Operations Director, CAR-T Manufacturing

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world.  We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual.  At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Supply Chain Manufacturing

Job Sub Function:

Plant Management

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Raritan, New Jersey, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for an Operations Director, CAR-T Manufacturing to join our team in Raritan, NJ.

Are you interested in joining a team that is positively impacting patients' lives by ensuring reliable delivery of our high quality Innovative Medicine products? Apply today for this exciting opportunity to be part of the #CAR-T team!

Summary:

The CAR-T Operations Director is a member of the Raritan CAR-T site leadership team and plays a crucial role in leading the overall operations of the 24/7 manufacturing facility. Working closely with the Site General Manager, you will contribute to the efficient and effective functioning of the manufacturing site by ensuring compliance to cGMP practices while overseeing various aspects of production, personnel, and resource management. The position will lead a team of 6-8 direct reports and a broader organization of approximately 200 shift-based personnel.

The candidate must be comfortable to working in a matrixed environment, both within Johnson & Johnson and with our collaboration partner, Legend Biotech.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide leadership to Operations Execution and Operations Support organizations, including operators, team leaders, supervisors, investigators and trainers, fostering a positive work environment that empowers employees and promotes high-performance teams.

Provide leadership to drive effective communication and collaboration across all relevant groups to ensure robust production, testing and release of product to patients.

Implement KPIs and monitor production processes to ensure efficiency, quality, and adherence to production schedules.

Drive organizational transformation, operations ramp-up and facility approvals of state-of-the-art cell therapy manufacturing facilities

Maintain high standards of quality, compliance and safety through leadership by example.

Build a strategy to develop existing talent through broadening experiences and commitment to delivery to the highest standards. Continue to build bench strength in the operations organization and ensure robust succession planning

Lead operational planning to manage capacity evolution and technology integration for clinical and commercial manufacturing.

Drive high-quality and efficiency in management of non-conformances.

Identify and contribute to the development and execution of initiatives that drive root cause identification, continuous improvement, cost reduction, and increased productivity throughout the manufacturing plant.

Collaborate with the EHS and Quality teams to maintain high standards of compliance, product quality and workplace safety. Foster a culture of safety, compliance, and accountability across the manufacturing plant.

Provide representation and leadership in regulatory inspections.

Qualifications

Education:

A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably with a focus in Science or Engineering. Master’s or higher degree is preferred.

Experience and Skills:

Required:

Minimum 10 years of combined experience in cGMP manufacturing, operations management, technical transfer, process and equipment validation, quality management or related area is required

Experience working in a sterile biological/pharmaceutical/cell therapy manufacturing environment is required

Proven understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) is required

Strong people leadership including leading direct reports is required

Relationship/influencing savvy required

Communicates effectively with people at all levels, including the ability to understand their priorities, and to earn their respect and trust, along with the willingness to provide them with the best decisions in time-sensitive situations required

Capable of dealing with ambiguity, working and leading in a matrix environment required

Capable of thriving in a fast-paced growth situation, with ability to adapt to changing environment required

Ability to balance day to day operational demands with the need to extend and improve the planning horizon to prepare strategically to manage future demands required

Ability to flex schedule to maintain off-hour communication and connection with 2nd shift employees as needed

Preferred:

Lean and Six Sigma Certification

Other:

This position is located in Raritan New Jersey and may require up to 10% domestic and international travel.

For more information on how we support the whole health of our employees throughout their wellness, career and life journey, please visit www.careers.jnj.com .

If you are under 18 years of age, you (the candidate) may need to obtain the necessary working papers or other documentation required by state law to start the assignment, as well as get a parent’s consent for the background check.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Agile Manufacturing, Business Planning, Developing Others, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Manufacturing Compliance, Manufacturing Safety, Organizational Project Management, Organizing, Plant Operations, Process Improvements, Strategic Supply Chain Management, Tactical Planning

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$154,000.00 - $265,650.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.

Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

Vacation –120 hours per calendar year

Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year

Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year

Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child

Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year

Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days

Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year

Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits