Production Lead

Lonza; Bend (OR); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile culture

Inclusive workplace

Performance-based compensation

Health benefits

Lead high-impact projects

Career growth

Global benefits

Job summary

Lonza in Bend, Oregon is seeking a hands-on leader to help startup a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This fully site-based role will lead teams to bring operations online and deliver safe, high-quality production.

Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates. You will partner with Engineering, Quality, and technical teams to prepare systems for manufacturing, develop SOPs and batch records, and guide the transition to steady-state operations.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work across teams and influence outcomes.
• Commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Support equipment commissioning, qualification, and validation activities during startup.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and technical teams to prepare systems for manufacturing.
• Develop and improve SOPs, batch records, and operational procedures.
• Identify and resolve issues during startup using data and team input.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing production team.
• Transition operations from startup to steady-state manufacturing.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

The actual location of this job is in Bend, Oregon (USA). Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates and their families, if needed.

This is a fully site-based role. Working together in person supports close, real-time collaboration and the technical precision needed to manufacture medicines to the highest quality and safety standards.

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses help people. In exchange, we give our people the freedom to own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world—and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

This is a unique opportunity to support the startup of a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility and play a key role in its long-term success. You will help bring operations online and lead teams to deliver safe, high-quality production. During startup, you will support facility readiness, equipment commissioning, and process validation. After launch, you will lead a high-performing team to deliver safe, compliant, and efficient manufacturing operations.

What you will get

• An agile career and dynamic working culture
• An inclusive and ethical workplace
• Compensation programs that recognize high performance
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Opportunities to lead high-impact, visible projects
• Career growth within a global organization
• Access to Lonza’s global benefits

What you will do

• Support equipment commissioning, qualification, and validation activities during startup
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and technical teams to prepare systems for manufacturing
• Develop and improve SOPs, batch records, and operational procedures
• Identify and resolve issues during startup using data and team input
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing production team
• Transition operations from startup to steady-state manufacturing
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement

What we are looking for

• High School Diploma or GED required; a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is preferred
• Experience in pharmaceutical or regulated manufacturing environments
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work across teams and influence outcomes
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to make informed decisions
• Leadership potential with experience guiding or supporting teams
• Commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement

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 breakthrough ideas into life-changing therapies, we look forward to welcoming you.