Head of Plant Engineering

About the role

The Head of Plant Engineering provides strategic and technical leadership for engineering activities across manufacturing, utilities, facilities, and process systems within Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product (DP) operations. This senior role drives engineering governance, asset reliability, lifecycle management, technical standards, and continuous improvement to achieve operational excellence.

Key responsibilities

• Lead plant engineering activities across DS and DP manufacturing, utilities, and facilities.
• Establish and enforce engineering governance, change control, deviation support, CAPA implementation, and risk management processes.
• Develop and execute strategies that improve reliability, compliance, productivity, and cost effectiveness.
• Oversee process engineering teams, resource planning, budgeting, and execution of departmental objectives.
• Ensure reliable operation of upstream, downstream, filling, packaging, process utility, and facility systems.
• Monitor industry best practices and implement opportunities to optimize performance and costs.

Required profile

• Proven experience leading large engineering organizations in pharmaceutical or biotechnology environments.
• Strong capability to translate business objectives into engineering strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent, manage succession planning, and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Focus on reliability, technical excellence, compliance, and customer service.

Required skills

• Process engineering
• Engineering governance
• Asset reliability management
• Lifecycle management
• Change control
• CAPA implementation
• Risk management