Associate Director – Material Excellence, Single Use Technologies & Raw Materials

Lonza • Portsmouth, NH

11h • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a high-caliber technical authority to join our Group Operations organization as the Associate Director – Material Excellence, SU Technologies Expert & Raw Materials. Reporting directly to the Global Head of Material Excellence, this high-visibility global position is responsible for leading and shaping Lonza’s overarching material strategy—focusing directly on simplification, network-wide harmonization, and supplier assurance across all clinical and commercial manufacturing platforms. Operating under direction with broad technical autonomy, you will serve as the premier Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Single-Use Technologies (SUT) and raw materials, driving global material standardization, harmonizing best practices across sites, and eliminating local variance to drive quality, operational efficiency, and cost performance.

Requirements

• 5–10 years of advanced material science, MSAT, QC/QA, or Operations experience within a cGMP pharmaceutical or bioprocess manufacturing setting. This must be accompanied by detailed application knowledge of polymeric materials and single-use systems in a life science context.
• Demonstrated experience operating successfully within a global setting, matrix network, or international multi-site organization. Proven capacity to influence peers outside of your direct department is essential.
• Strong capability to lead, align, and hold disparate cross-functional networks (Site MSAT, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement) accountable to global standards through a dotted-line relationship structure rather than formal line authority.
• A high-energy, change-agent mentality. Must be comfortable bringing diverse groups together, speaking authoritatively, navigating healthy pushback, and skillfully overcoming internal resistance to ensure execution discipline and full implementation.
• Deep technical proficiency in raw material characterization, single-use component assembly validation, and establishing defensible material specifications aligned with global compendia.
• Strong project management capabilities with a track record of executing complex standardization programs simultaneously.
• Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) or equivalent advanced degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry, or a closely related technical discipline is required.
• Proactive 2-way communication skills, and a self-driven, hands-on attitude capable of translating corporate strategic directives into actionable plant-level standards.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with global data management platforms, Master Data frameworks, and technical reporting workflows is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Global Technical Authority: Serve as the network Subject Matter Authority for single-use technologies and raw materials utilized across diverse clinical and commercial bioprocessing lines, establishing unified global specifications and robust control strategies.
• Cross-Site Process Governance: Drive structural harmonization of material standards across all operational sites to eliminate decentralized "local recipes," ensuring consistent application, reducing SKU complexity, and minimizing localized exceptions or manufacturing deviations.
• Single-Use Assembly (SUA) & Raw Material Lifecycle Management: Advance Lonza’s SUA lifecycle frameworks, standardizing tech transfer requirements, component mapping, and supplier alignment criteria.
• Strategic Sourcing & Risk Mitigation: Partner directly with Global Procurement and Quality to strengthen supplier assurance frameworks, managing technical assessments for second-sourcing initiatives and alternate material qualifications.
• Global Change Control Ownership: Own, author, and govern global change controls relating to material specifications and optimization initiatives to ensure seamless, compliant execution.
• Vendor Change Management (VCN): Oversee the technical evaluation and documentation pipeline for complex Vendor Change Notifications, preparing risk assessments, compendial analyses, and regulatory positioning papers.
• Investigation Advisory: Provide advanced cross-functional technical guidance on raw material and single-use processing deviations, collaborating with local Manufacturing, MSAT, and Validation teams to drive comprehensive root-cause resolutions.
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain total alignment with evolving global pharmacopoeias and health authority expectations, directly supporting corporate client and regulatory inspections as technical lead.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance available for eligible candidates and their families, if needed.
• An agile career and dynamic working culture
• An inclusive and ethical workplace
• Medical, dental and vision insurance, as well as PTO and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director