Associate Director, Manufacturing

AstraZeneca; Singapore; On-site; SGD 240,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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Job summary

AstraZeneca is building its first biologics manufacturing campus in Singapore, a USD 1.5 billion investment that will serve as a global hub for innovation and excellence. This Associate Director role leads daily manufacturing execution, cross-functional collaboration and readiness across units, with a focus on safe, compliant and efficient operations.

You will drive process transfer, CAPA, validation and digital/Lean initiatives, shaping the future of biologics manufacturing and patient access

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of pharma/biopharma experience with leadership in cGMP ops.
• Experience leading day-to-day operations in regulated environment; 24/7 exposure preferred.
• Strong knowledge of controlled manufacturing for drug substances/products.
• Experience with deviations, CAPA, change control, inspection readiness.
• Experience with facility start-up, tech transfer, validation.
• Lean, Six Sigma or similar problem-solving mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily/weekly production plan execution across shifts.
• Coach first-line leaders and reinforce standard work.
• Uphold cGMP, safety, containment and compliance.
• Drive deviations, root cause analysis and CAPA delivery.
• Prepare for inspections with documentation and readiness.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to resolve issues.
• Lead tech transfer, process validation and new product introductions.
• Implement Lean, digital and AI-enabled solutions.
• Track metrics like safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Develop Manufacturing shift leads and ensure succession.
• Ensure readiness of equipment, materials, and cleaning.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

cGMP

Production planning

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or related

Tools

MES

Automation systems

Job description

Job Title: Associate Director of Manufacturing

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Introduction To Role

Be part of history in the making. AstraZeneca is building its first biologics manufacturing campus in Singapore — a groundbreaking USD 1.5 billion investment that will serve as a global hub for innovation and excellence.

This innovative facility will deliver end-to-end Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) capabilities with different manufacturing units/buildings in one campus.

• Small molecule- chemical API production
• Large molecule- monoclonal antibody manufacturing
• Conjugation
• Fill-and-finish operations, including sterile filling and lyophilization
• Final secondary packaging

The campus will be equipped with modern digital and automation infrastructure, enabling autonomous manufacturing powered by artificial intelligence. In addition, it will be designed for carbon neutrality, embedding sustainability into every aspect of operations and setting a new benchmark for environmentally responsible biologics' manufacturing.

We are looking for passionate individuals with relevant experience who thrive in dynamic environments and bring a "make-it-happen" attitude. Joining us means contributing to a project that will not only transform AstraZeneca’s global supply chain but also advance life‑changing medicines for patients everywhere.

If you’re ready to shape the future of biologics and be part of a once-in-a‑generation project, we want you on our team.

Accountabilities

Manufacturing Execution and Schedule Control: Lead daily and weekly execution of the approved production plan across shifts, setting clear priorities, deploying resources effectively and running disciplined critical issue to protect safe batch progression and schedule adherence.

Shopfloor Leadership and Right-First-Time Performance: Maintain visible leadership on the floor, coach first line leaders at the point of execution, reinforce standard work and data‑driven behaviors, and close performance gaps promptly to deliver right-first-time outcomes.

Safety, Containment, Quality and Compliance: Uphold cGMP, process safety, occupational safety, containment controls and local requirements; ensure hazards and operational risks are understood and controlled before and during execution.

Deviation, Investigation and CAPA Delivery: Ensure timely initiation and operational ownership of deviations; lead or sponsor structured root cause analysis and deliver effective CAPAs that reduce recurrence and improve control.

Operational Readiness and Handover: Drive manufacturing readiness for assigned systems, areas and campaigns, including procedures, batch records, training, staffing, line readiness, materials, cleaning, digital workflows and acceptance of qualified equipment into routine operations.

Cross-Functional Constraint Removal: Coordinate day‑to‑day delivery with QA, QC, Engineering, Validation, Safety, Supply Chain, MSAT and project teams; resolve issues within delegated authority and call out material risks with clear options and recommendations.

New Product Introduction and Process Change Execution: Represent Manufacturing in technical transfer, process validation and change implementation, ensuring operational requirements are embedded and teams, documentation, materials and equipment are ready before execution.

Operational Excellence, Digital and AI Adoption: Deploy approved Lean, digital and responsibly governed AI-enabled solutions; use data and structured problem solving to improve flow, reliability, changeover, cycle time, documentation quality and productivity without compromising GMP or safety.

Performance Management: Establish tier performance management and control execution using agreed metrics across safety, quality, delivery, cost and people; track schedule adherence, right-first-time, deviation recurrence, downtime, cycle time and changeover performance.

People Leadership and Capability: Lead and develop Manufacturing shift leads and team leaders; set clear expectations, coach performance, strengthen technical and leadership capability, support succession plans and foster an inclusive, accountable culture.

Inspection Readiness: Maintain inspection‑ready operations and documentation; prepare teams and evidence for inspections, support front‑room and back‑room responses and ensure manufacturing commitments are completed effectively.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor 's-degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
• Engineering, Biotechnology or a related scientific or engineering subject are.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical experience, including substantial leadership responsibility in cGMP manufacturing, technical operations or operational readiness.
• Experience leading day‑to‑day manufacturing operations and teams in a regulated environment; exposure to shift‑based or 24/7 operations is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of highly controlled manufacturing operations in drug substance, drug product or drug linker.
• Demonstrated capability in production planning, shopfloor management, deviation and CAPA delivery, change control, inspection readiness and cross‑functional issue resolution.
• Experience supporting facility start‑up, major equipment introduction, technical transfer, process validation, new product introduction or capacity expansion.
• Practical knowledge of GMP documentation and operational risk management.
• Experience in fronting GMP, safety and corporate audits or inspections.

Proven people leadership, coaching, communication, judgement and decision‑making skills.

Experience applying Lean or structured problem‑solving methods to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost or people performance.

Ability to work through ambiguity, manage competing priorities and call out risks with clear recommendations.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Advanced-degree in a scientific, engineering or business subject area.
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent operational excellence qualification.
• Experience with MES, automation, advanced analytics or responsibly -governed AI-enabled solutions in a GMP environment.
• Experience in greenfield or brownfield start‑up and transfer from project delivery into routine operations.
• Familiarity with Singapore regulatory expectations and working with global health authorities.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life‑changing medicines. In‑person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca

Here, your operational leadership fuels a clear ambition: deliver more medicines to patients faster and more affordably. You will collaborate with diverse experts who bring science, engineering, digital and Lean practices together, turning complex pipelines into dependable supply through Smart Factory thinking and disciplined execution. We value kindness alongside ambition, pairing high standards with real support so you can take ownership, try new approaches and learn from a global network. Your impact will be visible in stable, inspection‑ready operations, modernized ways of working and the lives improved by the therapies you help bring to market.

Date Posted 13-Oct-2026

Closing Date 26-Oct-2026

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry‑leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non‑discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.