Role Summary An innovative, growth-stage life sciences company is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to join its headquarters team in Munich.
The Director of Operations owns end-to-end operational execution and scaling readiness across the organization. Reporting to the COO, this role directly manages Operations functional leads (Production, Supply Chain/Planning, Operations Systems/IT, and related functions) and is accountable for delivery performance, cost stability, operational quality execution, inventory and working capital management, and supplier/contract manufacturing performance.
The Director is a builder and hands-on leader with an entrepreneurial, self-directed mindset. They design and implement a scalable, quality-centric, and future-ready operating system—covering cadence, KPIs, governance, and risk management—and ensure delivery of key multi-year capacity and supply resilience initiatives so the organization can scale effectively in a highly regulated environment.
Own and Deliver:
# Manufacturing Scale-Up
Scale production capacity in line with growing global demand and multi-year geographic expansion.
Develop and execute a multi-year Operations capability roadmap (people, processes, systems, suppliers, and sites).
# Operational Performance
Deliver OTIF and service levels.
Ensure capacity and throughput optimization.
Drive quality execution within Operations (deviations, CAPA interface).
Manage COGS stability, productivity improvements, and supplier performance.
# Supplier and Manufacturing Network Performance
Oversee supplier and CMO qualification, resilience, cost management, and continuity.
Establish performance management frameworks and escalation processes.
# Operational Governance
~ Establish a disciplined operating cadence, decision-making framework, escalation pathways, and a single source of truth for operational performance and risk visibility.
Key Responsibilities
1) Lead and Manage the Operations Leadership Team
Directly manage Operations functional leaders with clear performance expectations, coaching, and accountability.
Define and evolve the Operations organization structure, role clarity, and decision rights aligned to scaling requirements.
Build a high-performance culture emphasizing documentation discipline, ownership, and operational excellence.
2) Support Production Execution and Own Capacity Scale-Up
Ensure production meets targets for throughput, schedule adherence, yield, cycle time, and right-first-time performance.
Lead capacity expansion initiatives (new lines, equipment readiness, technology transfers, staffing and training plans).
Implement robust production planning and structured daily management processes.
3) Own Supply Chain Performance and Multi-Year Supply Resilience
Establish and operate an integrated supply planning capability (forecast translation, supply planning, inventory strategy, lead time optimization).
Define and manage supplier strategy: qualification, performance scorecards, business reviews, continuity planning, and corrective actions.
Reduce single points of failure across the supply network through second-source and contingency strategies.
4) Own COGS, Productivity, and Cost-Out Delivery
Define and execute the COGS and productivity roadmap aligned to annual and multi-year budgets.
Establish transparency on cost drivers and ensure disciplined execution of cost initiatives.
Lead make/buy analyses and supplier commercial engagements within delegated authority; prepare business cases for executive approvals where required.
5) Ensure Regulated Operational Excellence and Audit Readiness
Maintain operational control aligned with applicable regulatory and quality standards (e.g., ISO, MDR, FDA, or equivalent as applicable).
Own the operational interface to Quality: deviation management, CAPA execution within Operations, supplier quality performance, incoming inspection, and corrective action follow-through.
Ensure manufacturing readiness for design transfer and industrialization (process readiness, training, validation support, and documentation completeness).
6) Run the Operations Operating System (Cadence, KPIs, Governance)
Establish and lead the full Operations cadence: daily/weekly execution reviews, quarterly OKR cycles, structured planning, escalation logs, and decision tracking.
Provide the COO with concise performance reporting: KPIs, risks, constraints, roadmap progress, and decisions required.
Drive cross-functional execution discipline through clear ownership and timeline adherence.
7) Systems, Data, and Scalability Enablement
Ensure operational systems readiness and data integrity, including master data governance and reporting automation.
Standardize processes and documentation (SOPs, work instructions, training systems) to enable repeatability and rapid onboarding.
Embed pragmatic continuous improvement practices focused on measurable outcomes.
8) Long-Term Risk Monitoring and Early Warning
Develop and maintain an Operations risk framework with 12–36 month visibility across capacity, supply continuity, compliance risk, supplier health, obsolescence, and logistics exposure.
Maintain a live risk register with clear triggers, mitigation plans, ownership, and escalation thresholds.
Lead scenario planning and contingency preparation (buffers, alternates, prioritization rules