Director, Process & Analytical Development

Lonza Group Ltd.; Walkersville (MD); Hybrid; Confidential; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) matching plan

Life insurance and disability coverage

Employee assistance programs

PTO

Job summary

Lonza Group Ltd. seeks a Director, Process & Analytical Development to lead analytical and process development activities for the ADS US organization. Initial remote work with a future move to an on-site center of gravity in the U.S.

East Coast/Midwest as the project progresses, anticipated in 2027. This senior role oversees budgeting, portfolio management, and strategic initiatives, collaborating with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and MSAT to ensure technology transfers and compliant, timely

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, life sciences, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or related field required; PhD preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in pharma/biotech/CDMO environments.
• Strong knowledge of small molecule drug substance manufacturing and GMP operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for all analytical and process development activities within the ADS US organization.
• Drive Lean maturity and operational excellence across ADPD.
• Partner with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, MSAT, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure successful technology transfer and commercialization.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean/Six Sigma

Technology transfer

Portfolio management

Budget ownership

Operational readiness

Data integrity

Education

Master’s degree in engineering, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field

PhD preferred

Tools

Automation systems

Digital systems

Job description

Director, Process & Analytical Development Location: This position is currently remote. A future transition to an on-site location on the U.S. East-Coast/Mid-West is anticipated as the project progresses, with an expected timeline in 2027. This is a full-time role with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What you will get:

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $196,700 to $232,650.

• 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, Process & Analytical Development (ADPD) provides overall leadership for all analytical development, process development, and project-specific manufacturing activities within the ADS US organization. The incumbent is accountable for ensuring the ADPD organization consistently delivers services and products safely, compliantly, on time, in full, and within budget while aligning with ADS business objectives and strategic growth priorities. This position will initially operate remotely and transition to the future center of gravity for ADPD in the United States as the organization continues to expand. Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing ADPD organization, fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, accountability, safety, innovation, and continuous improvement. Define and execute the strategic direction of the ADPD organization through long-term planning, portfolio management, resource allocation, organizational design, and performance management. Establish the capabilities, infrastructure, and talent required to support future manufacturing operations, business growth, and operational readiness. Serve as a key contributor to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, ensuring development capabilities, capacity, and organizational structures are aligned with business objectives and customer demand. Provide leadership and oversight for all development and project-specific manufacturing activities, ensuring execution meets Safety, Quality, Compliance, Delivery, and Cost expectations. Maintain ownership and accountability for organizational budgets, resource planning, and operational performance. Drive Lean maturity across the organization, establishing a culture of Operational Excellence and continuous improvement that supports sustainable business performance. Lead strategic initiatives and transformation programs that advance the ADPD organization's capabilities, efficiency, and effectiveness. Partner closely with R&D, Manufacturing, MSAT, Engineering, Quality, Automation, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to ensure successful technology transfer, operational readiness, and commercialization execution. Act as a key stakeholder in the evaluation, acquisition, and implementation of new technologies, ensuring the organization maintains state-of-the-art scientific and technical capabilities. Establish governance processes, performance metrics, and decision-making frameworks that support business objectives and organizational growth. Support site startup, facility expansion, validation, and capital investment initiatives as required to meet future business needs.

What we are looking for:

Master’s degree in engineering, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field required; PhD preferred. 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CDMO, or related life sciences environments. Deep understanding of small molecule and bioconjugate technologies. Extensive leadership experience within Process Development, Analytical Development, Technical Operations, Manufacturing, or related GMP-regulated organizations. Strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, cGMP requirements, technology transfer, validation, operational readiness, and commercialization activities. Demonstrated experience supporting facility startup, expansion projects, greenfield or brownfield investments, and large-scale capital programs. Proven success leading organizations through growth, transformation, and operational scale-up initiatives. Strong technical knowledge and experience in small molecule drug substance manufacturing. Ability to influence and collaborate across Engineering, Quality, MSAT, Automation, Manufacturing, EHS, HR, Finance, and Commercial functions without relying solely on direct authority. Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into practical, scalable operational solutions. Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate operational readiness, risks, business performance, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and governance bodies. Experience building organizations, developing talent, and preparing teams for future operational and business needs. Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, automation, digital systems, and data integrity principles. Demonstrated capability in portfolio management, strategic planning, budget ownership, and resource allocation. Ability to effectively navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and lead within a fast‑paced environment with multiple stakeholders. Strong leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills with a track record of delivering sustainable business results. Ability and willingness to transition to an East Coast or Midwest U.S. site location as project needs evolve.

Travel: Willingness and ability to travel to EMEA and NA at approximately 25-30% of the time to meet business objectives.

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.