Operational Coach (Start-up Phase)
MSD Netherlands
Get more replies from employers
Send a job-specific resume in minutes.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
MSD Netherlands in Boxmeer is seeking an Operational Coach – Blend & Fill Facility (Start-up Phase) to build, lead and develop a capable operations team within a fully digital, paperless manufacturing environment.
You will partner with M&R, Engineering, QA, QC, Supply Chain, Digital Manufacturing and Projects to ensure commissioning, qualification and readiness, while promoting safety, quality and data-driven performance from Day 1.
Qualifications
- Degree in Engineering, Process Technology, Life Sciences or related field.
- Experience in regulated manufacturing (pharma/biotech/food/chemical).
- Proven ability to lead and coach operational teams, ideally in start-up or transformation.
- GMP, EHS, quality systems, and regulatory knowledge in a regulated environment.
- Digitally savvy with interest in using tech, data, and automation to improve performance.
- Experience with MES, EBR, or digital manufacturing tech is preferred.
- Dutch and English fluent (written and spoken).
Responsibilities
- Recruit, onboard, train, and develop operators for a high‑performing team.
- Establish team structures, shift patterns, and clear roles.
- Foster ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Prepare operators for a paperless manufacturing environment.
- Drive adoption of digital systems, EBRs, and data‑driven workflows.
- Build digital capabilities and use performance data for decisions.
- Support development and implementation of processes, standards, and training.
- Contribute to staffing, capability development, and readiness planning.
- Ensure safe, compliant start-up operations from Day 1.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
You are responsible for building not only the future operating team, but also the digital manufacturing culture required to successfully operate a next-generation, paperless production facility. For our Animal Health location Boxmeer, we are currently recruiting an Operational Coach – Blend & Fill Facility (Start-up Phase).
Welcome in our team. As part of a fully digital manufacturing facility, the Operational Coach plays a key role in preparing the workforce to operate in a paperless environment supported by advanced manufacturing technologies, real-time data, connected systems, and digital workflows. The role is instrumental in fostering a culture that embraces innovation, continuous learning, and digital adoption. Working closely with fellow Operational Coaches and cross-functional partners including Maintenance & Reliability (M&R), Engineering, Automation, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Supply Chain, Digital Manufacturing, and Project teams, the Operational Coach helps ensure the facility is prepared for commissioning, qualification, validation, and commercial operations.
The Operational Coach is responsible for building, developing, and leading a team of operators during the start-up and operational readiness phase of a new Blend & Fill manufacturing facility. The role is critical in establishing a high-performing organization capable of safely, compliantly, and efficiently operating a state-of-the-art manufacturing environment. The role combines people leadership, operational readiness, digital transformation, and hands‑on involvement in facility start‑up activities. Acting as a change leader, the Operational Coach fosters a culture of safety, quality, accountability, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and digital‑first thinking from the earliest stages of facility operation.
- Recruit, onboard, train, and develop operators to build a high-performing operations team.
- Establish team structures, shift patterns, clear roles, and accountabilities.
- Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation.
- Prepare and coach operators for a fully paperless manufacturing environment.
- Drive adoption of digital manufacturing systems, electronic batch records, and data-driven workflows.
- Build digital capabilities and promote the use of performance data for decision‑making and operational excellence.
- Support development and implementation of operational processes, standards, and training programs.
- Contribute to staffing, capability development, and readiness planning.
- Ensure operators are prepared to execute manufacturing processes safely, compliantly, and right first time from Day 1.
- Promote a strong safety-first and quality-first culture.
- Ensure compliance with GMP, EHS, data integrity, and regulatory requirements.
- Drive risk mitigation and coach teams on quality, compliance, and data governance standards.
- Successful recruitment, onboarding, and qualification of the operations workforce.
- Readiness of people, processes, systems, and digital tools for commissioning and validation.
- High adoption and effective use of digital manufacturing capabilities.
- Safe, compliant, and efficient execution of start‑up and qualification activities.
- Development of a capable, digitally enabled, and self‑sustaining operations team.
- Seamless transition from project phase to commercial operations with strong engagement and continuous improvement.
- Bachelor's degree (HBO level) in Engineering, Process Technology, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field.
- Proven experience in a manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, chemical, or other regulated production environment.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and coach operational teams, preferably within a start-up, expansion, or transformation environment.
- Strong understanding of GMP, EHS, quality systems, and regulatory requirements within a regulated manufacturing environment.
- Digitally savvy with an interest in leveraging technology, data, and automation to improve operational performance.
- Experience working with manufacturing execution systems (MES), electronic batch records (EBR), digital workflows, data visualization tools, or other digital manufacturing technologies is preferred.
- Fluent in Dutch and English, both written and verbal.
The opportunity to contribute to the health and well‑being of both animals and people, within a stable environment where collaboration and collegiality come first. In addition, you can expect
- A competitive salary based on your knowledge and experience.
- A 3% year-end allowance and an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.
- A minimum of 35.5 days of annual leave.
- Travel expense reimbursement and a solid pension scheme.
- A high-quality on-site restaurant offering fresh and healthy options daily.
- Excellent accessibility the train station is located directly at our main entrance, and there is ample parking available.
- A contribution toward your personal gym or sports membership to support your well-being.
- A beautiful private park on site, ideal for a walk, break, or moment of relaxation.
- Mental well-being support via Lyra Health for you and your family members.
- Access to a dedicated prayer and meditation room.
- Extensive growth and development opportunities thanks to the size of the site and the presence of multiple disciplines and global departments represented in Boxmeer.
- A workplace within an organization that continues to grow and evolve.
Our Animal Health division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well‑being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive impact on animal care and the world’s food supply, with a strong sense of responsibility toward our customers, consumers, animals, society, and the planet.
Through our commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, we provide veterinarians, farmers, pet owners, and governments with one of the broadest portfolios of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and health management solutions and services. This includes an extensive range of digitally connected identification, traceability, and monitoring products. We invest in dynamic and comprehensive R&D capabilities and a modern global supply chain. We operate in more than 50 countries, with our products available in approximately 150 markets worldwide.
Adaptability, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Machinery Operation, Operational Efficiency, Process Improvements, Production Planning, Teamwork
Regular
Not Applicable
08/26/2026
R408175
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
