Director, Technical Services

Evonik; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Evonik seeks an experienced engineering leader to supervise the Engineering, Facilities, Validation, and Maintenance groups supporting cGMP pharmaceutical manufacturing. You will build high-performing teams, mentor staff, and drive asset reliability and capital programs.

The role requires ensuring compliance with FDA cGMP, ISO, and Evonik standards, while leading safety initiatives and cross-functional collaboration across Operations, Quality, Validation, and Supply Chain.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, or related)
• 10+ years engineering, maintenance, or technical operations experience in pharma/biotech/cGMP environments
• 5+ years management experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of FDA cGMP regulations, validation, and facility utilities is preferred
• Experience managing capital projects and long-range facility planning
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

Responsibilities

• Lead Engineering, Facilities, Validation, and Maintenance organizations for cGMP pharma manufacturing
• Develop, mentor, and build high-performing engineering teams
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, FDA, ISO, EHS, RAGAGEP, and Evonik standards
• Oversee preventive maintenance, reliability, and facilities operations to maximize uptime
• Manage site capital projects, budgets, and long-term asset planning
• Drive continuous improvement to increase efficiency and reduce costs
• Develop strategic plans for facility expansion and equipment upgrades
• Build relationships with engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, and contractors
• Support audits, inspections, and business development while representing engineering
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Validation, Supply Chain, HR, and senior leadership

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Regulatory compliance

cGMP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

What We Offer

You will work on exciting and challenging topics together with a team in an ultra-modern, innovative and creative environment. Intensive on-the-job training with expert colleagues guarantees you will quickly become familiar with your duties and perform them independently. Performance related pay and the opportunity for personal and professional development are of course part of the package. Since 2009 Evonik Industries AG has been certified as a family-friendly company by the German Hertie Foundation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Engineering, Facilities, Validation, and Maintenance organizations supporting cGMP pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Develop, mentor, and build high-performing engineering and maintenance teams through coaching, workforce planning, and leadership development.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, FDA, ISO, EHS, RAGAGEP, and Evonik global engineering standards.
• Oversee preventive maintenance, reliability, utilities, facilities, and engineering operations to maximize equipment uptime and manufacturing performance.
• Manage site capital projects, engineering budgets, operating costs, and long-term asset planning.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve manufacturing reliability.
• Develop strategic plans for facility expansion, manufacturing capacity, equipment upgrades, and implementation of new technologies.
• Build and maintain relationships with engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, automation vendors, contractors, and service providers.
• Support customer audits, regulatory inspections, client visits, and business development activities while representing the engineering organization.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Validation, Supply Chain, HR, and senior leadership to achieve production, safety, and business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, or related discipline); advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of engineering, maintenance, or technical operations experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other cGMP manufacturing environments. 5+ years management experience also preferred.
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering, maintenance, facilities, or technical services teams in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of FDA cGMP regulations, validation, facility utilities, reliability engineering, preventive maintenance, and engineering compliance is preferred.
• Experience managing capital projects, engineering budgets, asset management, and long-range facility planning.
• Excellent leadership, communication, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to influence all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated experience driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, safety initiatives, and strategic workforce development.

The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.