Senior Manager, Plant Engineering

Fujifilm•Holly Springs, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Plant Engineering leads the engineering team responsible for technical performance, reliability, lifecycle management, and improvement of plant infrastructure and utility systems supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing. The role translates operational needs into engineering priorities, provides technical oversight for system changes and investigations, and develops experienced engineers who can independently resolve problems and manage system performance. It partners with Utility Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Manufacturing, Quality, and other stakeholders to maintain safe, compliant, dependable systems. The position leads the team and promotes a People First culture through coaching, mentoring, performance management, succession planning, and efforts to improve productivity, engagement, and talent attraction and retention. It sets engineering priorities based on safety, product quality, operational risk, reliability, and business needs, while managing workloads, contractor support, and expenditures within approved scope and budget. The role owns technical governance and lifecycle planning for assigned utilities, HVAC, electrical and standby power, wastewater and chemical systems, temperature-controlled infrastructure, and fire and life safety systems. It develops improvement scopes, technical requirements, cost estimates, and business cases; oversees external engineering firms, vendors, and contractors; and coordinates execution with shutdown and operating schedules. It defines acceptance criteria and supports design reviews, commissioning, qualification, startup, and turnover. The Senior Manager provides technical leadership during significant system failures and recovery, including after-hours escalation. It communicates system condition and recovery options, owns engineering recommendations within established approval authorities, escalates unacceptable risks and resource conflicts to the Director, and may recommend equipment restrictions and provide return-to-service concurrence. The role also ensures compliance with CGMP requirements, site procedures, engineering standards, and approved change processes, and supports investigations, root cause analyses, CAPAs, change controls, audits, inspections, and qualified-system maintenance. The position is based in the context of a 24/7 manufacturing facility and requires flexibility to support its operations. The working environment may require respiratory protection and may include mechanical or production spaces requiring hearing protection and enrollment in a hearing conservation program. Listed physical requirements include standing and sitting for up to 60 minutes and moving objects up to 50 pounds.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED with 10+ years in an engineering role, including 6+ years in the life science industry; or a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related discipline with 6+ years in an engineering role, including 4+ years in the life science industry; or a master's degree in engineering or a related discipline with 4+ years in an engineering role in the life science industry.
Four or more years of experience supervising or managing other supervisors/managers, or demonstrated progressive leadership through people management and/or leading complex projects, programs, technical initiatives, or cross-functional teams. Coaching, mentoring, influencing, or directing others may substitute.
Experience leading others in a pharmaceutical or biological manufacturing facility.
Experience working in a fast-paced, changing, project-driven organization.
Demonstrated ability to hire and develop technical talent and build a high-performing team.
Ability to conduct effective one-on-ones, provide quality coaching and actionable feedback, and use team health and engagement to drive improvement.
Effective written and oral communication, including adapting communication style to different audiences and advising on difficult matters.
Ability to build trust with cross-functional peers and resolve issues and conflicting priorities through partnership, negotiation, and clear decision frameworks.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, uncertain, and shifting environment while managing multiple tasks and projects.
Flexibility to support a 24/7 manufacturing facility.

Nice To Haves

Experience with regulatory inspections, investigations, and change management.
Experience in pharmaceutical or biological manufacturing operations and familiarity with GMP/GLP requirements.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a high-performing Plant Engineering team, fostering a People First culture and supporting continuous learning through coaching and mentoring.
Define clear ownership and expectations; evaluate team performance, maintain succession pipelines, and partner with People & Culture on productivity, engagement, and talent attraction and retention.
Set engineering priorities based on safety, product quality, operational risk, reliability, and business needs; manage workloads, contractor support, and expenditures within approved scope and budget.
Own technical governance and lifecycle planning for assigned utilities, HVAC, electrical and standby power, wastewater and chemical systems, temperature-controlled infrastructure, and fire and life safety systems; document ownership in the site responsibility matrix.
Develop improvement scopes, technical requirements, cost estimates, and business cases; oversee engineering firms, vendors, and contractors and coordinate execution with shutdown and operating schedules.
Define technical acceptance criteria and support design reviews, commissioning, qualification, startup, and turnover, ensuring operability, maintainability, spare parts, training, documentation, and long-term support.
Provide technical leadership during significant failures and recovery, including after-hours escalation; communicate system condition, uncertainty, and recovery options and track commitments and permanent resolutions.
Own engineering recommendations within established approval authorities; escalate unacceptable risks, technical uncertainty, and resource conflicts to the Director; recommend equipment restrictions and provide return-to-service concurrence when required.
Ensure compliance with CGMP requirements, site procedures, engineering standards, and approved change processes.
Support investigations, root cause analyses, deviations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), change controls, audits, and inspections.
Review operating changes, equipment modifications, temporary repairs, and replacement strategies; coordinate product and process impact assessments and partner with Quality/CQV to maintain qualified systems.
Perform other duties as assigned.