Senior Director of Operations

CareerWise Recruitment; Leinster; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Senior Director of Operations in Drug Product & Drug Substance is sought for a leading pharmaceutical company based in Louth, Ireland. Role leads Drug Substance and Drug Product manufacturing, with a focus on technology transfer, process readiness, and global network alignment.

The candidate will drive performance across EHS, Quality, Supply, Cost and People, coach high-performing teams, and foster a safety-first, inclusive culture while embedding Lean and Right-First-Time principles.

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

• Direct and scale drug substance and product manufacturing across sites.
• Lead technology transfer programs and facility readiness for commercial manufacturing.
• Drive performance in EHS, Quality, Supply, Cost and People with lean optimization.
• Coach and build high-performing, inclusive teams.
• Embed Lean and Right-First-Time mindset to reduce waste.
• Own budgets, resources and cost-optimization strategies.
• Maintain cGMP compliance and lead internal audits and inspections.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operations management

Lean principles

Regulatory compliance

People leadership

Education

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

Job description

A Senior Director of Operations in Drug Product & Drug Substance is required for a leading pharmaceutical Company based in Louth in the North East of Ireland

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.