Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations

Elanco•Elwood, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN), a global leader in animal health, the Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations will lead end-to-end manufacturing operations for monoclonal antibody (mAb) vaccine production, encompassing upstream, downstream, fill/finish, and site support functions. This role is accountable for ensuring a safe, compliant, and reliable supply, while also building organizational capability, driving operational excellence, and shaping long-term manufacturing strategy. The Senior Director will be a key member of the site leadership team and a critical link to enterprise manufacturing priorities. Elanco is dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, driven by its vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and purpose to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People. The company fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment, valuing new ways of thinking and offering opportunities for career growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field required
Significant leadership experience in biopharmaceutical, biologics, or vaccine manufacturing with accountability for site-level performance
Proven ability to lead large, complex organizations
Deep knowledge of GMP manufacturing and regulatory environments
Strong business and operational acumen

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred
Experience in monoclonal antibody (mAb) or biologics manufacturing
Demonstrated success leading multi-functional manufacturing organizations
Strong experience with regulatory inspections and compliance (FDA, USDA, global agencies)
Track record of driving Lean, Six Sigma, and digital transformation initiatives
Experience leading capital projects, facility expansions, and automation programs

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for all manufacturing functions, ensuring alignment with business goals and portfolio needs
Own site manufacturing performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity, with full accountability for results
Ensure consistent, compliant, and reliable supply through strong production planning, capacity management, and disciplined execution
Embed a culture of quality, compliance, and inspection readiness in alignment with global regulatory requirements and internal standards
Lead and develop a high-performing organization by building leadership capability, strengthening technical depth, and driving engagement and succession planning
Drive continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, and digital manufacturing to improve right-first-time performance, cycle time, yield, and cost efficiency
Partner cross-functionally with Quality, Technical Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, and Commercial teams to enable successful product launches, tech transfers, and lifecycle management
Oversee capital strategy and execution, including facility expansions, automation, and equipment upgrades to support long-term growth
Proactively manage operational risk and resilience, including deviations, capacity constraints, and business continuity planning
Represent manufacturing at the enterprise level, contributing to global strategy, network decisions, and senior leadership forums