Associate Director, Plant IT Infrastructure Lead

Kyowa Kirin North America•Sanford, NC

9d•$156,900 - $215,700•Onsite

About The Position

As the Manufacturing Site IT Infrastructure Lead, you will own and manage the planning, implementation, and execution of IT infrastructure at Kyowa Kirin's new manufacturing facility. You will play a key role in standing up a state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing site by ensuring the IT infrastructure, manufacturing networks, and mobile strategy support site objectives while aligning with regional and global standards. This position is responsible for the IT infrastructure supporting both manufacturing operations and office environments. The role requires extensive infrastructure expertise, from strategic planning and implementation through ongoing technical support and lifecycle management within a Life Sciences manufacturing environment. As a leader, you will foster a collaborative, inclusive, and people-focused culture while driving team development, stakeholder alignment, and measurable business results. You will help guide the organization through change in a rapidly evolving biotech environment while maintaining a patient-focused mindset.

Requirements

Minimum of seven years of overall IT experience.
At least three years supporting manufacturing environments.
Experience serving as an IT Infrastructure technical lead within pharmaceutical or manufacturing organizations.
Strong experience with network architecture, firewall design, network segmentation, and infrastructure maintenance.
Broad technical knowledge across networking, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and manufacturing systems.
Experience with network security protocols and best practices.
Experience supporting virtual server environments and cloud infrastructure.
Experience using network monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
Hands-on experience with backup, restore, archival, and disaster recovery methodologies.
Knowledge of cybersecurity standards, data protection, and regulatory compliance.
Strong understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations and their impact on IT systems.
Experience supporting international organizations within global environments.
Microsoft Office Suite
Linux operating systems
TCP/IP networking fundamentals
DNS and DHCP
ServiceNow or other IT Service Management (ITSM) platforms
Microsoft Azure
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Cisco Firewalls
Cisco Switches
Results-oriented with strong accountability and follow-through.
Comfortable working in fast-paced, evolving environments with changing priorities.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
Active listener with strong interpersonal skills.
Growth mindset and commitment to continuous learning.
Collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
High integrity and professionalism.
Innovative, resourceful, and proactive problem solver.
Enterprise mindset with the ability to work across functions and organizations.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting startup biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead network operations, server administration, security, and end-user support across manufacturing, laboratory, and office environments.
Design, implement, and maintain secure, scalable, and highly available network infrastructure supporting real-time manufacturing operations.
Support on-premises and cloud server infrastructure, including implementation, maintenance, and lifecycle management.
Manage firewalls and ensure secure segregation of manufacturing, laboratory, and office networks.
Support IT infrastructure for manufacturing automation platforms including Process Control Systems (PCS), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Data Historians, and Building Management Systems (BMS).
Monitor infrastructure performance, proactively identify issues, and minimize system downtime.
Develop and execute site-specific IT infrastructure strategies aligned with regional and global enterprise standards.
Ensure compliance with GMP, EHS, corporate procedures, cybersecurity requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
Stay current on emerging technologies and best practices within pharmaceutical manufacturing and IT infrastructure.
Develop site IT strategy aligned with global manufacturing IT and digital roadmap initiatives.
Manage relationships with IT vendors and support contract negotiations.
Provide technical support and troubleshooting for end users.
Translate business needs into technical solutions to support project execution.
Maintain IT infrastructure and computer systems inventories.
Support lifecycle management programs to ensure infrastructure hardware remains current and supported.
Establish clear goals, drive accountability, and deliver measurable business results.
Foster open communication, provide constructive feedback, and effectively manage conflict.
Mentor, coach, and develop team members while supporting continuous learning.
Promote diversity, inclusion, and a respectful team culture.
Build a supportive work environment that recognizes achievements and encourages work-life balance.
Lead collaboratively while modeling organizational values and integrity.
Demonstrate emotional intelligence and sound decision-making under pressure.
Guide teams through organizational change with clear communication and adaptability.
Apply situational leadership by adjusting leadership style to meet team needs.
Build alignment across stakeholders and facilitate decisions that support organizational objectives.