Senior Director, Site Operations

Senior Director, Site Operations

Lab Connect improves lives by partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and clinical research organizations (CROs) to accelerate the development of new medicines around the world. We are an independent, global, one-stop-shop focused on delivering Central Laboratory Services that are tailor-made, timely and flexible to meet the evolving study demands of traditional to increasingly complex trials. Additionally, we provide Functional Service Provider (FSP) Solutions, supporting our clients with scientific and technical expertise, acting as an extension of their team, coordinating all laboratory related needs, advising on strategies for lab data collection and providing end-to-end analytical and logistical solutions.

The Senior Director, Site Operations is responsible for leading Lab Connect's Germany operations and serving as Site Director for the Cologne location.

Reporting to the COO, this role has end-to-end accountability for operational performance, site leadership, financial results, service delivery, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. The role partners closely with global functional leaders while ensuring local execution reflects the German operating environment, including effective engagement with employee representatives where applicable, adherence to German and EU regulatory requirements, and alignment with local labor, health and safety, and data privacy expectations.

This leader represents the Germany operation internally and externally and ensures the site delivers safe, efficient, scalable, and compliant performance in support of business growth across the region, while championing a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

The salary range for this position is 145, euros.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior leader for the Germany operation, setting direction for the site, driving execution, and ensuring alignment with company strategy, values, and performance expectations. Serves as local signature authority as assigned and approved by Corporate.
• Lead day-to-day operations to achieve targets for service, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost while ensuring reliable execution across site activities. Ensures the implementation of site processes per global process standards. Proactively contributes to defining global standards.
• Develop and implement the Germany operations strategy, including annual objectives, business plans, resource priorities, and initiatives that support regional and global growth.
• Accountable for site budget, forecasting, capital planning, and overall fiscal & operational performance, with responsibility for cost discipline, margin improvement, and delivery against operating plan.
• Ensure compliance with applicable company policies and German and EU legal and regulatory requirements, including employment practices, working time, workplace health and safety, data privacy, and quality obligations. Support compliant operational practices related to personal data and business records, with awareness of GDPR and German Federal Data Protection Act expectations and partnership with legal, HR, IT, and privacy stakeholders.
• Partner constructively with employee representatives and, where applicable, ensuring timely information, consultation, and collaboration on matters requiring local engagement under German practice.
• Drive operational excellence through disciplined use of metrics, process optimization, standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve scalability, quality, and efficiency. Partner with Global Quality to ensure site maintains strict adherence to GxPs and Client expectations, and Local vendor governance.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing local leadership team and broader site organization through clear expectations, coaching, succession planning, and accountability, while supporting an inclusive and compliant employee environment.
• Partner closely with commercial, finance, HR, quality, IT, and global operations leaders to resolve issues, remove barriers, and deliver coordinated outcomes across the business.
• Represent the Germany operation with customers, auditors, regulators, service providers, and local stakeholders as needed, reinforcing Lab Connect's credibility, responsiveness, and compliance standards.
• Identify operational risks, lead mitigation planning, and maintain business continuity and contingency readiness to protect employees, customers, and business performance.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership experience in life sciences operations, general management, or site leadership roles, including responsibility for financial performance, team leadership, and cross-functional execution.
• Minimum of 8 years in operation management in manufacturing, laboratory management, logistics or service…