VP Manufacturing Operations Sweden & Managing Director

Danaher Life Sciences; Solna kommun; On-site; SEK 1 250 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A global life sciences company in Solna seeks a VP Manufacturing Operations & Managing Director to oversee all aspects of Manufacturing and Engineering. This leadership role requires 20+ years of experience in operations, with strong capabilities in managing multicultural teams. The ideal candidate will foster an inclusive work environment and ensure compliance with local regulations. Strong communication skills in Swedish and English, alongside strategic thinking, are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of Operations/Technical Operations experience.
• 10+ years managing cross-cultural teams.
• 6+ years as a people leader at senior management level.
• Fluency in Swedish and English.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Manufacturing and Technical Operations for the IVD factory.
• Lead a team of 500 employees.
• Ensure safety compliance and risk mitigation.
• Develop production capacity plans and quality standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic mindset

Cross-cultural collaboration

Influencing skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Overview

Bring more to life. Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology? At Cepheid, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—we’re united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact. You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where your unique viewpoint matters. By harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life.

At Cepheid, we are passionate about improving health care through fast, accurate, molecular diagnostic systems and tests. As a member of our team, you’ll get to make an immediate, measurable impact on a global scale, within an environment that fosters career growth and development. Our mission drives us to develop groundbreaking solutions for the world’s most complex health challenges. Together, we bring MORE change to the world. Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.

Role

As the VP Manufacturing Operations Sweden & Managing Director, you will be accountable for overseeing all aspects of Manufacturing, Engineering, Technical Operations, Program Management, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) and Facility Management for the IVD factory in Solna, Sweden. Reporting directly to the VP Global Manufacturing Operations, the VP Manufacturing Operations Sweden & Managing Director leads a team of around 500 employees, comprising engineers, technicians, and administrative staff. This includes managing 8 direct reports and an additional 10 employees within a matrix organization. Beyond these operational responsibilities, the role also acts as the legal representative for Cepheid Sweden and serves as a board member of the entity, ensuring compliance with local regulatory and corporate governance requirements and aligning site objectives with broader corporate strategy.

The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of manufacturing best practices within the diagnostics industry, a proven record of driving operational excellence across diverse, global teams. Strong analytical skills and a forward-thinking mindset are essential, as the role requires not only the oversight of current operations but also the anticipation of future business needs and trends. Exceptional communication abilities, a commitment to fostering inclusive leadership, and the capacity to inspire cross-functional collaboration are key attributes for success in this role. A critical aspect of this role is leading the site’s management team to foster alignment and collaboration among diverse departments, building cohesive partnerships across manufacturing, engineering, technical operations, and program management to pursue operational excellence and drive high-quality outcomes.

In This Role, Your Job Responsibilities Include

• Develop the production capacity plan in partnership with Global Supply Chain and establish procedures for maintaining high quality standards to ensure that products conform and exceed established customer and company quality standards.
• Ensure that organization structure, resources, facilities and capital equipment are available to meet long-term production forecasts.
• Provide leadership and strategy in the hiring, development, engagement and performance of the organization.
• Foster an environment where employees take individual responsibility for their success and alignment with our core behaviors.
• Communicate the company vision and develop site culture through leading from the front with words and actions.
• Maintain a safe and compliant working environment at the Sweden site, upholding local and international workplace safety regulations, proactively identifying and mitigating risks, and embedding safety in daily operations.

Essential Requirements

The Essential Requirements Of The Job Include

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 20+ years of Operations and/or Technical Operations experience or 18+ years with Master’s degree.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience working in multicultural environments, successfully navigating cross-cultural teams and fostering inclusive collaboration across global sites.
• 6+ years of experience leading people leaders at Director, Sr. Manager, and Manager levels.
• Strong people leadership, a global and strategic mindset.
• Highly effective influencing, verbal and written communications skills, as well as demonstrated negotiating skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across organizational lines in a matrixed organization.
• Experience working with Swedish unions demonstrating knowledge of local labor laws, collective bargaining, and effective collaboration with union representatives.
• Fluency in Swedish and English is required.

Nice to Have

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Prior experience from Life Science, Diagnostic, Medical Device and/or Biopharmaceutical industry.

Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

For more information, visit www.danaher.com.