Site Engineering Head

Band Level 6

Job Description Summary

Location:

Durham, North Carolina #LI-Onsite Help shape the engineering future of our Durham site. As Site Engineering Head, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the site's Engineering organization, including Novartis Gene Therapies, our ADP and LMO expansions and all clinical operations. You will ensure our facilities, utilities, equipment, and infrastructure are reliable, compliant, and ready to support both today's operations and future growth.

You will lead and develop a broad engineering organization, guide long-term site and capital strategies, and partner across the business to strengthen safety, quality, operational performance, and asset lifecycle management. As a member of the Site Leadership Team, you will have the opportunity to influence major investment decisions, advance new technologies, and build the engineering capabilities needed to enable production, testing, product launches, and continued site growth.

• Lead the Durham Site Engineering organization, building capabilities and developing talent to meet current and future business needs.
• Develop and execute the site engineering strategy, aligning infrastructure, utilities, equipment, and technology with business priorities.
• Ensure reliable, compliant operation and lifecycle management of site facilities, utilities, equipment, maintenance, and calibration programs.
• Direct site capital planning and engineering investments, ensuring effective prioritization, execution, governance, and resource allocation.
• Support the identification and implementation of new technologies, equipment, AI and robotics.
• Partner across functions to advance safety, quality, operational performance, asset reliability, and continuous improvement.
• Provide engineering leadership for production, testing, product launches, technical services, and evolving site requirements.
• Strengthen external partnerships and vendor performance while ensuring engineering activities meet applicable quality and compliance expectations.

• Degree in engineering or equivalent.
• 15 years of engineering experience, including experience in investment projects and maintenance.
• Broad leadership experience, including successful project management on major investment projects and/or a large maintenance organization.
• Excellent project management skills, including contract management, project appraisal, and financial knowledge.
• In-depth knowledge of chemical and/or pharmaceutical processes and equipment, broad interdisciplinary knowledge, and strong HSE and GxP/QA knowledge.
• Excellent communication skills across executive and technical audiences.

The salary for this position is expected to range between $176,400 and $327,600 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

Salary Range $ - $

Improving the lives of people living with disease takes more than innovative science. It takes a focus on the needs of people and a community committed to meeting them. It takes a team of people like you. Working…