Operations Manager

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five 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.

As a key member of the Media leadership team, the Operations Manager plays a critical role in shaping and completing the strategic direction of our operational initiatives. This role combines planning with hands-on work, ensuring that crucial projects are aligned with business priorities and operational excellence goals. The ideal candidate will serve as both a strategic advisor and an execution leader, navigating complex cross-functional environments to drive performance, innovation, and scalability. By fostering strong partnerships across departments—including Engineering, Quality, and Operational Excellence—this leader will help ensure our Media operations are positioned for sustainable growth and continuous improvement. This is a full-time, onsite role based at our Walkersville, MD facility.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Departmental Project Portfolio Management

• Collaborate with Media Management, Operational Excellence (OE), and Site Project Management (PM) teams to develop and coordinate a pipeline of projects aligned with important business needs.

• Coordinate prioritization and resource alignment across functions using structured project management tools and methodologies.

• Collaborate with Engineering and Finance to develop cases for CAPEX investments and lump sum projects.

• Ensure clear communication and data flow across the project portfolio.

2. Harmonization and Innovation

• Champion process harmonization across Media operations within the Bioscience business unit in partnership with the Bioscience Operational Strategy team.

• Lead the implementation and continuous advancement of the Lonza Business Management System (LBMS) within Quality functions.

• Develop and complete the Lean Maturity Assessment (LMA) roadmap, fostering continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Build capability in project management and Lean principles across Media teams.

• Define and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Media Operations, ensuring alignment across all organizational tiers and supporting the SIOP (Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning) process.

3. Project Management and Strategic Execution

• Lead medium to large-scale cross-functional projects from initiation through successful delivery, ensuring alignment on scope, timelines, and budgets.

• Serve as project lead for implementation of new technologies.

• Support asset strategy planning and execution, as well as broader organizational and cultural development initiatives.

• Work collaboratively with Quality and MSAT (Manufacturing Science and Technology) teams to ensure project and business goals are met.

• Support operational capacity, resource planning, and personnel development assessments.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field, with at least 7 years of experience in a manufacturing environment and a strong background in operations and project management.

• Proven leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and motivate cross-functional teams.

• Experience in Aseptic Process Simulations (APS) within CAPEX project environments.

• Demonstrated strength in problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making under pressure.

• Strong organizational, technical writing, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to manage complex problems, delegate effectively, and prioritize in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.

• Skilled at fostering collaboration, driving accountability, and creating a culture of continuous feedback and improvement.

We recognize that attracting, developing and retaining the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract the best candidates. As required by law in this state, the quoted salary range for this on-site position is $104,000.00 – $136,500.00. We use broad salary ranges that reflect the competitive market for similar jobs, provide sufficient opportunity for growth as you gain experience and expand responsibilities; while also allowing for differentiation on performance based on the breadth of our ranges, most new hires will start at the company between the lower and the middle part of the applicable range. We tailor our offers within the range based on job-related factors, including organizational needs, internal equity, market data, geographic area and the selected candidate’s experience, education, industry knowledge, location, technical and/or communication skills and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. This range is only inclusive of base salary, and base pay is just one component of Lonza’s total compensation package for employees. Full-time employees are eligible to receive a performance-related bonus, as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental coverage, 401k plan, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off (PTO), and more.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.

Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.