At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Your Role: Senior Director, Technical Services/Manufacturing Science (m/f/d) - Pharma
Lohmann Animal Health GmbH – a global leader specializing in the production of poultry vaccines – has been part of Elanco since 2014. With our innovative products and services, we strive to take responsibility for the community and enrich the lives of both people and animals. Our vaccines are exported to more than 70 countries worldwide. With more than 180 employees and a long-standing company history, Lohmann Animal Health GmbH offers an exciting, international, and impactful working environment.
We are currently looking for a Senior Director, Technical Services/Manufacturing Science (m/f/d).
The Sr. Director, Technical Services/Manufacturing Science (m/f/d) provides technical and strategic leadership for the Cuxhaven site's TS/MS function, accountable for all technical product and process support activities at this European center of excellence for vaccine manufacturing. This role leads product stewardship, process monitoring, improvement, validation, and technical transfer, championing scientific principles for continuous optimization. As an active member of both Site and Global TS/MS Lead Teams, the Sr. Director fosters strong relationships with central TS/MS and R&D, contributes to site plans, and participates in regulatory audits.
Your Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Site Governance: Act as a core member of the Cuxhaven Site Lead Team, contributing to business and quality plans, ensuring global alignment with Elanco's TS/MS Division, and overseeing the TS/MS organizational budget and resources.
Technical Stewardship & Process Optimization: Lead ongoing monitoring, improvement, and validation of commercial manufacturing processes, championing sound scientific principles, driving the site's technical agenda, and providing high-level guidance for complex technical investigations.
New Product Introduction & Tech Transfer: Lead seamless technical transfers of new products and processes from R&D or other sites to Cuxhaven, building strong cross-functional partnerships, and ensuring technical readiness for new product launches.
Quality, Regulatory & Compliance: Serve as a primary participant and SME during regulatory agency audits, actively leading site-wide quality improvement initiatives, and overseeing the technical accuracy of regulatory submissions.
Organizational & People Development: Direct and mentor a high-performing team of scientists and engineers, fostering a culture of continuous process optimization and innovation, and setting clear performance objectives aligned with site and global strategies.
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
Bachelor’s degree in a Scientific Field
Minimum of 15 years of relevant pharma/biopharma experience, including 10 years in leading teams or organizations.
Minimum 5 years of expertise in the field of commercial manufacturing of vaccines.
Experience with an EU GMP controlled environment.
Very good German skills in written and spoken
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):
Advanced Degree (Master, PhD)
Knowledge of vaccine-based technology platforms (fermentation, egg-based) and relevant experience in associated disciplines such as Manufacturing, Development, Engineering, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Advanced Project Management, Regulatory, or Administration.
Strong scientific and analytical thinking, with the ability to manage complex situations and conflicting priorities.
Proven ability to influence people, build collaborative relationships across functions and with external partners, and communicate effectively.
Your Benefits
Performance-based and attractive compensation, including participation in company success
Employer contribution to pension plans
40-hour work week
30 days of annual leave
Meal allowance subsidy
Regular team events
Health and fitness programs as well as access to Corporate Benefits
Freedom for personal initiative and opportunities for individual professional development
Working in a dynamic team within an international company
Additional Information:
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
