Deviation Investigation Team Manager

Lonza Group Ltd.; Slough; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile culture

Inclusive workplace

Performance-based rewards

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Lonza Group Ltd. is recruiting an experienced Deviation Investigation Team Manager to lead the Deviation Investigation Team at our Slough site.

You will oversee complex deviation investigations, ensure timely closure, and drive risk-based improvements to uphold product quality and regulatory compliance. The role requires strong leadership, technical writing, and collaboration across Manufacturing, QA, QC, and MSAT to support batch disposition and customer communication.

Qualifications

• A BSc in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
• Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or GMP manufacturing with quality systems.
• Proven expertise in deviation investigations, RCA, and risk management tools such as FMEA.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong technical writing for deviations, investigations and GMP documentation.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections and customer audits.
• Demonstrated ability to lead improvement initiatives and data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Deviation Investigation Team, coaching and competency in investigation methodologies.
• Oversee and drive timely closure of deviations, maintaining quality and compliance while supporting batch disposition timelines.
• Apply a risk-based approach to quality events, identify and manage risks and issues.
• Partner with Manufacturing, MSAT, QA, QC, QP, and Project Management for collaboration.
• Lead customer communications relating to deviation events and manage expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and deviation-related projects.
• Monitor, analyse, and report investigation performance metrics and ensure inspection readiness.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Technical writing

RCA / FMEA

GMP compliance

Problem solving

Regulatory inspections experience

Education

BSc in scientific/engineering discipline

Job description

Job Title and Location

Job Title: Deviation Investigation Team Manager Location: Slough

The role

We are currently seeking an experienced Deviation Investigation Team Manager to join our Centre of Excellence for biopharmaceutical process development and small-scale GMP manufacturing in Slough, UK. In this leadership role, you will be responsible for managing and developing the Deviation Investigation Team, providing oversight of complex manufacturing and technical-service deviation investigations to ensure they are completed to the highest quality, compliance, and scientific standards. Leading a team of Technical Investigators, you will drive the timely execution and closure of deviation reports, including root cause analysis, product impact assessments, and the implementation of effective CAPAs. Working closely with cross-functional stakeholders, you will ensure effective risk management, stakeholder alignment, customer communication, and continuous improvement of investigation processes, supporting timely batch disposition and the delivery of products to customers and patients. This is a fully site‑based role. Working together in person supports close, real‑time collaboration and the technical precision needed to manufacture medicines to the highest quality and safety standards.

What you will get

• An agile career and dynamic working culture
• An inclusive and ethical workplace
• Compensation programs that recognize high performance
• A variety of benefits dependant on role and location
• The full list of our global benefits can be also found on https://www.lonza.com/careers/benefits

What you will do

• Lead and develop the Deviation Investigation Team, ensuring Technical Investigators are trained, coached, and competent in investigation methodologies, root cause analysis, technical writing, and GMP compliance.
• Oversee and drive the timely closure of manufacturing and technical-service deviations, ensuring investigations are completed to the required quality, scientific, and compliance standards while supporting batch disposition timelines.
• Apply a risk-based approach to quality events, proactively identifying, managing, reporting, and escalating risks and issues that could impact product quality, compliance, or customer delivery.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders, including Manufacturing, MSAT, QA, QC, QP, and Project Management, to ensure effective collaboration, accountability, and resolution of deviation investigations.
• Lead customer communications relating to deviation events, providing clear updates, facilitating investigation meetings, and ensuring customer expectations are effectively managed.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and deviation-related projects, enhancing investigation quality, right-first-time performance, compliance, and on‑time closure metrics.
• Monitor, analyse, and report investigation performance metrics, providing oversight of team effectiveness, supporting strategic decision‑making, and ensuring inspection and audit readiness.

What we are looking for

• A BSc in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline, or equivalent experience, providing a strong foundation in biopharmaceutical development or manufacturing.
• Experience within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or GMP manufacturing industry, with a strong understanding of quality systems, compliance requirements, and operational challenges.
• Proven expertise in deviation investigations, root cause analysis (RCA), and risk management tools such as FMEA, with the ability to identify effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, capable of building strong relationships and influencing internal teams, customers, auditors, and senior business stakeholders.
• Strong technical writing capability, with experience authoring and reviewing deviations, investigations, technical reports, and other GMP quality documentation.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections and customer audits, confidently presenting investigation outcomes and acting as a subject matter expert for quality and compliance activities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead improvement initiatives and solve complex problems, using data‑driven decision making to enhance investigation quality, compliance, and operational performance.

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.

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 an real difference. Here, will have the freedom to grow, the support to success and the chance to contribute to work that matters. We are the makers of the medicines of tomorrow. Join us. Be you.