Director, Media Analytics

Lonza; Walkersville (MD); On-site; USD 208,000 - 239,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) matching plan

Life insurance and disability

Employee assistance programs

Paid time off

Job summary

Lonza is seeking a Director of Media Analytics in Walkersville, MD to lead the MSAT Media Analytics function. You will transform diverse data streams—raw materials, processes, and manufacturing—into actionable insights and strategic roadmaps.

This role requires strategic governance, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Quality, IT, and Operations. The successful candidate will drive data-driven decision making, establish analytics standards, and oversee validation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Analytical Chemistry or related field required.
• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of experience leading technical teams.
• Extensive experience in cell culture media analytics and raw material characterization.
• Advanced expertise with analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, HPLC/UHPLC, IC, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, FTIR microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and NIR spectroscopy.
• Strong experience investigating impurities, contaminants, raw material variability, and complex analytical challenges.
• Deep knowledge of analytical chemistry, method development, validation, transfer, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Advanced understanding of cGMP requirements, data integrity principles, validation methodologies, and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the global Media Analytics strategy, operating model, and multi-year roadmap aligned with MSAT and Bioscience priorities.
• Lead the development and deployment of advanced analytical approaches integrating raw material, formulation, process, manufacturing, quality, stability, and customer performance data.
• Establish data governance standards, analytical frameworks, model lifecycle controls, documentation practices, and performance monitoring processes.
• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of analytical and data scientists with career pathways.
• Prioritize and manage an analytics portfolio based on business value, strategic importance, supply and quality risk, feasibility, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with MSAT, Operations, Quality, R&D, Digital/IT, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to translate challenges into scalable analytics solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for product testing, raw material characterization, method validation, process validation, continued process verification, comparability assessments, and complex investigations.
• Champion the use of statistics, machine learning, automation, and data visualization to support informed decisions.
• Present analytical insights, risks, recommendations, and value realization to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Drive innovation by evaluating emerging technologies, analytical methodologies, regulatory expectations, and industry best practices.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, quality, EHS, data integrity, information security, and company requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Data analytics

Machine learning

Data visualization

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Analytical Chemistry or related

Master's degree or Ph.D. preferred

Tools

ICP-MS

HPLC/UHPLC

LC-MS/MS

GC-MS

FTIR microscopy

Raman spectroscopy

NIR spectroscopy

Job description

Location: This position is based in our Walkersville, MD office. The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM EST.

What you will get:

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $208,100 to $238,650. In addition, below you will find a comprehensive summary of the benefits package we offer:

• Performance-related bonus.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) matching plan.
• Life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Paid time off (PTO).

Compensation for this role will be determined by the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.

What will you do

The Director, Media Analytics, will lead the MSAT Media Analytics function, transforming media, raw material, process, manufacturing, and quality data into actionable scientific and business insights. This role will establish strategy, governance, analytical standards, and the digital roadmap for media analytics while driving innovation, operational excellence, and measurable business impact.

• Define and execute the global Media Analytics strategy, operating model, and multi-year roadmap aligned with MSAT and Bioscience business priorities.
• Lead the development and deployment of advanced analytical approaches integrating raw material, formulation, process, manufacturing, quality, stability, and customer performance data.
• Establish data governance standards, analytical frameworks, model lifecycle controls, documentation practices, and performance monitoring processes.
• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of analytical and data scientists while creating technical career pathways and succession plans.
• Prioritize and manage an analytics portfolio based on business value, strategic importance, supply and quality risk, feasibility, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with MSAT, Operations, Quality, R&D, Digital/IT, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to translate scientific and business challenges into scalable analytical solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for product testing, raw material characterization, method validation, process validation, continued process verification, comparability assessments, and complex investigations.
• Champion the responsible use of statistics, machine learning, automation, and data visualization to support informed decision-making.
• Present analytical insights, risks, recommendations, and value realization to senior leadership, customers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Drive innovation by evaluating emerging technologies, analytical methodologies, regulatory expectations, and industry best practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable cGMP, quality, EHS, data integrity, information security, and company requirements.

What we are looking for

• Bachelor's degree in Analytical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline required.
• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of experience leading technical teams and managing complex cross-functional portfolios.
• Extensive experience in cell culture media analytics and raw material characterization.
• Advanced expertise with analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, HPLC/UHPLC, IC, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, FTIR microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and NIR spectroscopy.
• Strong experience investigating impurities, contaminants, raw material variability, and complex analytical challenges.
• Deep knowledge of analytical chemistry, method development, validation, transfer, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Advanced understanding of cGMP requirements, data integrity principles, validation methodologies, and quality systems.
• Experience with multivariate statistics, advanced data analytics, and risk-based decision-making approaches.
• Working knowledge of machine learning, data pipelines, databases, cloud-based analytics platforms, data visualization tools, and statistical programming environments.
• Ability to connect media formulation and raw material variability to process performance, product quality, manufacturing capability, and customer outcomes.
• Experience establishing data governance standards, analytical validation strategies, and sustainable operating models.
• Strong executive communication, stakeholder management, technical writing, and organizational leadership skills.
• Proven ability to simplify complex scientific concepts into clear business decisions and actionable recommendations.

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Reference: R80185

You will feel at home at Lonza if you:

• Take ownership, step forward, and enjoy meaningful responsibility
• Love solving problems and thrive in a complex, fast-moving environment
• Are curious, always looking to learn and improve
• Work collaboratively, contributing to something bigger than yourself
• Are motivated to make a difference through work that impacts customers and their patients

Why Lonza:

We are a place of unique opportunity, where your ideas, expertise and ambition can make a real difference. Here, will have the freedom to grow, the support to succeed and the chance to contribute to work that matters.

We are the makers of the medicines of tomorrow.