Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations

Immatics • Houston, TX

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for GMP manufacturing and manufacturing sciences activities supporting late-stage clinical development, regulatory approval, commercial launch readiness, and routine commercial supply of cell and gene therapy products. The role translates CMC strategy into integrated execution across Manufacturing, MSAT, Technical Training, Recipe/Document Development, and Digital Manufacturing Systems.

This onsite role is based at 13203 Murphy Road, Suite 100, Stafford, Texas, and reports to the Site Head, Immatics US & Vice President, Technical Operations. The schedule is Monday through Friday on first shift, with weekends and holidays as needed. Occasional domestic or international travel may be required for conferences, business meetings, or corporate retreats.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Immunology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• 15+ years of progressive Technical Operations or Manufacturing Operations experience.
• At least 5 years of direct management experience in cell therapy manufacturing leadership and strategy in an industry setting.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.
• Successful completion of background and reference checks and pre-employment drug screening, where permitted by law.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a relevant discipline such as Immunology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Leadership experience supporting late-stage development through commercial manufacturing, including process validation, regulatory submissions, inspection readiness, commercial launch readiness, and ongoing manufacturing operations.
• Deep expertise in cGMP manufacturing, quality systems, and global regulatory requirements for biologics, cell and gene therapy, or other advanced therapy products.
• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing investigations, technology transfers, process validation programs, and cross-functional decision-making to support compliance, operational excellence, and business objectives.
• Hands-on, visible leadership and a strong player-coach mindset, including routine Gemba presence, team coaching, barrier removal, and rapid resolution of operational, technical, and quality challenges.
• Experience scaling an internal commercial manufacturing organization.
• Experience with MES, ERP, LIMS, statistical process monitoring, Lean Six Sigma, and S&OP.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing GMP Operations organization, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Translate corporate and Technical Operations objectives into integrated operating plans, resource strategies, and measurable performance goals.
• Build organizational capabilities, develop future leaders, and drive employee engagement across the function.
• Partner cross-functionally to align priorities, manage risks, and ensure execution against business objectives.
• Provide strategic oversight of GMP manufacturing operations and ensure readiness across facilities, personnel, equipment, materials, systems, and processes.
• Drive safe, compliant, and reliable manufacturing performance through operational excellence, right-first-time execution, and continuous improvement.
• Lead commercial manufacturing readiness, product launch activities, capacity planning, and transition to routine commercial supply.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, Commercial, Clinical Operations, and Patient Operations to establish scalable end-to-end manufacturing and supply processes.
• Oversee process validation, lifecycle management, process monitoring, and control strategies to sustain compliance and operational performance.
• Lead technology transfer, MSAT activities, technical investigations, process improvements, and post-approval changes.
• Drive digital manufacturing initiatives, including MES/eBR, automation, manufacturing systems, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure alignment between manufacturing operations, regulatory commitments, and GMP requirements.
• Lead inspection readiness activities and support regulatory inspections, audits, and health authority interactions.
• Partner with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to proactively manage compliance, operational risks, and remediation activities.
• Establish operational governance through KPI management, performance reviews, risk assessments, and cross-functional decision-making forums.
• Own operating budgets, headcount planning, capital forecasts, and resource prioritization.
• Drive cross-functional risk management across quality, supply, capacity, technology, regulatory, and business continuity areas.

Benefits

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance rates.
• Four weeks of vacation granted up front each year, prorated for the first and last year of employment.
• 12 company-paid holidays.
• Seven days of sick time.
• 100% employer-paid life insurance up to 1x annual salary, capped at $100,000.
• 100% employer-paid short- and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) with immediate eligibility and company match: 100% of contributions up to 3% of base salary for the first two years, 4% for years 2–3, and up to 5% from the fourth year onward.
• Partially paid parental leave for eligible employees.
• Additional voluntary employee-paid benefits and services, including accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness insurance, identity theft protection, and pet insurance.

What This Job Offers

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