufacturing Science (m/f/d) - Pharma Do you want to make a real difference in animal health? At Elanco, a global leader in animal health, we are driven by a passion to improve the lives of animals. Elanco Animal Health develops and markets innovative products and services to prevent and treat diseases in pets and livestock. Become part of Lohmann Animal Health GmbH in Cuxhaven and join our dynamic team. As part of Elanco, we have been a world-leading specialist in the production of poultry vaccines for more than 50 years, exporting our products to over 70 countries worldwide. Expand your passion for animal health at Elanco – and join us as a Senior Director Technical Services/Manufacturing Science (TS/MS) (m/f/d) The Senior Director TS/MS is responsible for providing technical and strategic leadership for Cuxhaven site’s TS/MS function. This role is accountable for all technical product and process support activities at the site. Cuxhaven is Elanco’s center of excellence for vaccines-based manufacturing in Europe (egg/fermentation platforms). The Senior Director TS/MS leads the organization responsible for technical stewardship of commercial-scale manufacturing processes at the Cuxhaven site. TS/MS responsibilities include product stewardship, on-going process monitoring, improvement and validation of established processes, and technical transfer of new processes. The Senior Director TS/MS will champion the use of sound scientific principles and robust process metrics while developing and delivering programs for continuous process optimization and improvement. The Senior Director TS/MS serves as the local advocate for Elanco’s TS/MS Division and is an active member of the Site Lead Team and the Global Elanco TS/MS Lead Team. It is expected that the Senior Director TS/MS will form a strong relationship with central TS/MS functions and the R&D Organization to facilitate seamless tech transfers of products to the site. As a member of the site Lead Team, the Senior Director TS/MS will assist in the development, implementation and realization of Quality and Business Plans. The Sr Director will also be a primary participant in regulatory agency audits and should be an active leader in site quality improvement and stewardship.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Site Lead Team (SLT) Participation: Act as a core member of the Cuxhaven Site Lead Team, contributing to the development and execution of the site’s Business and Quality Plans.
• Global Alignment: Serve as the local advocate for Elanco’s Global TS/MS Division, ensuring site activities align with global standards and strategic objectives.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement long-term technical strategies to enhance manufacturing capability, capacity, and reliability at the Cuxhaven site.
• Resource Management: Oversee the TS/MS organizational budget, headcount, and resource allocation to meet site production and project goals.
• Process Monitoring & Improvement: Lead the organization in the ongoing monitoring of commercial manufacturing processes, utilizing robust metrics to identify and execute continuous improvement opportunities. Ensures implementation of robust control strategies.
• Tech Agenda & Productivity: Accountable for the site’s technical and productivity agenda
• Scientific Excellence: Champion the application of sound scientific principles and data-driven decision-making across all technical activities.
• Validation Oversight: Accountable for the validation and re-validation of established manufacturing processes to ensure consistent product quality and yield.
• Technical Problem Solving: Ensure process-related root cause investigations are carried out and solid CAPAs are implemented. Provide high-level technical guidance and oversight for complex manufacturing investigations and root-cause analyses.
• New Product Introduction (NPI) & Tech Transfer: Seamless Tech Transfer: Lead the technical transfer of new products and processes from R&D or other sites (i.e. Elanco Tech Center) to Cuxhaven, ensuring "right-first-time" implementation.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with Central TS/MS functions and the R&D organization to facilitate knowledge sharing and project success.
• Launch Support: Ensure the site is technically prepared for new product launches, including equipment readiness, process training, and regulatory filing support.
• Quality, Regulatory & Compliance Audit Leadership: Serve as a primary participant and Subject Matter Expert (SME) during regulatory agency audits (e.g. EMA).
• Quality Stewardship: Actively lead site-wide quality improvement initiatives, fostering a culture of compliance and technical integrity.
• Regulatory Documentation: Oversee the technical accuracy of regulatory submissions and ensure all TS/MS activities comply with cGMP and local safety standards.
• Organizational & People Development Team Leadership: Direct and mentor a high-performing team of scientists and engineers, focusing on technical skill development and succession planning.
• Culture of Innovation: Promote a culture of continuous process optimization, encouraging the team to stay abreast of industry trends and emerging manufacturing technologies.
• Performance Management: Set clear performance objectives for the TS/MS function that align with Cuxhaven site KPIs and Elanco’s global manufacturing strategy.

YOUR PROFILE

• Essential Qualifications: Education: University degree (Bachelor) in a Scientific Field. Advanced Degree (Master, PhD) or equivalent experience preferred.
• Experience: At least 5 years of expertise in the field of commercial manufacturing of egg/fermentation based vaccines. Minimum 10 years of expertise in leading teams or organizations. Minimum of 15 years of relevant pharma/biopharma experience
• Compliance: Familiarity with EU-GMP Quality Standards
• Leadership & Influence: Strong ability to inspire others and drive engagement for new ideas and strategic initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Communication: Effectively communicating across functions and building collaborative relationships with areas inside and outside of Elanco
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to manage complex situations and conflicting priorities
• Strong scientific and analytical thinking skills

DESIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Technical & Scientific Expertise: A solid understanding of vaccine-based technology platforms, including bacterial/viral fermentation and egg-based technologies, is a distinct advantage.
• Cross-functional Experience: Additional experience in related disciplines such as Manufacturing, R&D, Engineering, Quality (QC/QA), Regulatory Affairs, or Project Management is highly desirable.

YOUR BENEFITS

• Competitive Compensation: An attractive salary package and participation in the company's success through our bonus scheme.
• Autonomy & Growth: Room for personal initiative and independent action within a modern, growing global pharmaceutical company.
• Career Development: Access to our internal global career network with exciting development and training opportunities.
• Dynamic Environment: Work in a diverse and interesting environment where your contribution directly impacts animal health worldwide.

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to helping our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching life and our Elanco Healthy Purpose™ CSR framework – all to advance the health of animals, people and the planet. Learn more at www.elanco.com.