About this opportunity
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 Engineering
Job Sub Function:
Automation Engineering
Job Category:
People Leader
All Job Posting Locations:
Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands
Job Description:
Site Automation Lead
Johnson & Johnson is currently seeking a Site Automation Lead to join our Global Engineering & Technology organization located at the manufacturing site in Leiden, The Netherlands.
Position Summary:
You lead the site’s automation organization, owning the lifecycle of ISA‑95 Level 1–2 and selected Level 3 systems, ensuring compliance, reliability, and performance in a regulated environment. As part of the GET Leiden Leadership Team, you define and execute the automation strategy, translating business priorities into scalable, value‑driven solutions.
You drive automation delivery and system reliability while leading a high‑performing team and partnering across Operations, Quality, MSAT, Engineering, and IT/Digital to advance innovation, compliance, and operational excellence.
This role requires a strong people leader and change agent who can influence across a matrix and lead digital transformation.
What you will do
Lead & Develop the Organization
Lead and develop a high-performing automation organization (individual contributors, supervisors, managers), driving engagement, capability growth, succession planning and strong performance management.
Define & Execute Automation Strategy
Own and deploy the site automation and execution systems strategy, ensuring standardization, architectural alignment, and consistency across the platform.
Drive Digital & Operational Excellence
Advance the digital manufacturing roadmap and continuously improve automation systems by identifying upgrades, optimizing performance, and aligning with site and enterprise priorities.
Deliver Automation Portfolio
Lead automation and data-driven projects, ensuring compliant, safe, on-time, and within-budget delivery, including proper documentation and change control of all system modifications
Ensure Compliance & Reliability
Maintain GMP and EHS compliance, including SOP adherence, deviation/NCR investigation, CAPA management, and continuous audit readiness.
Own Execution Systems & Lifecycle Management
Oversee full lifecycle management of execution systems, including design (FS/DS), validation (FAT, SAT, IOPQ), system integration, interfaces, master data/recipes, and lifecycle documentation.
Provide Technical & Operational Leadership
Direct system performance, reliability, upgrades, and continuous improvement; ensure effective 24/7 system support, manage infrastructure (incl network in partnership with IT) and data system performance.
Stakeholder & Vendor Management
Partner cross-functionally (Operations, MSAT, Engineering, IT, DOTS) and manage vendors/contracts; provide input to capital projects, platform standards, and recipe/library development.
Governance & Continuous Improvement
Define policies and procedures, monitor KPIs, and drive continuous improvement using best practices, ensuring systems are fit for use and aligned with regulatory and business requirements.
Who you are:
BSc degree in Engineering, Science or related technical field or a related field with 10+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, biopharmaceutical OR an advanced degree MSc/MBA/Ph.D. or equivalent with 8+ years.
4+ years of leadership and delivery experience AND 4+ years of proven experience within a pharmaceutical or GMP regulated manufacturing environment in automation or IT role.
Role requirements:
Proven ability to lead technical teams, manage competing priorities, and consistently deliver results in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
Strong knowledge of cGMP in FDA-regulated environments, including validation practices (FAT, SAT, IO/PQ) and GAMP principles.
Solid understanding of engineering documentation and compliance requirements for execution systems.
Deep technical expertise in ISA-95 Level 1–3 systems (e.g., DeltaV, PLCs, MES PAS-X, OSI PI, infrastructure).
Good understanding of Level 4 systems (ERP, Quality, Data platforms) and their integration.
Strong grounding in ISA-95 and ISA-88 standards and their application in a global supply chain context.
Demonstrated strategic thinking with experience in project and financial management.
Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions and drive value realization.
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across a matrix organization and lead change.
Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus.
#LI-MV2
Required Skills:
Preferred Skills:
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 3753 comparable Manufacturing & CMC roles across 173 biopharma companies.
Salary context
921 of 3753 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
Top locations among the 3753 comparable roles
+ 58 more countries
Seniority mix
1670 of 3753 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
24 of 3753 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
Similar opportunities
The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.
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How we calculate "similar"
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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.