Senior Director Operations Biotherapeutics

360Pharma; Leiden; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson seeks a Senior Director of Operations Biotherapeutics in Leiden, NL, to lead a large biotherapeutics manufacturing organization. You’ll oversee drug substance operations, drive site transformation, and ensure safety, quality, and compliance while building strong teams and scalable capabilities.

As deputy to the General Manager, you’ll set strategic direction, manage multi-department performance, and partner across functions to deliver reliable products for patients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher in Science, Engineering, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years in biopharmaceutical manufacturing or highly regulated environment.
• Experience leading large, complex manufacturing organizations through transformation.

Responsibilities

• Lead biotherapeutics manufacturing operations across upstream/downstream, warehouse, and services.
• Drive site transformation, operational excellence, and implementation of new technologies.
• Ensure safety, quality, cGMP compliance, and regulatory readiness.
• Build and develop leadership teams, promote inclusive leadership, and succession planning.
• Collaborate with Quality, Engineering, MSAT, Planning, Procurement, Finance, HR, and EHS to deliver site goals.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Strategic leadership

Change management

Operational excellence

Adaptive leadership

Workflow optimization

GMP awareness

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Science/Engineering degree

Tools

BI tools

Job description

We are looking for an experienced leader for the Senior Director Operations Biotherapeutics role in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Purpose

You will lead one of Johnson & Johnson’s largest biotherapeutics manufacturing organizations. You will be accountable for the full biotherapeutic drug substance operations in Leiden—from daily performance on the shop floor to the longer-term direction of the organization. Together with around 1,000 colleagues, you will make sure medicines are produced according to our high safety, compliance, quality, reliability and cost standards. You will help simplify how we work, strengthen the basics, implement new products and prepare the site for the future. As part of the Site Leadership Team and deputy to the General Manager, you will stay close to the operation, the people, and the issues that matter. You will lead the upstream departments, downstream departments, warehouse&logistics and services, while building stronger teams, smarter ways of working, and lasting results.

You will be responsible for:

Operations and performance leadership

Own the performance of Operations. Lead the manufacturing flow across all departments, remove barriers between teams and solve problems end to end. Set a clear direction for Operations and turn it into practical priorities, plans, and decisions that people can act on. Make sound trade-offs. Protect patients and employees, maintain quality and supply, control cost, and keep the organization healthy for the long term.

Site transformation, operational excellence, and innovation

Lead the operation through change without losing focus on today’s commitments. Be clear about what changes, why it matters, and what each team needs to do. Improve daily performance through standard work, lean thinking, useful data, practical digital tools, and disciplined follow-through. Back the right improvement projects, introduce new technology where it adds value, and stop work that does not improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, or capability. Bring new products into the facility successfully while keeping established products stable and reliable.

Quality, safety, and compliance

Put safety, quality, cGMP, and regulatory requirements at the center of daily decisions—not only when an audit or issue occurs. Keep the organization inspection-ready and make sure leaders and teams own the safety, quality, and compliance of their work. Use clear standards, facts, and risk-based judgment. Escalate early, address root causes, and make sure actions are completed and sustained.

People and organizational leadership

Build a strong leadership team that is visible, makes decisions, follows through, and develops others. Create an inclusive Credo-based culture where people speak up, help each other, learn from mistakes, and take ownership for results. Make sure the organization has the right people and skills for today and tomorrow. Take succession, workforce planning, and development seriously. Spend time where the work happens. Listen, ask questions, recognize good work, and help people understand how their daily choices affect patients and the future of Leiden.

Enterprise and stakeholder leadership

Work closely with Quality, Engineering, MSAT, Planning, Procurement, Finance, HR, EHS, and other partners. Agree on clear ownership, resolve conflicts, and deliver together. Bring the Operations perspective into site and network decisions. Be open about risks, needs, and trade-offs, and help turn decisions into action. Build relationships that help work move forward. Challenge constructively, listen to other views, and bring people back to the shared goal. Deputy for the General Manager when needed and lead with the interests of the whole site in mind.

Qualifications and requirements:

Education

A degree in Science, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related discipline is required. An advanced degree or other relevant advanced qualification is preferred.

Experience

A minimum of 15 years of experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing or another highly regulated manufacturing environment. Significant experience in large molecule or biotherapeutics manufacturing, including strong knowledge of large molecule drug substance operations, is required. Extensive senior leadership experience within large, complex manufacturing operations. Demonstrated success leading large organizations through transformation and change while sustaining operational delivery. Proven experience building organizational capability, coaching leaders, and developing talent at scale. Experience applying lean principles, operational excellence, and continuous improvement in manufacturing. Lean Six Sigma expertise is an advantage.

Leadership capabilities

Strategic, collaborative, and decisive leadership style, with the ability to establish a clear direction and translate strategy into execution. Strong business acumen and the ability to balance immediate operational priorities with longer-term site and network strategy. Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across functions, organizational levels, and a complex matrix environment. Commitment to inclusive leadership, talent development, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Other requirements

Fluent English; Dutch knowledge preferred. Daily on-site presence and present leadership across the organization. Travel: Limited travel, expected to be less than 15%.

Preferred Skills:

Agile Manufacturing, Business Intelligence (BI), Change Management, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC), Consulting, Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Developing Others, Gap Analysis, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Manufacturing Standards, Operational Excellence, Organizational Knowledge, Plant Operations, Process Optimization, Strategic Thinking, Workflow Management