Senior Director, Cell Therapy Manufacturing Network F&E Lead

AstraZeneca • Los Angeles, CA

9d • $185,000 - $278,000

About The Position

This role is responsible for establishing user requirements and facility design standards for cell therapy manufacturing. It involves developing risk-based contamination control approaches, collaborating with Global Real Estate and Engineering on network expansion, and providing input on engineering studies for capital investment decisions. The position also leads the identification and assessment of facility-related risks, harmonizes F&E operating models across sites, and supports the development and deployment of digital and AI solutions. Additionally, it aids in the implementation of new technology, supports SHE management reviews, and contributes to cell therapy-specific sustainability initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Civil/Structural, or Architectural Engineering).
• Minimum 10 years in pharmaceutical/biotech facilities engineering.
• At least 5 years in a network, multi-site, or above-site role.
• Demonstrated experience developing user requirements and design standards for GMP facilities.
• Involvement in greenfield or major expansion programs from conceptual design through operational handover.
• Expert knowledge of contamination control strategy for aseptic and cell therapy environments, cleanroom design (ISO classifications), pharmaceutical HVAC systems, GMP facility requirements, Engineering Studies, and commissioning/qualification protocols.
• Familiarity with sustainability frameworks and current regulatory expectations for cell therapy facility design.
• Engineering judgment.
• Contamination control risk assessment.
• Ability to develop standards and requirements.
• Cross-functional collaboration.
• Stakeholder influence across sites.
• Ability to translate manufacturing operational needs into facility design requirements.
• Comfortable operating in a support and input role within matrixed governance structures.
• Familiarity with BIM (Building Information Modeling), CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems), environmental monitoring systems, and energy management platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree preferred.
• Professional engineering licensure (PE/CEng) desirable.
• Direct experience with cell therapy, biologics, or ATMP manufacturing facility design strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish user requirements and facility design standards for cell therapy manufacturing.
• Develop risk-based contamination control approaches for open and closed processing, personnel gowning, environmental monitoring, and biological risks.
• Collaborate with Global Real Estate and Engineering to evaluate network expansion opportunities, providing cell therapy-specific input on site selection, facility requirements, infrastructure, and operational considerations.
• Provide input to and/or lead engineering studies to inform capital investment decisions, site master planning, new technology adoption, or platform changes.
• Provide input to and participate in the capital execution governance framework, planning, and reporting.
• Lead identification and assessment of facility-related risks across existing sites and new-build programs, including single points of failure in critical utilities, environmental control gaps, safety, and infrastructure risks.
• Develop mitigation strategies that inform capital prioritization and operational decisions.
• Harmonize F&E operating models across existing supply sites by identifying opportunities for standardization, shared processes, common resource models, operating costs, and aligned ways of working.
• Develop a roadmap to bring consistency without disrupting ongoing operations.
• Support development and deployment of Digital and AI solutions for Facilities & Engineering across the supply network.
• Support implementation of new technology for existing F&E site teams, including training, resource planning, and adoption playbooks.
• Support SHE management review based on data inputs from supply sites, identifying trends, compliance gaps, and improvement opportunities across the network.
• Provide input to cell therapy specific sustainability initiatives aligned with corporate strategy.

Benefits

• Qualified retirement programs
• Paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves)
• Health coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Eligibility for multiple incentives
• Opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses
• Equity-based awards for salaried roles

What This Job Offers

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