Senior Director, Head of Technical Services, T1D CT Mfg Ops

Vertex Inc.•Boston, MA

23h•$216,900 - $325,300•Hybrid

About The Position

Vertex is seeking a Senior Director, Head of Technical Services to lead manufacturing-facing technical support for our Type 1 Diabetes Stem Cell Therapy Manufacturing Operations organization. This leader will oversee real-time GMP manufacturing support, troubleshooting, investigation support, operational process monitoring, manufacturing readiness, and implementation of approved process changes. The role requires deep experience in cell therapy manufacturing, strong people leadership, and the ability to partner effectively across Manufacturing, MSAT, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain. At Vertex, we invest in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as Senior Director, Head of Technical Services for T1D Cell Therapy External Manufacturing Operations organization. This role leads the manufacturing-facing technical function responsible for enabling reliable, compliant, and efficient execution of complex cell therapy manufacturing processes across clinical and commercial operations. The Head of Technical Services provides leadership for real-time manufacturing support, technical troubleshooting, investigation support, operational process monitoring, manufacturing readiness, and implementation of approved process changes in GMP operations. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring expertise in cell therapy manufacturing, strong cross-functional influence, and a passion for translating process complexity into operational excellence.

Requirements

Advanced degree in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field.
15+ years of relevant industry experience in biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, cell therapy, or other advanced therapy manufacturing environments.
8+ years of progressive people leadership experience, including experience leading managers and cross-functional technical teams.
Demonstrated success leading manufacturing-facing technical support in a GMP-regulated environment.
Strong experience with deviations, investigations, troubleshooting, batch support, change implementation, and operational problem-solving.
Proven ability to influence across Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and process science organizations.
strong technical depth in advanced therapy manufacturing
a practical, solutions-oriented approach to troubleshooting and execution support
strong judgment in high-stakes manufacturing environments
the ability to create clarity at functional interfaces, especially between Technical Services, Manufacturing, and MSAT
a track record of building teams and developing leaders
a strong commitment to quality, compliance, and patient impact

Responsibilities

Lead the Technical Services function supporting GMP manufacturing of cell-derived therapies for Type 1 Diabetes.
Provide technical leadership for cell therapy manufacturing operations
Serve as the senior technical escalation point for manufacturing issues affecting batch execution, product quality, cycle time, or supply reliability.
Lead technical troubleshooting and support timely resolution of deviations, investigations, atypical events, and process excursions.
Drive operational process monitoring and trend review to identify emerging risks, improve execution consistency, and enhance manufacturing performance.
Own Technical Services readiness for process changes, campaign startup, new product introduction, and transferred processes entering GMP manufacturing.
Partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Engineering, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and CMC teams to support robust execution and inspection readiness.
Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of technical subject matter experts supporting manufacturing operations.
Foster a culture of quality, accountability, technical rigor, collaboration, inclusion, and patient focus.