Director of Operations

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

Job summary

CareerWise Recruitment is seeking a Director of Operations for a leading pharmaceutical company in Louth, Ireland. The role oversees Drug Substance and Drug Product manufacturing, technology transfer, and the drive toward commercialisation with a focus on safety, quality and inclusion.

The position requires extensive leadership experience in pharma operations, a strong track record in technology transfer and a commitment to Lean, Right-First-Time principles and cost optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech/vaccine operations.
• 8+ years in direct leadership of operational teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve on Site Leadership Team contributing to long-term strategy and planning.
• Direct and scale Drug Substance and Drug Product manufacturing operations.
• Lead technology transfer programs and prepare facility for commercial manufacturing.
• Drive performance against EHS, Quality, Supply, Cost and People targets.
• Coach and develop high-performing teams with a culture of Safety First, Quality Always.
• Embed Lean and Right-First-Time mindset to eliminate waste and optimize processes.
• Own budgets, resource planning and cost-optimization.
• Maintain cGMP compliance and lead internal audits and regulatory inspections.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational excellence

Lean manufacturing

Regulatory compliance (cGMP)

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (Level 8+) in Science/Engineering

Job description

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.