VFE Strategy and Business Operations

Lonza; Vacaville (CA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 258,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) matching

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Paid time off

Job summary

Lonza is seeking an Associate Director for Vacaville Facilities & Engineering Strategy & Business Operations. This onsite role partners with site leadership to drive strategy deployment, organizational effectiveness, and continuous improvement across the VFE organization.

You will lead long-term planning, operating system development, and cross-functional transformation programs, shaping the future of facilities and engineering operations within Lonza’s global life sciences network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, facilities, engineering, or related leadership functions.
• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred (Green Belt or Black Belt).
• Experience leading cross-functional strategic initiatives, PMO activities, or transformation programs.
• Strong change management capabilities with large-scale transformation experience.
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills; ability to influence across all levels.
• Experience in GMP-regulated manufacturing environments; biotech/pharma preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Head of VFE to develop and execute long-term organizational strategies.
• Lead annual strategic planning, multi-year roadmaps, and strategy deployment.
• Develop and improve the VFE operating system, KPI management, and performance routines.
• Provide strategic support via executive communications and leadership meeting facilitation.
• Drive Operational Excellence through Lean and continuous improvement methods.
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives across Facilities, Engineering, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Quality, and Tech Ops.
• Support change management and adoption strategies across the organization.
• Develop executive communications and organizational messaging on priorities and transformation initiatives.

Skills

Change management

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic planning

Analytical/problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Business/Life Sciences/Communications or related

Job description

Associate Director, Vacaville Facilities & Engineering Strategy & Business Operations
Location: Vacaville, California – Onsite

As an Associate Director, Vacaville Facilities & Engineering Strategy & Business Operations, you will serve as a strategic partner to the Head of Vacaville Facilities & Engineering (VFE), driving strategy deployment, business operations, organizational effectiveness, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. This highly visible role provides the opportunity to shape the operating model of a newly consolidated Facilities and Engineering organization, lead transformational initiatives, and partner with site leadership to drive operational excellence, organizational change, and long-term business success.

What you will get:

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $152,000-$258,000 In addition, below you will find a comprehensive summary of the benefits package we offer:

• 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 you will do:

• Partner with the Head of VFE and leadership team to develop and execute long-term organizational strategies aligned with site and enterprise objectives.
• Lead annual strategic planning processes, multi-year roadmaps, and strategy deployment activities while tracking progress against organizational commitments and milestones.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the VFE operating system, including governance processes, KPI management, business reviews, and performance management routines.
• Provide strategic and operational support to VFE leadership through executive communications, decision-support materials, leadership meeting facilitation, and action tracking.
• Drive Operational Excellence initiatives through Lean and continuous improvement methodologies, facilitating workshops, Kaizen events, value stream discussions, and problem-solving sessions.
• Lead high-impact, cross-functional strategic initiatives and transformation programs involving Facilities, Engineering, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Quality, and Technical Operations teams.
• Support organizational transformation efforts through structured change management, stakeholder engagement, communication planning, and adoption strategies.
• Develop communication strategies, executive presentations, and organizational messaging that clearly communicate priorities, achievements, and transformation initiatives across all organizational levels.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Life Sciences, Communications, or a related discipline. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
• 10+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, facilities, engineering, operational excellence, or related leadership functions.
• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred (Green Belt or Black Belt), with demonstrated experience driving Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Experience leading cross-functional strategic initiatives, PMO activities, business operations programs, or organizational transformation efforts.
• Strong change management capabilities with experience supporting large-scale organizational integration and transformation programs.
• Excellent communication, executive presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across all organizational levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders.
• Experience within GMP-regulated manufacturing environments required; biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
• High emotional intelligence, professionalism in handling confidential information, and a demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility across teams.

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 lead transformational initiatives, drive operational excellence, and influence the future of Facilities & Engineering operations at one of the world’s leading life sciences organizations, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

You will feel at home at Lonza if you:

• Take ownership, step forward, and enjoy meaningful responsibility
• Love solving problems and thrive in a complex, fast-moving environment
• Are curious, always looking to learn and improve
• Work collaboratively, contributing to something bigger than yourself
• Are motivated to make a difference through work that impacts customers and their patients

Why Lonza:

We are a place of unique opportunity, where your ideas, expertise and ambition can make a real difference. Here, will have the freedom to grow, the support to succeed and the chance to contribute to work that matters.

We are the makers of the medicines of tomorrow.