Director, Project Delivery

Lonza • Bend, OR

9d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an elite, highly experienced engineering leader to join our Strategic Growth Investment Engineering (SGIE) team as the Director, Project Delivery (Project Lead). Reporting directly to the Senior Director, you will step into a high-visibility leadership role overseeing a $250MM + capital project portfolio. Operating under general direction, you will own the full project lifecycle from basic design through construction, commissioning, qualification, and startup (end of OQ). This role acts as a primary engineering anchor—leading multidisciplinary project teams, managing massive capital expense (CAPEX) allocations, and partnering with internal business units and global clients to deliver top-tier, compliant manufacturing facilities.

Requirements

• 10+ years of advanced project engineering and project management experience within the chemical, biochemical, or life sciences industries.
• Extensive experience executing large-scale capital projects within a Small Molecules or Advanced Synthetics environment is highly preferred.
• Deep technical knowledge across diverse engineering disciplines—including process systems, automation architectures, instrumentation, and CSA (civil, structural, architectural) frameworks.
• Proven track record utilizing modern Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) strategies to minimize the time from construction completion to routine commercial production.
• Exceptional people management skills with a demonstrated ability to motivate, lead, and coach direct reports and multi-million dollar contingent workforces without relying on direct line authority.
• Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills (English fluency required, German capability is a plus) with the commercial acumen required to negotiate statement of work alterations and manage competing points of view.

Nice To Haves

• German capability is a plus

Responsibilities

• Create, implement, and drive comprehensive project plans meeting explicit technical objectives across the Design, Construction, Commissioning, and Qualification (CQV) phases (through the end of OQ).
• Directly manage complex capital asset budgets (CAR), ensure total adherence to financial forecasting, and ruthlessly oversee scope changes in partnership with GE Project Control.
• Lead, align, and coordinate the work of large, cross-functional project teams comprising Qualification Engineers, Facility Management, QA, Automation, and Black/Clean Utilities specialists.
• Proactively identify engineering and operational project risks, design robust mitigation strategies, and resolve complex roadblocks while balancing detail with the overall strategic picture.
• Build and optimize long-term relationships with global contractors, equipment vendors, and architectural engineering firms to secure high-quality deliverables and strict timeline adherence.
• Regularly communicate project status, milestone achievements, risks, and resource allocations to executive site leadership, global steering committees, and external commercial clients.
• Ensure all engineering aspects of the facility design build a highly compliant, cost-effective plant that strictly meets internal specifications, cGMP standards, and EHS regulations.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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