Director, Manufacturing Platform Technology – Global Tech Ops

Job Title: Director, Manufacturing Platform Technology – Global Tech Ops

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Hybrid working ~ 3 days per week in the office location

Introduction to role

Are you ready to lead the charge in transforming AstraZeneca's manufacturing capabilities for 2030 and beyond? As the Director of Manufacturing Platform Technology, you'll be at the forefront of change, driving platform establishment across the enterprise!

The GTO Platform Lead represents a strategic cross-functional leadership role within Biologics Operations and Global Technical Operations. This position encompasses the leadership and development of a diverse, cross-functional team whilst maintaining primary accountability for strategic planning, coordination of technical leadership initiatives, and the provision of comprehensive operational support to our global technical network and key customer partnerships.

Join us in shaping the future of manufacturing technology and equipment platforms across biologics and new modalities!

Key Accountabilities:

Lead a matrixed, cross-functional team to shape and scale AstraZeneca’s manufacturing technology/equipment platforms across biologics and new modalities. Partner closely with Development, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and external manufacturers to deliver robust, flexible, and inspection-ready platforms.

Enterprise impact: Set the platform vision, standards, and roadmap; accelerate continuous manufacturing adoption; harmonize ways of working across internal sites and CMOs to improve speed, reliability, and cost to serve.

Platform strategy and standards:

• Technology/Equipment Operating envelopes: Define highs/lows, critical process parameters, and control strategies for each unit operation.
• Templates and playbooks: Publish platform process descriptions, tech transfer playbooks, and manufacturing technology standards that teams can use globally.
• Change agility: Build comparability and “switch” strategies into equipment platforms to manage lifecycle changes with minimal disruption.

Modalities in scope:

• Core: Fed-batch, intensified, microbial fermentation, and continuous mammalian bioprocessing
• Emerging: Nucleic acid therapies, Antibody drug conjugates, radioconjugates, viral and gene therapies, enzyme-produced biologics, protozoan fermentation

Continuous manufacturing leadership:

• Vision and adoption: Set enterprise standards and the adoption plan for end-to-end continuous processing.
• Design and control: Define PAT/APC, residence-time distribution, steady-state verification, and start-up/shutdown strategies that meet global regulatory expectations.
• Scale-up and launch: Guide piloting through commercial implementation; quantify business value and embed learnings across the network.

Collaboration and matrix leadership:

• Co-create with partners: Work hand-in-hand with CMC, Clinical, Regulatory, QA, and site leaders to align on risk, control, and lifecycle strategies.
• Network integration: Harmonize processes and capabilities across internal sites, CMOs, and acquisitions; establish clear governance, roles, and accountability.
• Transparent communication: Maintain timely updates, risk escalation, and portfolio alignment across Global Tech Ops and Biologics leadership.

Technology and site enablement:

• Site readiness: Working closely with tech transfer leads, Stand up technology transfers to site, define ways of working, and embed digital tools for monitoring and decision-making.
• Technology Readiness: Acting along with current site leads, or in lieu of local MS&T for new sites,

Regulatory partnership:

• Authoring and strategy: Co-author technical content for design control strategies that enable post-approval flexibility.
• Engagement and inspection: Prepare teams and sites for regulatory interactions and inspections.

Data-driven improvement:

• Data and Process Standardization: Collaborating across the enterprise, establish standards for process data and information needed to support autonomous decision making.
• Performance management: Define metrics and scorecards; use feedback loops to track adoption and impact.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

Standardisation and Speed You will establish reusable platform standards that dramatically reduce development and technology transfer timelines, enabling faster delivery of life-changing medicines to patients. Your work will create scalable frameworks that eliminate redundancy and accelerate innovation across our manufacturing operations.

Continuous Adoption Leadership Drive the scaled implementation of continuous manufacturing processes, delivering measurable improvements in operational robustness, cost efficiency, and sustainability performance. You will champion pioneering manufacturing technologies that position AstraZeneca at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation.

Network Alignment Excellence Establish consistent ways of working across all manufacturing sites and Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMOs), implementing clear governance structures that ensure seamless collaboration and operational excellence throughout our global network.

Operational Impact Delivery Your initiatives will directly contribute to higher yields, reduced variability, and accelerated time to clinical and commercial supply, ultimately ensuring patients receive high-quality medicines more quickly and reliably.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Experience: 12 years in biologics manufacturing (or 10+ with an advanced degree); 5+ years in process engineering/development; late-stage and commercial exposure.
• Continuous manufacturing: Recent, hands-on leadership implementing continuous bioprocessing in a manufacturing setting.
• Regulatory: Proven authoring of technical sections or leading technical regulatory strategy.
• Collaboration: Strong record of leading matrix teams and influencing across internal customers and external partners/CMOs.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Preferred: Site engineering background; validation experience for new modalities/formulations; late-phase nucleic acid manufacturing or analytics; proficiency with Power BI, Power Automate, and Microsoft Office.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $175,572.00 to $263,358.00. However, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles).

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

AstraZeneca offers an environment where you can make a positive impact while building a long-term career filled with global opportunities. Our commitment to delivering accelerated growth pushes us to innovate continuously. With a focus on Lean processes, cutting-edge science, digitalization, and sustainable practices, we are dedicated to making people's lives better. Our inclusive community supports each other on our journeys, fostering curiosity and problem-solving. Embrace the chance to broaden your knowledge and skills in a place where your dedication is rewarded.

Ready to take on this exciting challenge? Apply now to join us in shaping the future of manufacturing technology at AstraZeneca!

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.