Associate Director, Technical Operations - Molecule Drug Substance

Associate Director, Technical Operations – Drug Substance

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director, Technical Operations – Drug Substance at our Elkton Site in Virginia, USA. This role will provide technical leadership and operational support for the startup, technology transfer, validation, and ongoing commercial manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The Associate Director will ensure safe, compliant, and reliable process performance while driving continuous improvement and technical excellence in a small‑molecule manufacturing environment.

• Recognized subject‑matter expert in Drug Substance process support and commercial manufacturing.
• Provide technical oversight and hands‑on leadership for API manufacturing processes, including chemical synthesis, purification, crystallization, and drying operations.
• Support the Capital Project Team in design, commissioning, qualification, and startup readiness.
• Lead process scale‑up, technology transfer, and validation (pre‑PPQ, PPQ) activities for assigned processes.
• Drive improvements in process performance, yield, robustness, and impurity control.
• Provide technical guidance on process chemistry, reaction performance, critical process parameters, and control strategies.
• Analyze technical data and support decision‑making for process performance and improvements.
• Identify and escalated risks, proposing practical, science‑based solutions.
• Lead and execute technology transfer activities across internal sites and external partners.
• Support development and execution of tech transfer plans aligned with project timelines.
• Provide technical support for raw material evaluation, process fit and manufacturability, and scale‑up readiness.
• Ensure accurate process documentation, knowledge transfer, and batch record readiness.
• Support process validation and continued process verification.
• Partner with Manufacturing to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable plant performance.
• Provide direct technical support during campaign preparation, execution, and follow‑up; troubleshoot process manufacturing issues.
• Lead and support deviation investigations, OOS, and CAPA employing structured root‑cause analysis.
• Monitor process performance and cycle times, identifying improvement opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for yield, cycle time, and cost.
• Support process optimization and debottlenecking activities.
• Ensure assigned processes operate in compliance with cGMP and regulatory expectations.
• Support inspection readiness and audit activities, including regulatory submissions and responses.
• Maintain data integrity and adherence to quality and safety standards.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Capital Projects, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing.
• Serve as a technical representative for assigned processes within cross‑functional teams.
• Support technology transfer and process improvements across the network.
• Participate in interactions with external partners and CMOs as required.
• Contribute to technical reviews and governance forums.
• Lead and develop a team of technical specialists and engineers.
• Provide coaching, technical guidance, and performance feedback.
• Support resource planning and execution of departmental priorities.
• Contribute to budget tracking and departmental administration.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and capability development initiatives.

• Degree (BSc/BEng/Masters) or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in API process development and/or manufacturing.
• Strong background in process chemistry and scale‑up, process, equipment, and cleaning validation.
• Working knowledge of cGMP manufacturing operations, regulatory expectations, and inspection readiness.
• Experience with deviation management and investigations.
• Experience with electronic batch records and process systems (e.g., DeltaV).
• Exposure to capital projects, CQV, and facility startup.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across cross‑functional teams and multiple priorities.

• Adaptability
• Automation Systems
• Batch…