Global Head of Maintenance & Innovation Strategy

Global Head Of Maintenance And Innovation Strategy

The Global Head of Maintenance and Innovation Strategy is a senior leadership position responsible for defining, leading, and executing the organization's global maintenance vision and innovation roadmap. This role is essential for ensuring world-class asset reliability, operational efficiency, and long-term competitiveness by utilizing advanced technologies, data-driven insights, and continuous improvement methodologies. This position oversees global teams, establishes strategic direction, global maintenance procedures, standardizes maintenance frameworks, and drives innovation programs across all sites and business units.

Main Responsibilities And Accountabilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Create and implement a global maintenance and reliability strategy that aligns with corporate objectives, ensuring all activities support the organization's long-term vision.
• Develop a maintenance governance framework to standardize practices across all regions, ensuring consistency and accountability.
• Lead a long-term strategy that emphasizes predictive maintenance technologies, the implementation of a CMMS, digital transformation, and advanced analytics to boost operational efficiency.
• Oversee AMP planning for asset care and modernization initiatives, promoting the adoption of innovative technologies to enhance maintenance effectiveness and resilience.

2. Operational Excellence & Metrics

• Develop global standards for preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance to enhance equipment reliability and reduce downtime.
• Create a global reliability framework with KPIs, like Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) and Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), to improve asset performance.
• Ensure strict adherence to safety protocols, regulatory compliance, and environmental sustainability across global operations.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality to optimize asset performance and drive operational efficiency.

3. Quality Management & Regulatory Compliance

• Define and implement quality management procedures within engineering, with a focus on cGMP and GEP requirements.
• Lead the global quality management team, ensuring projects and services are in compliance with GMP and regulatory standards.
• Oversee deviation management, investigation of deviations, and establishment of corrective and preventive actions for critical systems.
• Represent the global engineering and maintenance function in regulatory audits and ensure operational areas remain audit-ready.

4. Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop strategic partnerships with global and regional leaders in Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and IT to align maintenance and innovation priorities.
• Serve as the contact for maintenance and reliability, ensuring clear communication and collaboration with site leadership to create customized asset strategies that support production goals.
• Engage with corporate executives for funding and governance on transformation and digitalization programs.
• Work with technology teams to implement advanced maintenance solutions and collaborate with suppliers and research institutions to enhance operational performance.
• Promote innovation and maintenance excellence, influence stakeholders, and lead global committees focused on maintenance strategy and continuous improvement.
• Communicate effectively across all organizational levels, translating complex concepts into strategic insights for executives and actionable guidance for field teams.

5. Innovation & Technology Enablement

• Identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies (e.g., IoT, digital twins, AI-driven maintenance, robotics, AR/VR for training).
• Lead global pilots, proof-of-concepts, and technology scaling initiatives.
• Partner with external innovation ecosystems, including OEMs, research institutes, and technology partners.
• Foster a culture of innovation across the maintenance and engineering community.

6. Global Program & Change Management

• Drive global transformation programs related to maintenance digitalization and workforce capability upgrade.
• Ensure adoption of best practices, toolkits, and training across all regions.
• Oversee global maintenance systems such as CMMS/EAM platforms and ensure data governance excellence.
• Manage large-scale change initiatives, ensuring alignment with stakeholders at all organizational levels.

7. Risk Management & Business Continuity

• Develop, identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to engineering, maintenance, and facility operations.
• Develop and maintain robust business continuity and disaster recovery plans for all critical infrastructure.

8. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse, cross-functional team of engineers, maintenance professionals, and quality specialists across global sites.
• Foster a positive, equitable, and inclusive working environment, emphasizing CSL Values: Customer Focus, Innovation, Integrity, Collaboration, and Superior Performance.
• Develop succession plans and talent pipelines to ensure organizational resilience and leadership continuity.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and developmental opportunities to team members at all levels.
• Instill a high-performance culture focused on safety, learning, reliability, and innovation.

Completes any other duties/responsibilities assigned by senior management

Position Qualifications And Experience Requirements

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering required, an MBA is a plus.

Experience: 12-15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical operations, including familiarity with regulatory compliance. Specific experience in at least 2 of the listed areas: manufacturing operations, technical services/engineering. 10 years of managerial experience in engineering in the pharmaceutical industry.

Proven track record of designing and implementing strategic maintenance programs at scale. Strong experience with digital transformation initiatives (AI, predictive analytics, smart factories, etc.). Deep knowledge of maintenance methodologies (TPM, RCM, Lean, Six Sigma, Asset Management ISO 55000). Demonstrated success in leading large multicultural teams and managing global portfolios. Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and strategic planning capabilities. Expertise in GMP/non-GMP utilities and facilities related to pharmaceutical production. Knowledge of Six Sigma/Lean principles is a plus. Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Competencies: Strategic & Systems Thinking, Innovation Leadership, Technical Expertise in Asset Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Change Leadership & Transformation, Cross-Cultural Collaboration, Executive Communication, Financial Acumen & ROI-oriented mindset