Senior Director, Project Delivery Americas

Lonza•Vacaville, CA

51d

About The Position

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across three continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of. The Project Lead is responsible for planning, managing, and executing one or more growth investment projects through the full project lifecycle—delivering on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This role provides leadership to project teams, builds strong vendor and contractor relationships, and ensures compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements. It is an engineering-focused position with cross-functional interaction across validation, facilities, and operations.

Requirements

10+ years in project engineering and project management within chemical, biochemical, or pharmaceutical industries, with international exposure.
CGMP experience required; automation migration project experience is a plus.
Broad technical knowledge across engineering disciplines in pharmaceutical environments (utilities, process, automation, instrumentation, civil).
Proven track record in cost control, scheduling, and delivering investment projects.
Expertise in facility design for compliant, cost-effective plants.
Familiarity with modern CQV approaches to accelerate time-to-production while maintaining compliance.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio).
Strong understanding of CDMO industry operations.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong influencing and relationship-building capabilities across all organizational levels.
Proven leadership, mentoring, and coaching experience.
Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Strong problem-solving skills with both strategic and practical perspectives.
Advanced project management expertise.
Deep understanding of engineering and cGMP manufacturing for biopharmaceutical facilities.

Responsibilities

Lead large-scale capital investment projects ($100M–$500M), overseeing all aspects of Project Realization: Capex Management, Process & Technology, and Qualification.
Drive decision-making by challenging assumptions and leveraging team input.
Serve as the primary point of accountability to the Steering Committee and senior leadership for CAPEX workstreams.
Develop and execute comprehensive project plans across Engineering, Design, Construction, Commissioning, and Qualification phases.
Manage project budgets, ensuring adherence and controlling changes effectively.
Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards, including internal procedures and health authority requirements.
Coordinate and lead project teams to ensure efficient collaboration and execution.
Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies.
Communicate project status, progress, and issues to stakeholders and senior management.
Secure internal and external resources to achieve project goals and manage day-to-day operations.
Support Site Leadership Teams and Steering Committees.
Develop internal talent and provide line management for core team(s).
Interface with customer project teams and maintain strong vendor/contractor relationships.
Manage project resources, including equipment, materials, and personnel.
Perform other duties as assigned.