US Pipelining - DAP
About The Position
The ideal candidate for the Senior Director – Device Assembly & Packaging (DAP) Operations in Alabama is a seasoned manufacturing leader with deep experience in GMP-regulated, highly automated environments, particularly in device assembly, pharmaceutical packaging, and combination products. Comparable market job titles include Director of Manufacturing Operations, Senior Director of Packaging & Device Operations, Head of Technical Operations, Director of Drug-Device Manufacturing, and Site Operations Director. Common search keywords include Device Assembly, Pharmaceutical Packaging, Combination Products, GMP Manufacturing, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Automation, MES, TrackWise, Operational Excellence, Lean Manufacturing, and Capital Project Delivery. Predominant skills and expertise include HSE and Quality leadership, cross-functional site leadership, regulatory inspection readiness, equipment qualification and process validation, automation and digital manufacturing systems (MES, electronic batch release), deviation and change management, and continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, RCA, FMEA). Education is typically a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or Industrial), with many candidates holding an MBA or advanced technical certifications. Average experience ranges from 12–20+ years in manufacturing, with 7–10+ years in people leadership roles. In Alabama, this talent commonly comes from pharmaceutical, CDMO, medical device, aerospace, defence, automotive, and food & beverage manufacturers, including organisations such as Eli Lilly, TriRx Pharmaceutical Services, Evonik, Pharmavite, STERIS, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Toyota-Mazda Manufacturing. Competitor organisations use similar titles such as Senior Director Technical Operations, Director of Manufacturing Excellence, or Head of Packaging Operations.
Requirements
- Deep experience in GMP-regulated, highly automated environments
- Experience in device assembly, pharmaceutical packaging, and combination products
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or Industrial)
- 12–20+ years in manufacturing
- 7–10+ years in people leadership roles
- Executive visibility
- Clear accountability for safety and quality
- Authority to influence site strategy
- Strong capital project ownership
- Leadership through scale and ambiguity
- Regulatory inspection credibility
- Capital and technology decision-making
- Cross-functional influence (Quality, Engineering, Tech, Supply Chain)
- Track record of building teams and capability
Nice To Haves
- MBA or advanced technical certifications
- Greenfield or site-start-up experience
- Exposure to AI-enabled manufacturing
- Onshoring or supply-chain resilience initiatives
- Strong employer reputation tied to purpose and innovation
Responsibilities
- HSE and Quality leadership
- Cross-functional site leadership
- Regulatory inspection readiness
- Equipment qualification and process validation
- Automation and digital manufacturing systems (MES, electronic batch release)
- Deviation and change management
- Continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, RCA, FMEA)
- Capital project delivery
- Leading high-impact teams
- Shaping operations from the ground up
- Influencing long-term manufacturing strategy
- Interacting at enterprise level
- Owning operational strategy
- Leading at the forefront of U.S. pharmaceutical onshoring
Benefits
- Competitive total rewards aligned to senior leadership in Alabama’s growing advanced-manufacturing market
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
