Head of Operations, Payload Linker Manufacturing

About the role

Lonza is looking for an experienced and strategic Head of Operations for its Payload Linker business, a large-scale manufacturing organization operating as a Site-in-Site within the Visp site. You will have end-to-end accountability for a dedicated manufacturing unit of about 300 employees, covering operational performance, safety, quality, compliance, customer delivery, financial efficiency and asset management, within the governance and shared-service framework of the wider Visp site.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the manufacturing unit and define and execute operational strategies aligned with business priorities, optimizing capacity, productivity, workforce planning and resource allocation.
• Foster a strong safety and quality culture, ensuring adherence to GMP requirements, data integrity standards and regulatory expectations.
• Drive production performance, reliability and right-first-time execution through Lean methodologies, automation and process optimization.
• Own operational budgets and controllable costs, oversee asset lifecycle strategies and sponsor capital investments.
• Develop a multidisciplinary leadership team, including talent development and succession planning.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, MSAT, Supply Chain, Project Management and Visp site leadership.
• Represent Operations in strategic business discussions, customer interactions, audits and regulatory inspections.

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Process Engineering or a related discipline; an MBA or Executive MBA is an advantage.
• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations, ideally drug substance manufacturing, with exposure to process development and technology transfer.
• Proven senior leadership experience managing large, multilayered manufacturing organizations in complex, matrix-driven environments.
• Experience managing significant operational budgets, capital investments, asset strategies and organizational transformation.
• Fluent English is required; German is an advantage.

Required skills

• Strong understanding of GMP manufacturing, regulatory compliance and manufacturing performance management.
• Demonstrated experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, automation or continuous improvement is highly valued.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills.