Associate Director, Vacaville Facilities & Engineering Strategy & Business Operations
Lonza
Summary
As an Associate Director, Vacaville Facilities & Engineering Strategy & Business Operations, you will serve as a strategic partner to the Head of Vacaville Facilities & Engineering (VFE), driving strategy deployment, business operations, organizational effectiveness, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. This highly visible role provides the opportunity to shape the operating model of a newly consolidated Facilities and Engineering organization, lead transformational initiatives, and partner with site leadership to drive operational excellence, organizational change, and long-term business success.
Job description
What you will do:
- Partner with the Head of VFE and leadership team to develop and execute long-term organizational strategies aligned with site and enterprise objectives.
- Lead annual strategic planning processes, multi-year roadmaps, and strategy deployment activities while tracking progress against organizational commitments and milestones.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve the VFE operating system, including governance processes, KPI management, business reviews, and performance management routines.
- Provide strategic and operational support to VFE leadership through executive communications, decision-support materials, leadership meeting facilitation, and action tracking.
- Drive Operational Excellence initiatives through Lean and continuous improvement methodologies, facilitating workshops, Kaizen events, value stream discussions, and problem-solving sessions.
- Lead high-impact, cross-functional strategic initiatives and transformation programs involving Facilities, Engineering, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Quality, and Technical Operations teams.
- Support organizational transformation efforts through structured change management, stakeholder engagement, communication planning, and adoption strategies.
- Develop communication strategies, executive presentations, and organizational messaging that clearly communicate priorities, achievements, and transformation initiatives across all organizational levels.
What we are looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Life Sciences, Communications, or a related discipline. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
- 10+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, facilities, engineering, operational excellence, or related leadership functions.
- Lean Six Sigma certification preferred (Green Belt or Black Belt), with demonstrated experience driving Operational Excellence initiatives.
- Experience leading cross-functional strategic initiatives, PMO activities, business operations programs, or organizational transformation efforts.
- Strong change management capabilities with experience supporting large-scale organizational integration and transformation programs.
- Excellent communication, executive presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across all organizational levels.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders.
- Experience within GMP-regulated manufacturing environments required; biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
- High emotional intelligence, professionalism in handling confidential information, and a demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility across teams.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Life Sciences, Communications, or a related discipline. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
- 10+ years of experience in business operations, strategy, facilities, engineering, operational excellence, or related leadership functions.
- Lean Six Sigma certification preferred (Green Belt or Black Belt), with demonstrated experience driving Operational Excellence initiatives.
- Experience leading cross-functional strategic initiatives, PMO activities, business operations programs, or organizational transformation efforts.
- Strong change management capabilities with experience supporting large-scale organizational integration and transformation programs.
- Excellent communication, executive presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across all organizational levels.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders.
- Experience within GMP-regulated manufacturing environments required; biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
- High emotional intelligence, professionalism in handling confidential information, and a demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility across teams.
Benefits
- Performance-related bonus
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k) Matching
- Life Insurance
- Short-term Disability
- Long-term Disability
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Paid Time Off
Company overview
Lonza is a pioneering global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and a world leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing services. Founded in 1897 in Switzerland, the company has evolved into the first and original CDMO, now operating as one of the largest Western CDMO networks with approximately 19,000 employees across more than 30 sites spanning five continents. Lonza specializes in transforming therapeutic discoveries into life-saving and life-enhancing treatments for patients worldwide. The company's comprehensive services span from early development to drug substance and drug product manufacturing, covering established and emerging technologies including mammalian biologics, small molecules, highly potent APIs, bioconjugates, mRNA, microbial products, and cell and gene therapies. With a focus on cutting-edge science, smart technology, and lean manufacturing, Lonza serves a diverse customer base ranging from emerging biotechs to global pharmaceutical companies, delivering integrated solutions throughout the entire treatment lifecycle.