Inspection Assembly & Packaging Operations Manager

GSK; Barnard Castle; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

GSK in Barnard Castle, United Kingdom, is seeking an experienced operations leader to run inspection, assembly and packaging on-site. You will manage daily production, quality and safety while coaching a large team and collaborating with engineering and supply chain to deliver compliant output.

You will drive continuous improvement, support new product introductions and own staffing plans, work patterns and performance reporting in a fast-paced GMP environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading pharmaceutical manufacturing operations within a GMP environment.
• Strong technical understanding of sterile manufacturing and regulatory requirements.
• Proven people leadership with coaching and development of large teams.
• Track record of delivering operational excellence using Lean, Six Sigma and DMAIC.
• Experience leading change and new product introductions, tech implementations or start-ups.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate inspection, assembly and packaging operations to meet safety, quality, schedule and cost targets.
• Develop and coach frontline leaders and operators to build capability and support career growth.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and maintain site quality standards through clear processes and checks.
• Drive continuous improvement projects to increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Support new product introductions and transfers by working with engineering, quality and supply chain teams.
• Own operational staffing plans, shift rostering and performance metrics reporting.

Skills

Data Integrity

Detail-Oriented

Digital Fluency

Emergency Response

Financial Acumen

GxP Regulations

Lean Management

Manufacturing Processes

Problem Solving

Production Management

Project Coordination

Quality Compliance

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Awareness

Site Operations

Education

Degree or vocational qualification in a technical or manufacturing discipline

Job description

Closing Date: 31st August 2026 (COB)

Business Introduction

We manufacture and supply reliable, high-quality medicines and vaccines to meet patients’ needs and drive our performance.

Our network of 37 medicines and vaccines manufacturing sites delivered 1.7 billion packs of medicines and 409 million vaccine doses in 2024 to help make a positive impact on the health of millions of people. Our supply chain is not just core to our operations; it’s vital to bringing our innovations to patients as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible. Technology is transforming how we manufacture medicines and vaccines, enabling us to increase the speed, quality and scale of product supply.

We need the very best minds and capability to help us on our journey to make more complex products, harnessing the power of smart manufacturing technologies including robotics, digital solutions and artificial intelligence to deliver for patients.

Position Summary

You will lead inspection, assembly and packaging operations at a GSK site in the United Kingdom. You will manage day-to-day production, quality and safety while coaching your team to improve. You will work closely with quality, engineering and supply chain colleagues to deliver on-time, compliant output. We value clear leadership, practical problem solving and a people-first approach. This role offers visible growth, meaningful impact and a chance to help GSK unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career. These responsibilities include some of the following:

• Lead and coordinate inspection, assembly and packaging operations to meet safety, quality, schedule and cost targets.
• Develop and coach frontline leaders and operators to build capability and support career growth.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and maintain site quality standards through clear processes and checks.
• Drive continuous improvement projects to increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Support new product introductions and transfers by working with engineering, quality and supply chain teams.
• Own operational staffing plans, shift rostering and performance metrics reporting.

Why You?

Basic Qualification

We are seeking professionals with the following required skills and qualifications to help us achieve our goals

• Extensive experience leading pharmaceutical manufacturing operations within a GMP-regulated environment, with a strong background in inspection, assembly and packaging processes. Able to balance operational delivery, quality, compliance and customer supply requirements in a fast-paced production setting.
• Strong technical understanding of sterile manufacturing and regulatory requirements, including the operational discipline needed to maintain product quality, patient safety, data integrity and inspection readiness. Experience working with automated manufacturing or visual inspection technologies would be highly advantageous.
• Proven people leadership capability, with experience leading and developing large teams through coaching, performance management and talent development. Able to build a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement while working effectively across multiple functions and stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering operational excellence and performance improvement, using Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC and other structured problem-solving methodologies to improve productivity, quality, reliability and cost performance.
• Experience leading significant change and business transformation initiatives, including new product introductions, implementation of new technologies, and the commissioning or start-up of new facilities, processes or equipment. Able to ensure operational readiness and embed sustainable performance improvements.

Preferred Qualification

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus

• Degree or vocational qualification in a technical or manufacturing discipline.
• Experience in pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma or similar methodologies.
• Experience with shift-based teams and complex rostering.
• Involvement in new product introductions, scale-up or facility transfers.
• Familiarity with electronic batch records or manufacturing execution systems.

Working pattern and location

This is an on-site role at Barnard Castle in the United Kingdom.

What we value in you

You are practical, calm under pressure and focused on developing people. You solve operational issues with a clear, structured approach. You communicate openly and build strong relationships. You act with integrity and put safety and quality first.

We welcome applicants who bring diverse experiences and perspectives and who support an inclusive workplace.

Skills

Data Integrity, Detail-Oriented, Digital Fluency, Emergency Response, Financial Acumen, GxP Regulations, Lean Management, Manufacturing Processes, Problem Solving, Production Management, Project Coordination, Quality Compliance, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Awareness, Site Operations

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at [e-mail] where you can also request a call.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the link where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive