Associate Director, Manufacturing DSP

Associate Director, Manufacturing DSP

Lonza

Visp, Switzerland

What you will do

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of process engineers, specialists, and manufacturing professionals, fostering a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement;
• Take ownership of operational performance within the DSP manufacturing area, ensuring production readiness, execution, and reliable on-time delivery;
• Drive the resolution of manufacturing challenges and complex production issues in close collaboration with MSAT, Production Support, QA, and Upstream Processing teams;
• Provide leadership for risk assessments, workplace inspections, technical change management, and compliance activities within the manufacturing unit;
• Represent the DSP organization during customer interactions, audits, and regulatory inspections, serving as a trusted operational expert;
• Contribute to capital investment projects, including facility design, equipment implementation, startup, and commissioning activities;
• As a member of the Production Leadership Team, champion operational excellence, innovation, employee development, and continuous improvement initiatives across the production organization.

What we are looking for

• Experience leading teams and operations within a GMP-regulated biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment;
• Strong expertise in downstream processing and biologics manufacturing, with knowledge of mammalian cell culture processes;
• Demonstrated ability to build, develop, coach, and engage high-performing technical teams;
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, with experience managing complex manufacturing or production challenges;
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multiple functions and communicate confidently with customers, leadership teams, and regulatory inspectors;
• Degree in Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline, or equivalent relevant experience;
• Strong English communication skills, with German an advantage, combined with a structured mindset, initiative, and a team-oriented approach.