Head of Engineering

AstraZeneca•Canóvanas, PR

About The Position

Accountable for protecting the site’s License to Operate and License to Evolve by ensuring safe, compliant, reliable, and future-ready infrastructure and technical stewardship across facilities, GMP-critical utilities, Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS), and product technology site governance. Owns technical integrity across product and process, serves as the site technical authority and a peer to Manufacturing and Quality at the GM table, embedding inspection readiness in daily work and leading risk-based decision-making. Direct accountability for Facilities Management; Engineering and Technical Services (maintenance, utilities, calibration, validation readiness); EHS including contractor safety; Product Technology site stewardship (technical governance, control strategy integrity, lifecycle readiness); engineering capital project delivery; site resilience, sustainability, and energy performance. Partners closely with MS&T, which is accountable for process execution, tech transfer, and PPQ delivery. Typical Accountabilities Local Accountabilities: Site Strategy, LTO and Operational Performance Owns and drives the Facilities, Engineering, EHS, and Product Technology strategy, ensuring alignment with iPR 2030 objectives, enterprise priorities, and the site's License to Operate. Ensuring framework is in place to enable liaison with government agencies permitting authorities and contractors on matters relating to new assets and modifications to existing ones. Ensure reliable infrastructure and technical systems that enable Lean and continuous improvement initiatives. Builds and develops a high-performing team and the necessary technical, engineering, EHS, and Product Technology capabilities and talent pipeline to meet current and future business and regulatory requirements. Enables and supports site-wide Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives by ensuring highly reliable assets, optimized utility performance, and robust engineering support systems that foster inspection readiness and right-first-time outcomes. Facilities, Utilities, and Asset Lifecycle Own the utilities and asset lifecycle strategy to deliver high reliability of utilities, integrating risk-based asset management, calibration, and validation readiness. Optimizes the asset lifecycle strategy, including comprehensive Preventive, Predictive, and Condition-Based Maintenance (PM/PdM/CBM) programs to ensure high reliability and uptime of GMP-critical utilities and infrastructure Delivers efficient and robust supply of key utility services in support of the Site operations. Drive sustained reduction in reactive maintenance and improve OEE via TPM and condition-based strategies. Ensures engineering systems and utilities are qualification-ready and leads the engineering and facility-related aspects of equipment qualification and validation for product launch and lifecycle changes, in close partnership with Quality and MSAT. A member of the AZ global governance maintenance group which is accountable for development and implementation of an AZ wide global maintenance strategy aimed at optimization and standardization maintenance programs across the network as applicable per site LMR strategy Develops and maintain strategic partnering alliances with engineering or architectural firms, construction managers, and other professional external consultants, work with Purchasing to maximize value to AstraZeneca Technical Services and Product Technology Governance Own site Technical Services governance and Product Technology stewardship to ensure control strategy integrity, robust technical documentation, and lifecycle readiness. Leads the development and implementation of an integrated equipment and technology strategy that enables iPR 2030 objectives, Lean manufacturing principles, and digital transformation within Facilities, Engineering, and Product Technology Reduce repeat technical deviations and improve right-first-time performance. Partner with MS&T and Quality for tech transfers, PPQ, and lifecycle decisions that impact filings. EHS and Process Safety Leadership Accountable for EHS risk controls, contractor safety standards, and a strong safety culture. Ensure proactive risk identification, investigation, and measurable risk reduction, maintaining regulatory confidence and inspection readiness across EHS systems. Lead risk-based decision-making with early escalation of technical, safety, and compliance risks. Build and demonstrate site resilience and emergency readiness through tested plans and drills. Capital Strategy and Project Delivery Deliver capital and technical projects to scope, cost, schedule, and compliance standards. Jointly prioritize and sequence the capital portfolio with Business Excellence and the PMO, aligned to risk and business priorities. Sustainability and Energy Performance Improve site sustainability and energy performance in line with enterprise commitments. Set targets, monitor performance, and close gaps through engineering, utilities optimization, and asset investments. A member of NRRGG, IFM (GERE workstreams), GMTPM and GST. iPR Key point of contact with the AZ global engineering function and AZ global environmental sustainability programs. Enterprise Risk Management Actively promotes the risk register and business continuity for the site with the support of site leadership. Ensure the risk and business continuity management programs are updated and being reviewed periodically.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (BS) in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial) or a closely related science discipline is required.
Minimum of 12-15+ years of progressive leadership experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with significant direct accountability for Facilities, Engineering, EHS, and/or Product Technology in a GMP-regulated environment.
Proven track record in leading enterprise-level technical integrity, LTO protection, strategic capital governance, and driving reliability improvements.
Experience operating within a global pharma network is strongly preferred.
Must be fluent in English and ability to communicate in Spanish is highly desirable.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public using good communication skills.
Full Competency in all Microsoft Office applications and use of tools such as; Power BI.
Experience using ERP systems, preferably SAP.
System-Led Leadership & Governance Mastery
Influence Without Authority
Strategic Capital Planning & Delivery Discipline
Digital, Data-Driven, & Smart Facilities Expertise
Proactive Risk Management
Sustainability & Resilience Leadership
Talent Development & Technical Culture

Nice To Haves

Ability to communicate in Spanish is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Owns and drives the Facilities, Engineering, EHS, and Product Technology strategy, ensuring alignment with iPR 2030 objectives, enterprise priorities, and the site's License to Operate.
Ensuring framework is in place to enable liaison with government agencies permitting authorities and contractors on matters relating to new assets and modifications to existing ones.
Ensure reliable infrastructure and technical systems that enable Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.
Builds and develops a high-performing team and the necessary technical, engineering, EHS, and Product Technology capabilities and talent pipeline to meet current and future business and regulatory requirements.
Enables and supports site-wide Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives by ensuring highly reliable assets, optimized utility performance, and robust engineering support systems that foster inspection readiness and right-first-time outcomes.
Own the utilities and asset lifecycle strategy to deliver high reliability of utilities, integrating risk-based asset management, calibration, and validation readiness.
Optimizes the asset lifecycle strategy, including comprehensive Preventive, Predictive, and Condition-Based Maintenance (PM/PdM/CBM) programs to ensure high reliability and uptime of GMP-critical utilities and infrastructure
Delivers efficient and robust supply of key utility services in support of the Site operations.
Drive sustained reduction in reactive maintenance and improve OEE via TPM and condition-based strategies.
Ensures engineering systems and utilities are qualification-ready and leads the engineering and facility-related aspects of equipment qualification and validation for product launch and lifecycle changes, in close partnership with Quality and MSAT.
A member of the AZ global governance maintenance group which is accountable for development and implementation of an AZ wide global maintenance strategy aimed at optimization and standardization maintenance programs across the network as applicable per site LMR strategy
Develops and maintain strategic partnering alliances with engineering or architectural firms, construction managers, and other professional external consultants, work with Purchasing to maximize value to AstraZeneca
Own site Technical Services governance and Product Technology stewardship to ensure control strategy integrity, robust technical documentation, and lifecycle readiness.
Leads the development and implementation of an integrated equipment and technology strategy that enables iPR 2030 objectives, Lean manufacturing principles, and digital transformation within Facilities, Engineering, and Product Technology
Reduce repeat technical deviations and improve right-first-time performance.
Partner with MS&T and Quality for tech transfers, PPQ, and lifecycle decisions that impact filings.
Accountable for EHS risk controls, contractor safety standards, and a strong safety culture.
Ensure proactive risk identification, investigation, and measurable risk reduction, maintaining regulatory confidence and inspection readiness across EHS systems.
Lead risk-based decision-making with early escalation of technical, safety, and compliance risks.
Build and demonstrate site resilience and emergency readiness through tested plans and drills.
Deliver capital and technical projects to scope, cost, schedule, and compliance standards.
Jointly prioritize and sequence the capital portfolio with Business Excellence and the PMO, aligned to risk and business priorities.
Improve site sustainability and energy performance in line with enterprise commitments.
Set targets, monitor performance, and close gaps through engineering, utilities optimization, and asset investments.
A member of NRRGG, IFM (GERE workstreams), GMTPM and GST. iPR Key point of contact with the AZ global engineering function and AZ global environmental sustainability programs.
Actively promotes the risk register and business continuity for the site with the support of site leadership.
Ensure the risk and business continuity management programs are updated and being reviewed periodically.