Director, Operations

Sterling Pharma Solutions; Town of Germantown (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global contract manufacturing organization is seeking a Director of Operations to lead 24/7 manufacturing activities. The role requires expertise in API manufacturing with a focus on operational excellence, talent development, and compliance. You will be responsible for enhancing production quality and efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance. This position mandates strong leadership, financial acumen, and a hands-on approach to operations. Located in Wisconsin, applicants should possess a chemistry or engineering degree and significant industry experience.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in API or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in plant or manufacturing management.
• Contract manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations across a 24/7 production environment.
• Drive a safety-first, quality-focused culture.
• Manage the operating budget and drive cost efficiency.

Skills

Knowledge of cGMP

Financial acumen

Operational leadership

Effective communicator

Coaching and mentoring skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Summary of Role

Director of Operations is responsible for leading 24/7 manufacturing operations at the Germantown API site, driving a culture of safety, quality, reliability, and continuous improvement. This role ensures operational excellence through strong execution, disciplined performance management, and development of high‑performing teams.

As a member of the site leadership team, the Director of Operations partners cross‑functionally to deliver right‑first‑time production, schedule adherence, and cost‑effective manufacturing performance. This leader balances hands‑on operational oversight with continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen site capability and customer satisfaction.

Operational Leadership

• Lead all manufacturing operations across a 24/7 production environment.
• Drive a safety‑first, quality‑focused culture embedded in daily operations.
• Set and uphold a standard of execution and accountability within teams that extends throughout the site.
• Lead operational tier meetings to ensure alignment, escalation, and issue resolution.
• Ensure equipment readiness, facility cleanliness, and proper function of reactors, transfer lines, and control systems.
• Maintain an organized and disciplined workflow across production areas.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in yields, cycle times, throughput, and waste reduction.
• Ensure schedule adherence and on‑time delivery performance.
• Manage the operating budget and drive cost efficiency aligned with site financial goals.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives and operational excellence methodologies.
• Partner with IBP and Value Stream teams to align executional plans and resource allocation.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure compliance with cGMP, OSHA, FDA, and all regulatory requirements.
• Lead investigations and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain inspection readiness at all times.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of manufacturing activities.

Talent & Leadership

• Directly lead supervisors and managers within Manufacturing.
• Attract, develop, and retain high‑performing talent.
• Coach and mentor leaders to strengthen bench strength and succession planning.
• Reinforce company values and operational discipline across teams.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Technical, and Commercial teams to support customer requirements.
• Provide operational input into technical proposals and project planning.
• Support readiness for new product introductions and scale‑up activities.

Key Competencies

• Strong knowledge of cGMP and API manufacturing operations.
• Working knowledge of OSHA, FDA, and EHS requirements.
• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing teams in a regulated environment.
• Strong operational and financial acumen.
• Proven ability to drive measurable performance improvements.
• Effective communicator with strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Hands‑on leadership style with high accountability.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering required.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in API or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in plant or manufacturing management.
• Contract manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

Travel Requirement

• Up to 10% travel required.

Other Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• This position is not eligible for a flexible schedule.
• This position is not eligible for remote / hybrid work location.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to frequently talk or hear; stand, walk, sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; reach with hands and arms; taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. There is no special vision requirement for this job. The employee may occasionally work in wet or humid conditions, near moving mechanical parts, in high precarious places, near fumes, airborne particles or toxic chemicals.

Diversity and Inclusion

Sterling values diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, past or present military service, marital status, gender identification or expression, medical condition (including genetic characteristics) or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Why Consider Sterling

Sterling Pharma Solutions is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with more than 50 years’ experience in developing and manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This is complemented by Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) research and development bioconjugation services. We are a fast‑growing, dynamic business with facilities in the UK and the US, where we employ more than 800 talented and passionate people who support our customers in bringing new medicines to market, improving and saving the lives of patients. Our culture and way of working sets us apart as a business; we aim to deliver an exceptional experience to our customers and our employees. You can expect to be part of a supportive team, all working towards a shared goal: to deliver first‑class science and service to our customers every day.