Manager, Manufacturing

Lonza; Portsmouth (NH); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus.

Medical, dental and vision insurance.

401(k) matching plan.

Life insurance; short/long-term disb.

Employee assistance programs.

Paid time off (PTO).

Job summary

Lonza is seeking a Manufacturing Manager at our Portsmouth, NH facility. The role leads manufacturing teams across Cell Growth and Drug Product Filling, ensuring a compliant, safe, and efficient operation with emphasis on continuous improvement and technical transfers.

You will collaborate with QA and cross-functional teams, manage deviations and change controls, and support staff development in a fast-paced, regulated biopharmaceutical environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent industry experience may be considered.
• Experience leading manufacturing operations in GMP-regulated environments (biopharma/biologics/cell therapy).
• Strong knowledge of cGMP, quality systems, deviation management.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, controlled work environment and ensure safety objectives are understood by all manufacturing personnel.
• Lead manufacturing teams and serve as SME for Cell Growth, Drug Product Filling, and related processes.
• Provide in-suite oversight during harvest, vial filling, visual inspection, and other production operations.
• Support technical transfer activities, including process execution, methods transfer, and qualification activities.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance and cross-functional teams to establish procedures and manufacturing strategies.
• Partner with IPTs/JPTs, customers and stakeholders to transfer and maintain processes.
• Own deviations, change controls, and lessons learned while supporting continuous improvement.
• Support hiring, development, training, and performance management of manufacturing staff.

Skills

People leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

Quality systems

Communication

Budget & scheduling

Project coordination

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Manufacturing Manager Location

This position is based in our Portsmouth, NH facility. The typical work schedule is regular office hours with flexibility to support critical manufacturing operations as required. Travel is expected to be less than 10%.

What you will get

• 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

• Provide a safe, controlled work environment and ensure site safety objectives are communicated and understood by all manufacturing personnel.
• Lead manufacturing teams and serve as the subject matter expert for assigned operations, including areas such as Cell Growth, Drug Product Filling, and related manufacturing processes.
• Provide in-suite oversight during critical manufacturing activities such as harvest, vial filling, visual inspection, and other key production operations.
• Support technical transfer activities, including process execution, methods transfer, engineering runs, training runs, water runs, and qualification activities.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance and cross-functional teams to establish procedures, quality systems, and manufacturing strategies for new and existing programs.
• Partner with Internal Project Teams (IPTs), Joint Project Teams (JPTs), customers, and stakeholders to successfully transfer and maintain processes in the manufacturing facility.
• Own and manage manufacturing-related deviations, change controls, and lessons learned activities while supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support hiring, development, training, and performance management of manufacturing staff while fostering a high-performing team culture.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Technical Managers to identify equipment, material, and resource requirements needed to support production operations.
• Partner with leadership to ensure accurate financial reporting, project progression, proposal support, and operational execution across Cell Therapy programs.
• May serve as delegate for the Manufacturing Director during periods of absence.

What we are looking for

• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent industry experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience leading manufacturing operations within biopharmaceutical, biologics, cell therapy, or related GMP-regulated environments.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams, organizational change, hiring, training, and employee development.
• Experience supporting technical transfers, project execution, and commercialization of manufacturing processes.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP requirements, quality systems, deviation management, and manufacturing compliance expectations.
• Experience with biological manufacturing operations, including fermentation, purification, drug product filling, freezing operations, or related modalities.
• Experience with automated drug product filling systems utilizing RABS and/or isolator technology preferred.
• Experience with automated or manual visual inspection systems preferred.
• Strong business acumen, customer focus, collaboration, and ability to drive results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to manage priorities, budgets, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational performance metrics.

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.