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:
1. 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).
1. 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.
1. Supplier and Manufacturing Network Performance
* Oversee supplier and CMO qualification, resilience, cost management, and continuity.
* Establish performance management frameworks and escalation processes.
1. 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