Production Operations Lead - US

Kindeva; Maryland Heights (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kindeva seeks an Operations Lead to serve as the designated operational leader for an assigned manufacturing suite, coordinating daily execution to ensure safety, quality, and productivity. This role directs day-to-day manufacturing activities and acts as the primary contact for production execution within the area.

The position emphasizes frontline leadership, documentation oversight, and escalation of issues impacting safety, quality, delivery, or productivity, with growth opportunities into

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field with manufacturing experience.
• Experience working in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Ability to coordinate work activities and influence others.
• Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining safety, quality, and production requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of room activities to achieve safety, quality, and production objectives.
• Assign personnel, set priorities, and align workflow to maintain continuity of operations.
• Direct shift activities during planned downtime to sustain room readiness.
• Provide day‑of‑shift leadership for all Drug Product personnel working in the room.
• Address operational resistance, resource constraints, or execution barriers promptly and elevate as needed to protect shift performance.
• Lead effective shift handovers and communicate room status and risks clearly to incoming/outgoing leads.
• Maintain ownership of documentation and ensure records are complete and review‑ready in real time.
• Monitor training status and qualifications to ensure proper work assignment.
• Promote safety and quality by adhering to GMP/SOP requirements and escalating issues as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Decision-making

Multitasking

Regulatory understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations Management, Business, or related field

Associate degree with 4+ years of manufacturing experience

High School Diploma/GED with 6+ years of manufacturing experience

Job description

Our Work Matters

At Kindeva we make products that save lives, ensuring better health and well-being for patients around the world.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Operations Lead serves as the designated operational leader for an assigned manufacturing suite and is responsible for coordinating daily execution to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient operations. This role provides frontline leadership through workforce coordination, operational decision-making, problem solving, documentation oversight, and escalation of issues that could impact safety, quality, delivery, or productivity.

The Operations Lead directs day‑to‑day manufacturing activities and serves as the primary point of contact for production execution within the assigned area. While accountable for coordinating work and maintaining operational performance, this position does not have formal responsibility for employee performance management, discipline, attendance management, or other supervisory duties.

Success in this role is measured through operational performance, quality and compliance outcomes, effective communication, workforce coordination, and the ability to maintain execution standards within the manufacturing suite.

This position may serve as a career opportunity for experienced manufacturing leaders seeking hands‑on operational responsibility, high‑performing production colleagues ready for expanded leadership responsibilities, or individuals demonstrating the capability to develop into future operational leadership roles.

Accountable

The Operations Lead is accountable for execution within the assigned manufacturing suite, including operational decisions, workflow coordination, documentation quality, training awareness, and compliance during the assigned shift.

Responsible

Assigned team members execute tasks under the direction of the Operations Lead, while Supervisors remain responsible for employee performance management, attendance, discipline, employee relations, and overall people leadership.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Shift Leadership & Operational Execution

• Lead execution of all room activities during the shift to achieve safety, quality, and production objectives.
• Assign personnel, set priorities, and align workflow to maintain continuity of operations and effective use of available staffing.
• Direct shift activities during planned downtime to sustain room readiness, including sanitization, restocking, and preparation for upcoming operations.
• Provide day‑of‑shift leadership for all Drug Product personnel working in the room, including cross‑shift and overtime support.
• Address operational resistance, resource constraints, or execution barriers promptly and elevate as needed to protect shift performance.

Shift Handover & Operational Communication

• Lead effective shift handovers that communicate room status, open issues, operational priorities, and risks to continuity.
• Participate in leadership exchange meetings and ensure critical information is transferred clearly to incoming and outgoing leads.
• Maintain continuity of operations through timely communication, accurate documentation, and clear escalation of unresolved issues.

Documentation & Batch Record Quality

• Maintain ownership of documentation executed during the shift and ensure records are complete, accurate, and review‑ready in real time.
• Perform in‑process batch record review on the production floor and resolve documentation gaps before personnel leave the area whenever possible.
• Use available downtime strategically to review records, confirm required attachments, and close near‑complete documentation.
• Coordinate with incoming leads when documentation requires follow‑through beyond the current shift.

Training Oversight

• Monitor team training status and maintain awareness of individual qualifications to ensure work is assigned appropriately.
• Identify training risks proactively and elevate gaps that could affect compliance, execution, or room readiness.

Safety, Compliance & Quality Escalation

• Promote a culture of safety and quality by ensuring adherence to SOPs, GMP requirements, and batch record expectations within the aseptic environment.
• Identify, respond to, and elevate safety concerns, compliance risks, downtime events, and quality issues in a timely manner.
• Notify leadership promptly when line‑down conditions or other operational disruptions threaten shift performance or product quality.
• Support deviation identification, documentation, and follow‑up, including escalation of repeated or significant compliance issues.

Leadership Boundaries & Personnel Escalation

• Address day‑to‑day execution issues within the room and elevate employee relations or interpersonal matters to the Supervisor.
• Operate with clear accountability for shift execution while partnering with leadership on matters requiring formal supervisory action.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations Management, Business, or a related field with 2+ years of manufacturing experience; OR
• Associate degree with 4+ years of manufacturing experience; OR
• High School Diploma/GED with 6+ years of manufacturing experience.
• Experience working in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate work activities, influence others, or provide informal leadership within a team environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining safety, quality, and production requirements.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing documentation practices and procedural compliance.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, sterile injectable, aseptic manufacturing, or combination product assembly operations.
• Experience leading projects, work groups, shift activities, production teams, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience directing daily manufacturing activities and coordinating resources to achieve production objectives.
• Experience in a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements, batch record review, deviation management, and quality systems.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Previous experience in a Lead, Senior Operator, Supervisor, Military Leadership, technical leadership, or equivalent operational leadership role.

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