Associate Director, Alexion External Plant Operations 12 Month FTC

AstraZeneca; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca in Ireland seeks a Senior leader to manage an external manufacturing network delivering biologics therapies. You will translate strategy into operational excellence across CMOs, ensuring compliant supply from late-stage clinical through commercial operations.

Based in Dublin, you will shape network strategy, drive inspection readiness, and contribute to regulatory filings while partnering with internal teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience enabling operations for biologics manufacturing.
• Extensive knowledge across drug substances and products.
• Deep understanding of cGMP for clinical and commercial manufacturing.
• Experience presenting technical aspects during regulatory inspections.
• Proven track record with technology transfers and scale‑up.
• Experience collaborating with CMOs and cross‑functional teams.
• BS in Scientific or Engineering field.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross‑functional governance with CMOs to meet supply, quality, and budget objectives.
• Provide operational and technical oversight of drug substance and product manufacturing at CMOs.
• Drive network strategy, inspection readiness, and regulatory filing support.
• Identify and implement process improvements to yield, quality, and capacity.
• Co‑develop end‑to‑end supply optimization and inventory strategy.
• Lead risk-based oversight and governance models across the network.
• Visit CMOs to strengthen performance and issue resolution.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Influencing skills

Regulatory interactions

Education

BS degree in Science or Engineering

Tools

Quality systems knowledge

Job description

Are you ready to lead a complex external manufacturing network to deliver life-transforming therapies for people living with rare and devastating diseases? In this role, you will turn strategic intent into operational excellence—ensuring reliable, compliant supply while elevating performance across multiple contract manufacturing organizations.

Based in Dublin, you will be a key member of a growing External Manufacturing & Operations function, partnering closely with internal and CMO teams to uphold the highest manufacturing standards from late-stage clinical and PPQ through sustaining commercial operations. You will shape network strategy, inspection readiness, and contributions to regulatory filings—so patients receive vital medicines without delay.

Accountabilities:

• CMO Partnership Leadership: Lead and direct cross‑functional, tiered governance with CMOs to meet supply, quality, schedule, and budget objectives; proactively surface and resolve issues and manage risks end‑to‑end.
• Technical Oversight: Provide deep operational and technical expertise across drug substance and drug product manufacturing at CMOs; lead troubleshooting and high‑level deviation investigations with internal partners.
• Governance and Alignment: Lead Local and Global Joint Steering Committee engagements, driving clear decisions and internal cross‑functional alignment on priorities and trade‑offs.
• Process and Yield Improvement: Identify and implement initiatives that improve efficiency, yield, quality, and capacity; bring together and scale standard methodologies across the network.
• End‑to‑End Supply Optimization: Co‑develop strategies that improve success rates and flow through the value chain; partner across functions to maintain optimal months‑on‑hand inventory.
• Network Strategy and COGs: Provide strategic operational input to network decisions (including CMO selection and S&OP) and partner with Finance to deliver and track cost‑of‑goods reduction plans.
• Risk‑Based Oversight Model: Build and deploy a right‑sized oversight approach with CMO partners to focus attention where it creates the most value as the portfolio grows.
• Regulatory and Inspection Excellence: Drive perfection in PAI and routine cGMP inspections; provide SME input for IND, BLA, and other regulatory submissions supporting CMO‑operated processes.
• Travel and Site Engagement: Visit CMO sites routinely to strengthen relationships, verify performance, and accelerate issue resolution.

Immediate focus will be on stabilizing and elevating performance at current CMOs; as you demonstrate results, you will influence broader network strategy and accelerate supply resilience for a growing portfolio. How will you raise the bar on external operations and translate it into diligent supply for patients?

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in providing operational / technical support to biologics product manufacturing
• Extensive knowledge of a variety of drug substance manufacturing platforms (such as mammalian cell culture, microbial fermentation, small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, etc.), drug product and finished product
• Comprehensive understanding of cGMP requirements for clinical and commercial manufacturing
• Ability to present and defend technical aspects of manufacturing operations during regulatory agency inspections
• Demonstrated experience with technology transfers and scale‑up of manufacturing processes
• Experience of working with CMOs demonstrating strong communication and influencing skills
• Ability to demonstrate strategic thinking and risk management - Systems and process development, optimization and implementation
• Minimum BS degree in Scientific (Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry) or Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical) related field

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Advanced degree in a relevant Scientific or Engineering discipline - Experience leading governance with external manufacturers (local/global steering committees)
• Demonstrated success in PPQ/validation, PAI readiness, and inspection response
• Validated delivery of cost‑of‑goods reduction initiatives and effective participation in S&OP
• Experience contributing to IND/BLA and other regulatory filings for externally operated processes
• Track record designing and implementing risk‑based oversight models in CMO networks
• Familiarity with rare disease biologics and lifecycle stages from late‑stage clinical through commercial

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life‑changing medicines.

In‑person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility.

Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca: Here, your impact is visible and immediate: you will work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with scientists, engineers, quality and supply leaders to turn pioneering science into dependable medicines for some of the most underserved patients. You will experience the agility and autonomy of a biotech backed by the scale and investment of a global company, with access to cutting‑edge technology, bold cross‑functional collaboration, and leaders who value kindness alongside ambition. This is a place to stretch your capabilities, shape network strategy, and see your decisions ripple from the plant floor to patients’ lives.

Date Posted 19-Oct-2026

Closing Date 01-Nov-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.