About this opportunity
Make your mark for patients
To join our Internal Manufacturing, Biologics Manufacturing Science and Technology team, based in our office in Braine-L'Alleud, Belgium or Bulle, Switzerland, we are seeking a highly experienced MSAT DP Sterile Process Lead to provide technical leadership for sterile drug product manufacturing operations and future expansion projects.
About the role
This role combines deep expertise in aseptic processing, technology transfer, facility start-up, contamination control and operational excellence.
As a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will play a key role in supporting the design, qualification and operation of next-generation sterile manufacturing facilities, including isolator-based filling technologies. You will serve as a key technical partner to Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Validation and Regulatory teams while driving continuous improvement and fostering technical excellence across the organization.
You will lead the operational delivery of sterile drug product technology transfers from process scale-up through commercial validation and the full product lifecycle.
This position is ideal for an experienced professional passionate about sterile manufacturing, problem solving, knowledge sharing and technical leadership.
Who you’ll work with
You will be working in a multidisciplinary team that brings together manufacturing science and technology, quality, regulatory, analytical, supply and site colleagues. You will coordinate internal and external partners, build constructive team dynamics and provide clear progress, risk and decision updates to the Sterile Manufacturing Science and Technology leadership team.
What you’ll do
Participate in the design, start-up, qualification and operational readiness of new sterile manufacturing facilities, including isolator-based filling operations, contamination control strategies, aseptic process simulations and process validation activities.
Lead cross-functional technology transfer and industrialization projects for sterile drug product manufacturing, ensuring alignment across Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Validation, Engineering, Analytical Sciences and Supply Chain.
As a subject matter expert (SME) for aseptic processing and sterile manufacturing technologies, provide technical oversight for sterile manufacturing processes, ensuring compliance with global regulatory expectations, cGMP requirements and industry best practices.
Drive second-line technical troubleshooting for complex manufacturing issues, leading structured investigations, root-cause analyses, risk assessments and implementation of sustainable CAPAs.
Author, review and approve technical protocols, validation documentation, internal standard, study plans, reports, investigations, trend analyses and scientific justifications supporting manufacturing operations and regulatory submissions.
Serve as a technical authority during audits, inspections, regulatory interactions and due diligence activities related to sterile manufacturing operations.
Lead a Sterile Manufacturing Community of Practice by sharing best practices, industry trends, lessons learned and emerging technologies, while developing organizational knowledge and technical capabilities to the organization.
Contribute to due diligence for manufacturing site selection, technology assessments and strategic investments by evaluating technical capabilities, operational readiness and compliance risks.
Manage project scope, timelines, resources, budgets, risks and mitigation plans to ensure successful execution of MSAT objectives and business priorities.
Interested?
For this role we’re looking for the following education, experience and skills:
Master's degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering or related discipline.
8+ years of experience in sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing, MSAT, Process Engineering, Technical Services or Manufacturing Support.
Demonstrated expertise in aseptic processing, contamination control and isolator technology.
Strong understanding of Annex 1, FDA aseptic processing guidance, cGMP requirements and contamination control principles.
Experience supporting facility start-up, qualification, process validation and commercial manufacturing.
Proven experience leading complex investigations and troubleshooting multidisciplinary manufacturing issues.
Experience authoring and reviewing technical protocols, validation reports and regulatory-supporting documentation.
Strong presentation, communication and influencing skills with the ability to act as a recognized SME across multiple functions.
Experience facilitating technical forums, communities of practice or knowledge-sharing networks is highly desirable.
Fluent written and spoken English, with the ability to summarise complex topics and present clear options.
Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!
About us
UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are over 9.000 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science.
Why work with us?
At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential.
At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description or precluded by the nature of the position, roles are hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office.
UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.
Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on EMEA-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.
Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 3614 comparable Manufacturing & CMC roles across 167 biopharma companies.
Salary context
897 of 3614 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.
Where these roles are based
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Seniority mix
1613 of 3614 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
21 of 3614 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
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Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.
0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.