External Manufacturing Operations Lead, DP & Devices

Make your mark for patients

To strengthen our External Manufacturing – Drug Product & Devices team, we are looking for a talented and motivated individual to fill the position of: External Manufacturing Operations Lead – Drug Product & Devices (Braine L’Alleud).

About the role :

As the External Manufacturing Operations Lead for Drug Product and Devices, you will be responsible for the overall performance of contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and key suppliers within your portfolio. Your focus will be on ensuring reliable supply, robust manufacturing processes, prompt issue resolution, and strong partnerships with stakeholders. You will guide the UCB vendor team and act as the primary contact and relationship manager with CMOs, maintaining strong connections to ensure sites meet expectations and drive continuous improvement.

You will work with :

In this role, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional and matrix teams within UCB, as well as with CDMO leadership teams and strategic vendors. Your daily interactions will include internal stakeholders from various UCB functions, external business partners, and senior management members of CMOs. Through these partnerships, you will foster effective communication, drive operational excellence, and ensure that all parties are aligned toward achieving shared goals.

Your activities :

Support reliability, robust processes, prompt issue resolution, and strong partnerships with vendors and internal stakeholders

Guide CMO vendor teams, coordinating cross-functional and inter-company activities

Participate in projects to foster operational excellence within UCB external manufacturing

Maintain governance structures and facilitate regular meetings between CMOs and UCB teams

Conduct operational performance evaluations and management processes for CDMOs

Provide technical expertise to support effective processes and optimized capacity utilization

Lead troubleshooting and investigations at CDMOs, coordinating corrective actions

Identify and deliver continuous improvement projects to enhance quality, cycle times, and cost efficiency

Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and industry regulations

Prepare business and operations plans, defining operational management and commercial strategy

Manage risks, including capacity availability and potential supply chain disruptions

Monitor CDMO capacities and implement long-range product plans

Share technology knowledge, market intelligence, and product knowledge

May include line management of other operations leads

Interested ? For this position, we are looking for the following training, experience and skills :

Master’s degree or equivalent

Expertise in technical and manufacturing aspects related to the portfolio area

Ability to lead multi-functional teams, motivate others, ensure responsibility, and focus on goals

Skilled in managing external business partners and relationships

Financial and business knowledge. Capable of developing and analyzing business cases

Able to clarify complex technical and manufacturing performance issues

Capable of summarizing and presenting scenarios to support decision-making

Experience in crisis management and related communication

Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking

Experience in operational excellence

Fluent in French and English (written and spoken)

Internal applicants should be in their current job for at least 12 months, must meet performance standards and are not on formal corrective/disciplinary process (PIP), warning, final warning, or compliance warning letters within the last 12 months. Please inform your Manager or your Talent Partner before applying to any internal job opportunities.

At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description, this role is hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office, irrespective of your current contractual agreement. Should your current working arrangements differ, please contact your Talent Partner to discuss, before submitting your application.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on [email protected] . Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.

 

Requisition ID: 93328

Recruiter: Mégane Libert

Hiring Manager: Frank Rohrbach

Talent Partner: Sophie Roba

Job Level: MM II

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