Site General Manager - Oligonucleotide Manufacturing

We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead a growing oligonucleotide manufacturing business within a global life sciences organization.

This is a broad leadership position combining operational management, manufacturing, commercial performance, financial ownership and people leadership
. The successful candidate will have responsibility for the overall performance of the business unit, ensuring high-quality, reliable production while driving efficiency, customer satisfaction and profitable growth.

The role would suit a leader with a strong background in oligonucleotide or nucleic-acid manufacturing
, ideally combined with experience in GMP/cGMP environments, process development, scale-up and commercial operations.

• Own the overall operational and financial performance of the business unit, including revenue, profitability, costs and resource planning.
• Lead day-to-day oligonucleotide manufacturing operations
  , ensuring production targets, quality standards and customer requirements are consistently achieved.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team across manufacturing, technical operations, quality and support functions.
• Drive continuous improvement, productivity and cost-reduction initiatives across the operation.
• Oversee manufacturing capacity, production planning, equipment utilization, capital requirements and facility development.
• Partner closely with technical and scientific teams on process development, scale-up, technology transfer and manufacturing readiness
  .
• Ensure appropriate compliance with GMP/cGMP, quality and regulatory requirements
  .
• Work closely with Quality to maintain robust systems for deviations, CAPA, change control, investigations and audit readiness.
• Build strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders, ensuring the business consistently delivers against commercial and technical expectations.
• Identify opportunities for business growth, new products, additional capabilities and improved customer service
  .
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, headcount plans and capital expenditure requirements.
• Establish and monitor KPIs covering safety, quality, delivery, productivity, customer satisfaction and financial performance.
• Work with senior leadership to develop and execute the strategic direction of the business unit
  .

The successful candidate will ideally bring:

• Significant experience within oligonucleotide, nucleic-acid or related synthetic chemistry manufacturing
  .
• Experience with oligonucleotide synthesis, purification and/or downstream processing
  , with a strong understanding of the manufacturing process.
• Experience working within a GMP/cGMP-regulated manufacturing environment
  .
• Proven experience leading manufacturing, technical operations or a business unit with meaningful people and financial responsibility
  .
• Experience scaling processes from development into commercial manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of process improvement, capacity optimization and operational excellence.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams across manufacturing, quality, R&D and commercial functions.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to understand and manage P&L, budgets, costs and investment decisions
  .
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• A degree in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences or a related discipline is preferred.

This is not a purely scientific or laboratory leadership position
. The successful candidate will be someone who can combine technical credibility with the ability to run and grow a business
.

The strongest candidates will be able to demonstrate a progression from technical/manufacturing expertise into broader people, operational, commercial and financial leadership
.

Experience with oligonucleotides is highly desirable, particularly where the candidate has been involved directly in manufacturing, process development, scale-up or technology transfer
.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a specialist genomics business within a large, international life sciences organization, with significant scope to influence operations, growth strategy, manufacturing capability and organizational development
.

The role offers the opportunity to operate with considerable autonomy while benefiting from the resources, infrastructure and global reach of a larger organization.