Site IT​/OT & Operations Lead

Kyowa Kirin is a global specialty pharmaceutical company backed by more than 70 years of breakthrough life science innovation, dedicated to discovering and advancing treatments for diseases in which unmet need is greatest. Based in Japan with worldwide operations, we work across the continuum from drug discovery to commercialization, guided by our commitment to patients and their families.

Our research teams, located in California and around the world, are focused on developing the next generation of antibody, cell, and gene therapies, with particular emphasis on bone and mineral disorders, hemato-oncology, and rare diseases. We accelerate development through collaborations with industry, academia, patients, and healthcare providers, and since 2018 we have introduced four new therapies serving patients with progressive illnesses often in need of new therapeutic alternatives.

Our culture is grounded in our values:
Commitment to Life, Integrity, Innovation, and Teamwork/Wa, and brought to life through the Kabegoe Principles, which define the behaviors and actions that guide how we work together to deliver meaningful impact for patients.

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and mindful of the countless individuals still waiting for their own breakthroughs. A commitment to making people smile unites our efforts. Learn more at

As the Manufacturing Site IT/OT & Application Operations Lead, your role will be to serve as the operational owner for IT OT, and site application services. You will run and sustain the operational state of site systems once they are built and validated, so that Manufacturing, QC, and Quality can rely on a stable, compliant, and well-supported technology. This role leads incident, problem, and change coordination, service level management, operational GMP controls, and Service Now-based support processes across site infrastructure, OT interfaces, and GxP applications such as MES, LIMS, ERP site functions, You will partner with the Plant IT Infrastructure Lead to plan and execute the build-to-run transition as systems go live, and serve as the site coordination point for managed service providers (MSPs) and vendors supporting the IT network, OT network, selected IT and OT assets, and application support, ensuring issues are resolved in line with agreed service levels.

The role coordinates operations but does not hold System Administrator or System Owner rights for GxP applications, preserving segregation of duties. This role requires strong IT service operations experience, from support model design to day-to-day execution, in a Life Sciences Manufacturing environment.

As a leader, you will embody compassionate, people-centric leadership to guide and support our team. You will collaborate closely with others, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive environment while driving team development. Your work will reflect the organization’s values and integrity in all your actions. Utilizing situational leadership and emotional intelligence, you will align diverse viewpoints, manage stakeholders, and make empathetic decisions to address individual and team needs effectively.

You will also be results-oriented, ensuring that your team not only adapts to challenges but also delivers measurable outcomes that align with business objectives. Additionally, you will help teams navigate through change and uncertainty with resilience and clarity, enabling them to adapt to fast-evolving, rapidly scaling environments and meet new challenges in the biotech industry with a patient-focused mindset.

• Act as the single point of contact and accountable operations leader for site IT, OT support coordination, and…