Production Head

Job Description Summary

Sandoz is going through an exciting and transformative period as a global leader and pioneering provider of sustainable Biosimilar and Generic medicines. By creating a new and ambitious path, it will provide a unique opportunity for us all, both professionally and personally.

Job Description

Major Accountabilities:

Lead the Manufacturing Unit team to manufacture and deliver high-quality and affordable pharmaceutical products on time, every time, safely and efficiently. Lead the manufacturing unit operational excellence based transformative journey to improve the performance, productivity, quality in order to ensure the site competitiveness.

• Develops and follows up the medium- and long-term strategy for department in connection with the site strategy to guarantee profitability and meets the needs of the site and the company, in accordance with the strategic vision of the site and Sandoz Technical Operations (STO)

• Ensures overall financial and business performance, safety, quality, costs, supply and resource management (people, equipment, facilities, etc.) and represent this in the site leadership team

• Ensure the efficient distribution of the Unit's resources (CAPEX, OPEX, expenses, FTEs).

• Builds/sustains strong network in and outside the organization and with the Operations Centers

• Enable knowledge management for processes and products within the department

• Ensure overall inspection readiness for area of responsibility

• Ensure technical and operational readiness within the manufacturing area.

• Ensure development and deployment of highly specialist technical skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the bulk portfolio and strategy.

 

Main activities

 

Change and Transformation Leadership

• Develop and implement strategy within manufacturing unit aligned with STO strategy

• Oversee all site manufacturing operations

• Be accountable for resource planning and allocation for manufacturing site and project execution

• Ensure optimal collaboration and synergies among various functions and units to continuously improve internal process and seamlessly fulfill business objectives

• Responsible for implementation of and compliance with the principles and practices of Novartis manufacturing standards

• Role model values

• Be a learner, not a knower

• Be clear, present and focused

• Develop trusting and respectful relationships

• Manage your energy and impact

• Sets performance targets for the Manufacturing Unit in line with business objectives and develops long-term plan in line with global and site strategy

• Engages and motivates the team and delivers strong results with an empowered team

• Creating an environment of trust, assures clarity and open two-way communication, and fosters a speak-up mentality

 

Knowledge and Development of Talent and Pipeline

• Drives the talent agenda: Leads people processes through recruitment, training, coaching and performance to meet all operation requirements sustaining both site and manufacturing unit competitiveness and diversity. Supports a robust career path deployment and succession plan for the unit and site

• Invest time in personally developing and coaching talents

• Actively support and promote talent exchange for the benefit of the individuals and organization

• Ensure the consistency between career development processes and the business strategy

• Develop the organization in accordance with STO values and priorities

• Support the T&L organization by identifying and reviewing the appropriate list of training for all in-scope associates

• Ensure that associates are qualified for a GMP task prior to independent performance

• Monitor overall training compliance for in-scope associates

• Identify and maintain a list of subject matter experts for in-scope areas of expertise

 

Active Culture Building

• Create a work environment that enables high employee engagement

• Sponsor execution of culture plan (including HSE, Quality, OpEx, Leadership aspects) for the manufacturing site, ensure leaders and associates are aware and aligned on expectations and hold them accountable for success of culture journey

• Role model the culture aspiration: Team up to break barriers, be as ambitious as our purpose, lead by example, open minds, open doors.

 

Quality and HSE

• Guarantee the conformity of the manufacturing unit activities with regard to GMP and HSE rules, Sandoz quality/safety policies, and the standards and quality/safety procedures

• Promote and improve Safety and Quality cultures, by implementing the necessary systems and actions in line with the evolution of the site

• Ensure overall inspection readiness for area of responsibility.

• Guarantee the effectiveness of the Business Continuity Plan

• Being part of the site crisis management team and depending on skills, expertise and experience can be appointed to one of the NEM/BCM roles (Emergency Management). By delegation of the Site Head may be required to take decisions and take the necessary actions, in particular within the framework of the on-call management system.

• Responsible for participating in initial training and retraining

 

Digital Curiosity

• Explore the potential of data and technology to support transformation journey of the manufacturing site in-line with STO strategy

• Encourage others to learn about and leverage data and technology

 

Operational Excellence, continuous improvement and COGS competitiveness

• Encourage others to learn about and leverage data and technology

6 Sigma to increase the site performance against current and future business objectives

• Encourage others to learn about and leverage data and technology

continuous improvement of the whole process.

• Encourage others to learn about and leverage data and technology

and prioritize improvement actions based on available resources

• Ensure the progress and sustainability of the results obtained

• Manage module-related financial and operational drivers underpinning superior performance

• Sponsor OpEx initiatives in the manufacturing site

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

• Achieve plant KPIs

• Service level (no stock-out / no delay in production)

• Cost control and competitiveness

• Number of customer complaint on quality, cost of poor quality

• success rate of HAs inspections

• Right first time (Right First Time (RFT))

• Number of overdue compliance activities, effective CAPAs

• Launch performance on time

• P&O: Satisfaction survey, execution of talent and development plans, technical training program in place and executed, training data, attracting and retaining talent, succession plan for Manufacturing unit in place and robust

• HSE: Work accident rate, presence of the manager, success rate of inspections, reduction of waste, efficiency

• OpEx: Productivity Improvements

Work evaluation is made based on the bonus system and the periodic evaluation system of LEK S.A / Sandoz

Dimensions of the Job

Number of staff reporting                                    Direct: up to 400                Indirect: up to 15

 

Financial responsibility:

(Budget, Cost, Sales, etc.)                                       250 000 USD

 

Impact on the organization                                         High, member of Site Leadership Team

 

Ideal Background

Relevant Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in pharmaceutical or life science industry in a GMP environment, preferably in commercial manufacturing

• Min. 5 years’ experience in operations management and execution. Proven experience driving quality and compliance in an organization

• Min. 5 years’ experience in operations management and execution. Proven experience driving quality and compliance in an organization

Education & Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, engineering, chemistry, biology or related (higher degree preferred) or completed vocational training with equivalent job experience

• Qualifications in Lean Management, Operational Excellence certificate or comparable advantageous

Languages

·       Fluent in English and proficient in site local language

Competencies

• Excellent oral, written and presentational skills

• Business mindset, stakeholder engagement

• Change management, knowledge of all people management and development processes

• Objective setting and performance management, managing budgets, lean management

• Strong negotiator, influencing and persuading, ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization

• Adaptability, ability to work under pressure, collaborating across boundaries

• Project management / Operational Excellence

• Strong working knowledge of regulatory requirements across multiple health authorities

Compensation Structure & Criteria: 

Sandoz compensation is determined by job level, qualifications, niche skills, experience, and location within company salary ranges. Fully proficient and highly effective employees can expect a starting salary around market median, with those new to the level or with less functional depth at the lower end of the range and those with sustained superior or niche skills towards the higher end of the range. Internal equity and external market data inform our range placement. Annual salary reviews consider performance outcomes, market alignment, and business needs. 

Job location: Stryków, Poland

Pay range (monthly salary): zł/gross 27300 - 50700

Variable compensation:

• Annual performance-based bonus:  20%

• employee share program.

• company car (or car allowance 4300 zł gross/monthly)

Additional benefits include:

• Lunch card worth 450 zł per month

• Laptop, ...

• Medical care

• Life Insurance

• Retirement plan

• Multisport or Kultura + card (co-financed by the employee)

• Additional 2 days off

• Language learning platform

Pay frequency: monthly

Expected weekly working hours: 40h

Contract type: full-time

Why Sandoz?

Generic and Biosimilar medicines are the backbone of the global medicines industry. Sandoz, a leader in this sector, provided more than 900 million patient treatments across 100+ countries in 2024 and while we are proud of this achievement, we have an ambition to do more!

With investments in new development capabilities, production sites, new acquisitions, and partnerships, we have the opportunity to shape the future of Sandoz and help more patients gain access to low-cost, high-quality medicines, sustainably.

Our momentum is powered by an open, collaborative culture driven by our talented and ambitious colleagues, who, in return for applying their skills experience an agile and collegiate environment with impactful, flexible-hybrid careers, where diversity is welcomed and where personal growth is supported!

Join us!

Join our Sandoz Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Sandoz and our career opportunities, join the Network here: https://www.sandoz.pl/kariera/

#Sandoz

Skills Desired

Assembly Language, Biotechnology, Change Management, Chemistry, Continual Improvement Process, Cost Reduction, Finance, General Hse Knowledge     , Incentive Program, Installations (Computer Programs), Knowledge Of Gmp, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing, Manufacturing Process, Manufacturing Production, Operational Excellence, Productivity, Purchase, Six Sigma

Global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, operating as an independent company spun off from Novartis. Based in Basel.

sandoz.com