Manager, Manufacturing Operations - 2nd shift
Catalent Pharma Solutions
Summary
This role leads second-shift cGMP manufacturing at the Kansas City site, ensuring quality products are produced on time and in full compliance with safety and regulatory standards. The position oversees front-line Supervisors and their teams, driving performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and engagement. As the senior leader on site during the second shift, this role makes real-time operational decisions, fosters collaboration across departments, and builds leadership capability for future growth.
Job description
The Role
- Lead all second-shift manufacturing activities, ensuring schedule adherence, effective resource deployment, and achievement of daily production commitments.
- Serve as the senior operations decision-maker on shift; resolve workflow, processing, equipment, and utility issues and escalate significant risks promptly.
- Ensure disciplined shift-to-shift handoff, communication, and continuity of open issues, deviations, and priorities.
- Support 24/7 operations, including flexibility for coverage across shifts and weekends as business needs require.
- Ensure compliance with all cGMP, OSHA, environmental, and Catalent safety standards; proactively identify and correct unsafe conditions and behaviors.
- Ensure Supervisors and operators are trained and executing to approved operating and cleaning procedures and applicable regulations.
- Ensure batch records are complete, accurate, and right first time.
- Define and execute corrective and preventive actions in response to deviations and internal, regulatory, and client audit findings; meet commitments on time.
- Maintain the facility in a tour-ready state at all times; support regulatory agency and client audits and on-site visits.
- Manage and develop front-line Supervisors and their teams, including selection, onboarding, performance evaluation, coaching, and discipline.
- Build supervisory capability and succession depth; identify high-potential talent and create development plans for growth.
- Partner with Human Resources on recruitment, retention, training, engagement, and workforce planning.
- Foster an inclusive, accountable environment where associates are encouraged to speak up and contribute improvement ideas.
- Track, analyze, and report shift performance metrics; identify trends and drive corrective actions.
- Lead Lean and continuous improvement initiatives to improve throughput, right-first-time performance, and cost efficiency.
- Partner with Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Facilities, and other support groups to ensure smooth operations and resolve constraints.
- Support technology transfers, new product introductions, equipment commissioning, and validation activities executed on shift.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
The Candidate
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Business, or a related discipline required; equivalent combination of education and progressive manufacturing leadership experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience leading front-line supervisors or comparable people leaders.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CDMO, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment, including at least 3 years leading people.
- Working knowledge of cGMP requirements, batch record execution, deviation and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) systems, and the partnership between Operations and Quality.
- Strong operational problem-solving and decision-making skills, including the ability to make sound judgments independently during off-shift hours.
- Demonstrated capability in Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving, and data-driven performance management.
- Solid business acumen with understanding of labor efficiency, yield, capacity, and cost drivers.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with operators, peers, senior leadership, and clients.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing business systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and electronic quality systems.
Operational ownership: Translates site priorities into clear shift objectives and holds the team accountable for results. Talent development: Coaches supervisors, gives candid feedback, and builds a pipeline of capable future leaders. Decision making: Makes timely, risk-based decisions, owns outcomes, and escalates appropriately. Collaboration and influence: Builds trust across functions and shifts and drives alignment without relying on positional authority. Change leadership: Leads teams effectively through changing priorities, new processes, and continuous improvement. Resilience and composure: Maintains composure and sound judgment under production, quality, and client pressure. Culture and engagement: Models Catalent values, maintains visible presence on the floor, recognizes performance, and promotes an inclusive, respectful workplace.
Demonstrable leadership experience at Catalent (including but not limited to participation in Catalent‑sponsored leadership programs such as NGGL, GOLD, LEAD Now, GM Excellence, and GROW) may be considered in place of external experience.
Preferred Skills & Background
- Experience in oral solid dosage manufacturing preferred.
- Direct experience supporting regulatory inspections and client audits preferred.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Business, or a related discipline required; equivalent combination of education and progressive manufacturing leadership experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience leading front-line supervisors or comparable people leaders.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CDMO, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment, including at least 3 years leading people.
- Working knowledge of cGMP requirements, batch record execution, deviation and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) systems, and the partnership between Operations and Quality.
- Strong operational problem-solving and decision-making skills, including the ability to make sound judgments independently during off-shift hours.
- Demonstrated capability in Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving, and data-driven performance management.
- Solid business acumen with understanding of labor efficiency, yield, capacity, and cost drivers.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with operators, peers, senior leadership, and clients.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing business systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and electronic quality systems.
- Experience in oral solid dosage manufacturing preferred.
- Direct experience supporting regulatory inspections and client audits preferred.
Benefits
- Defined career path
- Annual performance review
- Diverse, inclusive culture
- Career growth potential
- Competitive paid time off
- 8 paid holidays
- Community engagement
- Green initiatives
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Tuition Reimbursement
Company overview
Catalent Pharma Solutions, now known as Catalent, Inc., is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Founded in 2007 as a spin-off from Cardinal Health's pharmaceutical technologies segment, the company has grown into a major player in the pharmaceutical services industry. Catalent provides comprehensive drug development and manufacturing solutions including drug delivery technologies, formulation development, analytical testing, clinical and commercial manufacturing, clinical packaging, and supply chain services. The company operates over 50 facilities across four continents and has supported more than half of all FDA-approved products over the past decade. With approximately 16,900 employees, Catalent produces over 70 billion doses annually for more than 8,000 products, serving major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Moderna, Novo Nordisk, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. In 2024, the company was acquired by Novo Holdings A/S for $16.5 billion, further strengthening its position in the global pharmaceutical manufacturing landscape.