Director, Production

Teknova-; Hollister (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and and

401(k) retirement plan with 4% match

ESPP

Wellness program

Continuous learning opportunities

Paid holidays, PTO, and sick leave

Job summary

Teknova seeks a Director of Production to lead all production functions, optimize KPIs, and reduce lead times while ensuring high-quality products for customers in biopharma.

You will drive cross-functional collaboration with quality, regulatory, EHS, supply chain, and engineering, mentor managers, manage budgets, and ensure FDA/GMP compliance.

This role requires a Bachelor’s in chemistry/biochemistry and 8+ years of management in bioproduction, with Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of management experience in complex, reagent or consumable production in the biopharmaceutical space.
• Practical experience with continuous improvement methodologies and/or lean 6-sigma to improve processes, strengthen quality and drive efficiency.
• Clear understanding of best manufacturing management principles, including their application in a high growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Establish KPIs and drive improvements across the production workflow.
• Develop and communicate a vision and strategic objectives aligned with operations and business strategy.
• Identify projects and plans for footprint optimization, in-source vs. outsource, and process improvement.
• Collaborate with quality, regulatory, EHS, production, supply chain, logistics, and engineering for compliant production.
• Coach, mentor and lead with operational excellence / lean tools to improve productivity and quality.
• Oversee hiring, training, and performance reviews of production teams.
• Lead site leadership across functions to achieve site goals.
• Drive FDA, GMP, and global Quality System Regulation compliance.
• Monitor and manage progress on projects and milestones.
• Manage budgets, schedules and key operating metrics.
• Execute risk management to improve project success.
• Assess resource needs and allocate across priorities.

Skills

8+ years mgmt experience

Lean Six Sigma / CI

Manufacturing mgmt principles

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s in chemistry/biochemistry or related

Master’s preferred

Job description

Description

Join the Teknova Team and Help Shape the Future of Health

When you join the Teknova team, you’re helping to create the future of health. Our customers are working to discover novel therapies that will help people everywhere live longer, healthier lives. We make sure they have a reliable supply of the essential ingredients they need to succeed, and every member of our team plays an important role.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Director of Production is responsible for maintaining an intense focus on meeting customer needs, leading all functions across the production workflow, and driving improvement in productivity and lead time reduction utilizing critical KPIs. Additionally, this leader will drive internal communication with key stakeholders and the production associates, developing the manufacturing team while ensuring delivery of high-quality products.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish key performance indicators that drive change and visibility to the team and leadership. Track, trend, and monitor routinely with active data analysis to target and drive results. Utilize findings from KPIs to establish and implement new and improved processes within the manufacturing workflow.
• Develop and communicate a vision and strategic objectives that align with the operations and business strategy.
• Identify projects and create plans for appropriate course of action (e.g., footprint optimization, in-source vs. outsource, and process improvement) to maximize profitability and supply.
• Work closely with functional leaders from quality, regulatory, EHS, production, supply chain, warehouse, logistics, purchasing, process engineering to maintain timely and compliant production
• Coach, mentor and lead with operational excellence / lean tools to improve productivity, customer allegiance and quality.
• Coordinate the hiring, training, coaching and annual performance reviews of the production teams. Define and establish clear objectives and expectations, provide direct feedback routinely for performance management.
• Facilitate and mentor the development of team members and front-line leaders to be exceptional contributors to the teams success.
• Lead managers and other site leadership across functions to achieve site goals.
• Drive compliance to applicable US FDA, GMP, and global Quality System Regulations.
• Monitor and manage progress on projects, ensuring key requirements and milestones are met.
• Manage budgets, schedules and key operating metrics.
• Execute robust Risk Management practices to maintain high probability of project success.
• Assess resource needs across multiple projects and work with appropriate managers to assign resources per established priorities.

Our Culture

At Teknova, our culture is all about creative problem solving, and our default answer is “Yes.” We’re customer-obsessed and go all in for them and each other. We’re not interested in the status quo—we want to discover what’s possible. We’re bold and built to change. We go above and beyond to develop novel products that help our customers get reliable results, engineer formats that fit their systems, and find ways to ship out their orders one day sooner. Every time we help our customers work more efficiently; we bring them a step closer to that big breakthrough.

Our Values

We value the unique personality and background of everyone on our team—we want you to be you. By working together and sharing our skills, we find new and better solutions for our customers. The people on our team are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re here to support them.

Requirements

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry or related discipline. Master’s Degree preferred.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 8 years of management experience in complex, reagent or consumable production environment within the bioproduction/biopharmaceutical space.
• Practical application experience in continuous improvement methodologies and/or lean 6-sigma to improve processes, strengthen quality and drive efficiency.
• Clear understanding of best manufacturing management principles, including their application in a high growth environment.
• Strong leadership ability with the capability to leverage diverse resources, respond quickly, understand the impact of changes and decisions, facilitate agreement, build collaborative relationships, and focus on customer needs.

Benefits

From performance bonuses that give every member of our team a chance to share in our success to health insurance and retirement savings programs to our generous PTO policy, we’re invested in our associates. Our benefits include:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• 401(k) retirement plans with a 4% employer match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Teknova wellness program
• Continuous learning opportunities
• Paid holidays, paid time off, and paid sick leave

From our scientists to our shipping department, the people who thrive here see beyond reporting lines—they are driven and open to learning something new. If you’re ready to make a difference and be part of a team that values creativity, collaboration, and customer obsession, we’d love to hear from you. Join us at Teknova and help shape the future of health.

Teknova is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other status or characteristic protected by law.