Director -Biopharma Laboratory Operations
A leading biologics company is seeking an experienced Director of Biopharma Laboratory Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across a large scale GMP biopharmaceutical laboratory organisation, leading a team of approximately 270 professionals, and driving excellence in quality, compliance, innovation, and operational performance.
The Role
As Director of Laboratory Operations, you will:
- Lead and optimise Biopharma GMP laboratory operations, ensuring quality, compliance, and operational excellence.
- Develop laboratory strategy, performance standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Lead, coach, and develop laboratory leadership teams.
- Oversee resource planning, budgets, equipment investment, and operational performance.
- Partner with pharmaceutical stakeholders and senior leadership to support growth and innovation.
- Ensure alignment with GMP, FDA regulations, and global quality standards.
About You
You are an experienced senior laboratory leader with a strong background in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CRO environments.
You will bring:
- 12+ years’ experience in GMP laboratory operations or pharmaceutical development.
- Proven leadership experience managing laboratory teams and complex operations (5+years).
- Strong knowledge of GMP regulations, analytical development, QC processes, method validation, release testing, and stability programmes.
- Experience managing budgets, strategic planning, and operational improvement initiatives.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and team development skills.
- Experience working across global teams, supporting business growth, or leading transformation initiatives would be advantageous.
What’s On Offer
- A competitive executive level salary package, including performance related bonuses and comprehensive benefits.
- A senior leadership role with significant strategic influence.
- The opportunity to lead talented scientific teams and shape laboratory operations.
- Career growth within an innovative life sciences organisation.
How to Apply
To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a CV that clearly demonstrates your laboratory leadership and management experience within a regulated pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CRO environment.
Your CV should clearly highlight:
- The size, structure, and scope of the laboratory teams you have led.
- Your leadership responsibilities across GMP laboratory operations, including quality, compliance, and operational performance.
- Significant achievements such as operational improvements, process optimisation, laboratory transformation, continuous improvement initiatives, business growth, or productivity gains.
- Experience managing budgets, laboratory resources, capital equipment, and workforce planning.
- Examples of leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with senior stakeholders.
- Experience delivering results within GMP-regulated environments, including oversight of analytical development, QC testing, method validation, release testing, and stability programmes where applicable.
Where possible, include measurable outcomes (for example, cost savings, efficiency improvements, reduced turnaround times, successful inspections, team growth, or other quantifiable business impacts).
Applications that clearly demonstrate strategic leadership, people management, and a track record of delivering operational excellence will be viewed most favourably.
