Director Of Operations

Careerwise Recruitment; Dublin; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Leading pharmaceutical Company in Ireland seeks a Director of Operations for Drug Substance and Drug Product. You will join the Site Leadership Team to drive technology transfer, readiness, and cultural transformation, delivering high-quality vaccine products worldwide.

You will oversee manufacturing, lead Lean initiatives, manage budgets, ensure cGMP compliance, and prepare for regulatory inspections while building high-performing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (Level 8+) in Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years in Pharmaceutical, Biotech, or Vaccine operational manufacturing.
• 8+ years of direct leadership experience managing high-performing operational teams.
• Proven track record in technology transfer, facility readiness, and operational transformation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a core member of the Site Leadership Team, contributing to long-term strategy, operational planning, and organizational alignment.
• Direct and scale manufacturing across both Drug Substance and Drug Product operations, ensuring alignment with global network goals.
• Lead technology transfer programs and prepare facility infrastructure, processes, and teams for commercial manufacturing.
• Drive operational performance against key targets in EHS, Quality, Supply, Cost, and People, optimizing schedule adherence, product lead times, and release schedules.
• Champion a workplace culture built on Safety First, Quality Always, and Inclusion for All. Coach, mentor, and build high-performing teams.
• Embed Lean principles and a "Right-First-Time" mindset to continuously optimize processes and eliminate waste.
• Own operational budgets, resource planning, and cost-optimization strategies.
• Maintain rigorous cGMP compliance and serve as an operational lead during internal audits and regulatory agency inspections.

Skills

Leadership

Technology transfer

Operational excellence

Lean

cGMP

Regulatory readiness

Budget management

People development

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Science/Engineering

Job description

A Director of Operations in Drug Product & Drug Substance is required for a leading pharmaceutical Company based in Louth in the North East of Ireland. This is a unique opportunity to play a critical role in the journey to commercialisation of a state-of-the-art Vaccine manufacturing facility—driving technology transfer, operational readiness, and cultural transformation while delivering high-quality vaccine products to people worldwide.

THE ROLE

• Serve as a core member of the Site Leadership Team, contributing to long-term strategy, operational planning, and organizational alignment.
• Direct and scale manufacturing across both Drug Substance and Drug Product operations, ensuring alignment with global network goals.
• Lead technology transfer programs and prepare facility infrastructure, processes, and teams for commercial manufacturing.
• Drive operational performance against key targets in EHS, Quality, Supply, Cost, and People, optimizing schedule adherence, product lead times, and release schedules.
• Champion a workplace culture built on Safety First, Quality Always, and Inclusion for All. Coach, mentor, and build high-performing teams.
• Embed Lean principles and a "Right-First-Time" mindset to continuously optimize processes and eliminate waste.
• Own operational budgets, resource planning, and cost-optimization strategies.
• Maintain rigorous cGMP compliance and serve as an operational lead during internal audits and regulatory agency inspections.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree (Level 8 or higher) in Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years in Pharmaceutical, Biotech, or Vaccine operational manufacturing.
• 8+ years of direct leadership experience managing high-performing operational teams.
• Proven track record in technology transfer, facility readiness, and operational transformation.