Director, Manufacturing

Bio-Rad Laboratories; Richmond (CA); On-site; USD 179,000 - 232,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards Program

Bonus potential

Professional development

Job summary

Bio-Rad Laboratories in Richmond, CA, seeks a Director of Manufacturing to lead chemical manufacturing operations and develop pilot capabilities in Suzhou, China. You’ll oversee Production, Materials, Engineering, QC, Regulatory, and Safety while partnering with Quality, EH&S, R&D, and Finance to ensure reliable operations and growth.

You’ll drive Lean, Six Sigma, and cost improvements, support new product introductions, scale-up, and technology transfer, and build leadership across a global

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in a scientific or technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years leading manufacturing operations in regulated environments.
• Experience with multidisciplinary teams and global operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead chemical manufacturing operations with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, inventory, and customer service.
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with capacity, gross margin objectives, and growth.
• Oversee Production, Materials, Chemical Development, Engineering, QC, Plant Maintenance, Regulatory, and Safety.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement across the network.
• Ensure compliance with quality, EH&S, regulatory requirements and risk management.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Lean Six Sigma

Regulatory compliance

Financial acumen

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering/Life Sciences

Master's/PhD preferred

Tools

SAP

Job description

Bio-Rad is seeking a Director of Manufacturing to lead our chemical manufacturing operations in Richmond, California, with additional responsibility for developing pilot manufacturing capabilities in Suzhou, China.

This role provides leadership across Production, Materials, Chemical Development, Engineering, Quality Control, Plant Maintenance, Regulatory, and Safety. The Director is accountable for delivering strong performance in safety, quality, customer service, cost, productivity, and inventory while building manufacturing capabilities to support future business growth.

The successful candidate will bring strong manufacturing and technical leadership, business judgment, and experience leading complex operations in a regulated environment. This position partners closely with Quality, EH&S, R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, and business leadership to ensure reliable operations, successful new product introductions, and a resilient manufacturing network.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Lead chemical manufacturing operations with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, inventory, and customer service.
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with business requirements, capacity needs, gross margin objectives, and long-term growth.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary organization across Production, Materials, Chemical Development, Engineering, QC, Plant Maintenance, Regulatory, and Safety.
• Drive operational excellence through Lean, Six Sigma, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality, environmental, health and safety, chemical process safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with EH&S, Quality, Regulatory, Legal, and other functions to proactively identify and mitigate operational, regulatory, and business continuity risks.
• Develop and execute equipment, infrastructure, automation, and capital investment strategies to improve reliability, capacity, and efficiency.
• Drive cost and productivity improvements across labor, yield, scrap, waste, material usage, manufacturing variances, and inventory.
• Partner with R&D and business teams to enable effective new product introduction, scale-up, industrialization, and technology transfer.
• Lead development of pilot manufacturing capabilities in Suzhou to support new product introduction and greater flexibility across the manufacturing network.
• Develop manufacturing budgets and capital plans and ensure disciplined management of operating expenses and investments.
• Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, employee engagement, and development of strong leaders.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer focus.

What You Bring:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, or another relevant scientific or technical discipline required; Master's degree or PhD preferred.
• Work Experience: 12+ years experience leading manufacturing operations in a regulated and technically complex environment, preferably within chemical, life science, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary manufacturing and technical teams.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, quality systems, EH&S, process safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience with manufacturing budgets, product costs, productivity, inventory, and capital investment.
• Experience leading operational improvement, capital, automation, capacity, or manufacturing transformation initiatives.
• Experience supporting new product introduction, scale-up, industrialization, and/or technology transfer.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and manage complex operational and business risks while maintaining continuity of supply.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop leaders and build high-performing teams.
• Experience working across functions and geographies in a global organization preferred.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, SAP, or comparable manufacturing systems preferred.

Location:

This position must be based in Richmond, CA and requires the employee to be located within commuting distance of the office.

Total Rewards Package:

At Bio-Rad, we’re empowered by our purpose and recognize that our employees are as well. That’s why we offer a competitive and comprehensive Total Rewards Program that provides value, quality, and inclusivity while satisfying the diverse needs of our evolving workforce. Bio-Rad’s robust offerings serve to enrich the overall health, wealth, and wellbeing of our employees and their families through the various stages of an employee’s work and life cycle.

Benefits:

We’re proud to offer a variety of options, including competitive medical plans for you and your family, free HSA funds, a new fertility offering with stipend, group life and disability, paid parental leave, 401k plus profit sharing, an employee stock purchase program, a new upgraded and streamlined mental health platform, extensive learning and development opportunities, education benefits, student debt relief program, pet insurance, wellness challenges and support, paid time off, Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s), and more!

Compensation:

The estimated base salary range for this position is $179,400 to $232,000 at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if applicable, and is based on several factors we believe fairly and accurately impact compensation, including geographic location, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other job permitted factors. This position is eligible for a variable annual bonus, which is dependent upon achievement of your individual objectives and Company performance.

Who We Are:

For 70 years, Bio-Rad has focused on advancing the discovery process and transforming the fields of science and healthcare. As one of the top five life science companies, we are a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a broad range of high-quality research and clinical diagnostic products. We help people everywhere live longer, healthier lives. Bio-Rad offers a unique employee experience with collaborative teams that span the globe. Here, you are supported by leadership to build your career and are empowered to drive change that makes an impact you can see.

EEO Statement:

Bio-Rad is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, and we welcome candidates of all backgrounds. Veterans, people with physical or mental disabilities, and people of all race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin and citizenship status are encouraged to apply.

Legal Entity: (USA_1000)Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.