Director of Manufacturing

Director of Manufacturing

Agility, Impact, Methodology. Do you exhibit these values and wish to be around others that do too? Do you thrive in fast‑paced environments where agility, adaptability, and high standards go hand in hand? Are you driven to make a meaningful impact, whether through your work, your support of others, or your commitment to your community? Are you motivated by a disciplined, science‑based approach that ensures consistent excellence, safety, and integrity in everything you do?

If these statements resonate with you, Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) welcomes you to apply to join our community of dedicated individuals improving lives every day!

Production Management:
Manage all preparation, formulation, and sterile filling activities so that the site meets customer needs and department objectives (quality, cost, service, safety). Ensure workflow optimization and implement processes for manufacture of new products, understand changes in business needs and align accordingly. Ensure acceptable quality of all products and maintain global regulations and standards. Make sure equipment and personnel is available, qualified and ready.

Continuous Improvement:
Lead a culture of operational excellence using OPEX principles and tools to increase productivity and efficiency and decrease cost. Continuously look for new, innovative ways, provide recommendations for new equipment and processes that lead to an efficient and effective production environment. Develop and maintain systems for all elements of OPEX. Develop processes to meet changing business needs that are sustaining and adaptable.

Build Production Capabilities:
Translate the site's strategic plan to a long‑term production plan (facilities, processes, systems, capacity plan) and recommend technology and equipment to be used for specific operations. Design and modify practices and procedures when necessary, to make gains in quality, cost, service, and safety.

People Management:
Look after the well‑being, safety and health of the workforce. Ensure employee's engagement and motivation to function successfully by fostering a team‑based and caring environment and by being visible to all staff. Drive employee enablement and ensure proper training is provided to guarantee certified, competent staff to accomplish the required tasks.

Build People Capabilities:
Translate the site strategic plan to develop a workforce plan (capabilities, roles, headcount, culture) and the packaging management team to balance structural effectiveness with flexible capabilities and build OPEX behaviors at all levels. Empower the team to ensure the ability to manage the day‑to‑day activities and problems as well as uncertainty and changing business needs. Create an environment that encourages the shop floor employees to raise efficiency ideas and projects.

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences/Engineering or in another relevant field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a lean/OPEX production environment with demonstrated, sustained performance improvements.
• Minimum of 10 years of Management experience in a cGMP environment in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 5 years leadership experience: an inspiring and enabler leader who creates opportunities for growth.
• Six Sigma and Lean application experience with extensive knowledge of tools and proven positive outcomes.

• Continue to develop the skillset and knowledge base of the Manufacturing team to improve right first‑time targets utilizing coaching and mentoring skills, emphasizing adherence to cGMP requirements.
• Develop actionable metrics to trend and track KPI's and provide corrective actions for variations.
• Work closely with the Quality team to decrease planned downtime while improving quality KPI's.
• Collaborate with other departments to involve front line personnel in kaizen events to improve processes.
• Partner with cost accounting to develop standard costs and evaluate trends for areas of opportunity.
• Promote the continuous improvement of GRAM's culture to…