Director, External Manufacturing

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine; Horsham (PA); Hybrid; USD 154,000 - 266,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson in Horsham, PA, is seeking a Director, External Manufacturing Operations to lead the North America external manufacturing network, managing a team of virtual plant managers, driving supply reliability, and advancing cost competitiveness with a strong emphasis on quality and regulatory compliance.

This onsite/hybrid role demands 10+ years in pharmaceutical manufacturing, proven people leadership, and the ability to translate strategy into action across internal and external

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
• 3+ years of people management experience.
• Knowledge of Quality, Technical Operations, Finance, Planning and Procurement.
• Understanding end-to-end supply chain and continuous improvement.
• Experience delivering negotiated agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional external manufacturing network operations.
• Mobilize virtual plant leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Set targets and performance metrics for supply reliability and cost competitiveness.
• Coordinate technology transfers and product launches at external manufacturers.
• Develop external partnerships and governance approaches.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team.

Skills

People leadership

Pharma manufacturing

Quality/compliance

Strategy development

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Education

Master's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson,we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured,where treatments are smarter and less invasive, andsolutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Category

People Leader

Job Function

Supply Chain Manufacturing

Job Sub Function

Multi-Family Supply Chain Manufacturing

Job Category

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations

Horsham, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Titusville, New Jersey, United States of America

Job Description

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way!

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for a Director, External Manufacturing to join our Team! This is an onsite/hybrid role.

Position Summary

The Director, of External Manufacturing Operations leads operations across the North America external manufacturing (EM) network—a critical leadership role connecting manufacturing excellence with reliable supply for patients. Leading a team of virtual plant managers, the Director drives the operational performance of external sites supplying both new and established commercial medicines, with direct impact on critical patient and business needs. This is an opportunity to shape network performance, strengthen sophisticated external partnerships, and translate strategy into results across a complex manufacturing environment.

The Director champions the highest standards of quality, operational and compliance readiness, and cost competitiveness, improving partnership value and minimizing total cost of ownership. Through disciplined performance management, accelerated technology transfers, innovation, operational excellence (OPEX), and continuous process improvement, the role advances both immediate execution and long-term network effectiveness. Success requires influential leadership and extensive collaboration with internal and external partners at site and above-site levels.

The Director designs the team’s operating structure and allocates accountabilities to deliver short- and long-term priorities for the Innovative Medicine Supply Chain (IMSC), Manufacturing and Technical Operations (MTO), and External Manufacturing Platform. Managing spend of more than $50MM, the Director brings external-market insight and strong business judgment to decisions across and on behalf of the platform—turning operational leadership into meaningful impact for patients and the business.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership:

Leads pharmaceutical manufacturing operations across the regional external manufacturing network, translating deep site-based operational experience into reliable medicine supply and sustained manufacturing performance. Mobilizes virtual plant leaders and cross-functional teams to deliver near-term commitments while building the operational capabilities and resilience required for long-term success. Applies manufacturing expertise, technical judgment, and business acumen to anticipate and resolve supply, process, quality/compliance, and financial risks before they affect patients or business performance. Sets clear operational targets and forward-looking performance metrics that drive supply reliability, process effectiveness, inspection readiness, sustained compliance, and cost competitiveness. Brings together Procurement, Planning/Network, External Quality, and MSAT to address complex manufacturing challenges, align priorities, and deliver coordinated action—from supplier strategy and contractual commitments to supply and purchase-order optimization, proactive compliance risk management, and evolving regulatory expectations. Leads operational execution of technology transfers, new product launches, line extensions, and product changes at external manufacturers to ensure readiness and timely product availability. Builds an operating culture grounded in early risk visibility, rigorous problem-solving, decisive action, and shared accountability. Deepens external partnerships to mitigate operational and compliance risks, accelerate innovation, and strengthen long‑term network resilience. Partners with Procurement to improve overall cost performance and capture cost‑reduction opportunities. Defines and prioritizes requirements, expectations, results, and partner needs across IMSC functions and external partners, connecting manufacturing execution to patient and business outcomes.

Strategy:

Shapes the external network and influences and supports IMSC strategy by translating deep operational knowledge and external-market insight into forward‑looking choices for External partnerships. Builds differentiated external partnerships that enable earlier transparency to operational readiness, technology, capacity, regulatory, and industry shifts and create shared road maps for innovation, resilience, and performance. Benchmarks other J&J sites, partner companies, and adjacent industries to identify innovations, continuous improvement opportunities, and best-in‑class processes that support External Manufacturing and business development initiatives. Anticipates emerging operational, supply, quality, and compliance risks; drives preventive actions that reduce risk profiles; and helps evolve governance and compliance approaches in line with changing regulatory expectations. Ensures the team acts as a single point of contact to connect and implement strategic initiatives—including J&J Digital Strategy, capacity expansions, OPEX, and asset management.

People Leadership:

Leads and develops a high performing team and to ensure strong results through effective performance management and development planning. Coaches team members to influence business and patient outcomes via thorough understanding of the external and internal supply landscape and end to end product flows.

Minimum Qualification

• A minimum of a master’s degree is required, other advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in the areas of both pharmaceutical manufacturing operations (general manufacturing, business unit lead, etc) with preference in drug product manufacturing and business management (business development, procurement, value chain management).
• Strong demonstrated knowledge of pharmaceutical industry and specifically manufacturing
• 3+ years of People Management experience, demonstrated cross-cultural people and team leadership.
• Demonstrated knowledge of functions including Quality, Technical Operations, Finance, Planning and Procurement.
• Understanding of end-to-end supply chain considerations and methods of driving continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated experience delivering negotiated agreements.
• Demonstrated experience in strategy development.

Other Requirements

• Required General Manager supply chain and/or site based operational leadership experience.
• Preferred small molecule/synthetics DP/Packaging experience.
• Preferred External Manufacturing experience and leadership
• Demonstrated ability to translate operational insights into clear, actionable enterprise priorities and influence decisions across a large, complex, matrixed organization, with strong upward potential for broader leadership responsibilities.
• High level of credibility with internal business partners and within the external manufacturing supply chain community
• Strong influencing skills with ability to see issues from multiple viewpoints; has observable leadership behaviors)
• Proven track record in attracting and developing talent
• Prior success in major change role as architect and/or leading implementation
• Proven track record leading cross-functional teams, and building strong team culture
• Demonstrated flexibility to respond to changes in the external and internal environments

Key Competencies

• Business and Pharma Technical Acumen
• Operational Leadership
• Compliance and Pharma Regulations
• Strategy Development and Strategic Decision Making
• Supply Chain Optimization
• Business Case Development
• Influencing Others

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

If you are under 18 years of age, you (the candidate) may need to obtain the necessary working papers or other documentation required by state law to start the assignment, as well as get a parent’s consent for the background check.

Required Skills

Agile Manufacturing, Compliance Management, Contract Management, Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Developing Others, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Leadership, Negotiation, Performance Measurement, Plant Operations, Relationship Building, Resource Planning, Spend Analysis, Strategic Sourcing, Strategic Supply Chain Management, Vendor Selection

Preferred Skills

Agile Manufacturing, Compliance Management, Contract Management, Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Developing Others, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Leadership, Negotiation, Performance Measurement, Plant Operations, Relationship Building, Resource Planning, Spend Analysis, Strategic Sourcing, Strategic Supply Chain Management, Vendor Selection

The anticipated base pay range for this position is

$154,000.00 - $265,650.00

Additional Description For Pay Transparency

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

Benefits

• Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
• Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
• Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days
• Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
• Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year

Additional information can be found through the link below.

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits