Operations Manager, Global External Operations

BioSpace; Home (KS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BioMarin is seeking a GEO Operations Manager to oversee external manufacturing partnerships and drive uninterrupted supply for clinical and commercial products. The role partners with CMOs and internal SMEs to ensure quality, on-time delivery, and regulatory compliance across biologics and small molecules.

The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams, manage production campaigns at CMOs, and implement corrective actions with strong project-management and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years leadership experience in Operations, Supply Chain or Quality.
• BS/BA degree in life sciences, business, or supply chain management.
• Excellent understanding of processes/unit operations.
• Experience in regulated GXP environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Execute with the CMO to deliver the production plan for clinical and commercial products.
• Manage CMO meeting schedules with cross-functional teams.
• Identify supply constraints and negotiate/resolve with CMOs to meet the plan.
• Handle escalations and communications within GEO operations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure uninterrupted supply.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate material movement between CMO sites with internal partners.
• Monitor CMOs during production campaigns and gain process knowledge.
• Maintain a visual dashboard to oversee GEO performance.
• Evaluate process changes, change requests, and deviations with CMOs.
• Lead technology transfers and product launches with internal teams.
• Contribute to supplier/cmo selection processes and contract negotiations.
• Support cost reduction initiatives and compliance with cGMPs.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional

GxP

CAPA RCA

Supply planning

Regulatory

Education

BS/BA degree

Job description

Who We Are

BioMarin is a leading, global rare disease biotechnology company focused on delivering medicines for people living with genetically defined conditions. Founded in 1997, the San Rafael, California-based company has a proven track record of innovation, with multiple commercial therapies and a strong clinical and preclinical pipeline. Using a distinctive approach to drug discovery and development, BioMarin seeks to unleash the full potential of genetic science by pursuing category-defining medicines that have a profound impact on patients.

About Technical Operations

Our manufacturing and process development teams manage the production of our therapies for clinical trials and commercial markets. These engineers, technicians, scientists and support professionals continually provide quality assurance and ensure we meet all regulatory standards. We have manufacturing facilities in Northern California and in Shanbally, Ireland. Additionally, our supply chain teams procure the goods and services needed to support manufacturing and worldwide distribution.

GEO Operations Manager

As part of BioMarin’s TOPS group, Global External Operation (GEO) has responsibility for managing all external manufacturing operations and performance at Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs).

The GEO Operations Manager is responsible for managing day-to-day activities at one or more CMOs. Operations may include drug product operations (biologics and/or small molecules) and/or finished-goods packaging. Both clinical and commercial activities are in scope for each area, as required.

The role also supports operational readiness for new CMOs or new processing steps at an existing CMO. The successful candidate will partner with SMEs (both internally and with externally), as needed, to ensure quality product is delivered on time and in full.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute with the CMO the production plan to deliver an uninterrupted supply of clinical & commercial product
• Manage the CMO meeting schedule in conjunction with your cross functional colleagues to ensure an engaging and collaborative environment.
• Identify any supply constraints and negotiate/resolve with the CMO any issues to meet the supply plan.
• Manage escalations and communications within the process team/GEO site from an operations perspective.
• Collaborate with a cross functional team to ensure uninterrupted supply of product. This will involve both process team and non-process team colleagues.
• Perform root cause analysis or equivalent to understand issues and implement corrective actions as appropriate.
• Manage material movement between CMO sites with various internal partners.
• Attend at CMO to monitor production campaigns and develop an in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing process and systems at the CMO.
• Manage and maintain with cross functional team a visual metric/dashboard to provide an oversight of the GEO business.
• Coordinate as required BioMarin activities in the evaluation of process changes, change requests and deviations to ensure timely resolution without impacting on supply.
• Act as the focus and conduit for communications between the CMO and with members of BioMarin manufacturing group and other departments to meet the supply plan.
• Lead and/or participate in technology transfers, new product launches, validation activities with the CMO and internal cross functional teams including Process Development, Regulatory Affairs and Quality departments
• Contribute to the development of formal systems and procedures for the selection of CMO
• Initiate and implement necessary control systems within budget and to reduce cost of goods
• With the Corporate Compliance and Quality departments, ensure that the CMO is compliant with cGMPs.
• Support contracts and negotiations with CMO in collaboration with the procurement and EPM teams.
• Represent assigned product, CMO and GEO Ops team at appropriate meetings, e.g. VPT, VST.

Additional ORP focused responsibilities, (as required)

• Establish and maintain GEO’s processes and project templates for ORP management.
• Carry out Operations Gap Analysis of new CMOs and establish and lead subsequent mitigation plans.
• Ensure smooth transition of Operations activities from PPQ/Launch Phase into the Commercial Process Team.
• Lead site exit projects as required for GEO.

EXPERIENCE & Skills:

Minimum requirement of 5 years leadership experience in Operations, Supply Chain or Quality.

• BS/BA degree; life sciences, business, or supply chain management

Required skills needed to accomplish the responsibilities/essential functions include:

• Will have an excellent understanding of the processes/unit operations.
• Demonstrated ability in leading/managing cross functional, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to guide and support cross functional teams in the resolution of short-term issues and sustained performance for long-term goals.
• Proven track records in effective decision making.
• A high level of initiative, influencing, coaching as well as excellent organizational skills.
• Experienced in working and managing in a regulated GXP environment.
• Strong stakeholder and relationship management experience.
• Experience with CAPA, FMEA, RCA tools in a highly regulated manufacturing environment is desired.
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication, commercial acumen.
• Experience in supply planning or inventory management.

Note: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.