Senior Director, Head of Transformation Operations US

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 Senior Director, Head of Transformation Operations US is responsible for enabling the successful growth, integration, and long-term operational effectiveness of the US ADS Operations organization. The role serves as the strategic transformation leader, and strategic partner to Head Operations Growth Projects US ensuring that growth initiatives are supported by scalable organizations, robust governance, lean operating systems, and effective change management. While End-to-End (E2E) Leaders are accountable for the holistic delivery of individual growth projects—including scope, schedule, budget, operational readiness, and startup execution—the Senior Director is accountable for building the organizational, cultural, and operational foundation that enables sustainable success and scalability across the organization.

The role drives organizational transformation, workforce strategy, operational excellence, M&A integration, governance, and deployment of the ADS operating model and strategic priorities across the United States in close alignment and collaboration with global ADS Operations.

This role could potentially relocate within the U.S.

Key Responsibilities

Transformation & Strategic Execution

• Serve as the transformation leader and strategic partner to the Head of Operations ADS Growth Projects US.
• Lead transformation initiatives supporting organic growth, acquisitions, and operational expansion in the US.
• Develop and execute transformation roadmaps aligned with ADS and Lonza strategic priorities.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across Operations, Engineering, HR, Finance, Quality, EHSS, Supply Chain, Legal, ADS Transformation and Corporate functions.
• Drive Innovation and establish a scalable ADS US Production System aligned with Lean principles, Operational Excellence methodologies, and global ADS strategy.
• Drive standardized management systems, governance routines, visual management practices, performance management frameworks, and continuous improvement processes.
• Act as the primary coordination point between US growth initiatives and global ADS Head of transformation.
• Identify opportunities for standardization, replication, and organizational leverage across ADS.
• Ensure consistency of operating models and leadership systems across current and future US growth sites.

Mergers & Acquisitions Integration

• Lead business-side integration efforts for acquisitions and strategic investments.
• Coordinate assessment and integration assumptions in close collaboration with LONZA Strategy team.
• Coordinate integration activities across Operations, HR, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, Legal, and IT.
• Develop integration governance, Day-1 readiness plans, synergy capture plans, and long-term integration roadmaps.
• Ensure cultural integration and organizational alignment across acquired businesses.

Organizational Transformation

• Translate global ADS strategic priorities into actionable implementation plans for the US organization.
• Change Management & Cultural Development
• Ensure alignment between growth projects, operating organizations, and global ADS objectives.
• Champion a culture of accountability, problem-solving, continuous improvement, and operational discipline.
• Establish Capability and Training Frameworks ensure successful scaling of organization of growth ambitions
• Partner with E2E Leaders to embed operational excellence principles during facility design, startup, and transition to operations.

Governance, PMO & Portfolio Management

• Establish governance frameworks supporting effective oversight of transformation and M&A initiatives in alignment with global PMO and strategy function.
• Ensure visibility of strategic risks, resource constraints, organizational readiness, and cross-project dependencies.
• Develop standardized project governance methodologies and reporting structures.
• Support prioritization and resource allocation decisions across the portfolio.

Key Requirements & Skills

• Strong and proactive leader who provides guidance, sets high expectations, and measures performance
• Bachelors degree in Science, Engineering and/or Business. Master`s degree and Experience with 6S and Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma green belt or black belt preferred.
• Ability to effectively deal with ambiguity, translate long term objectives into short term tactical plans and balance risk for overall plant and business success
• Provides clear definition of workstream scope, roles and responsibilities, and resolves disputed areas
• Ability to build working relationships and effective partnerships at all levels in the organization
• Active communicator which communicates effectively with Project Team, Workstream Leaders, Site Leadership Team, and external partners
• Proactive, self-starter with the ability to take on several projects at one time, lead workstream level daily tasks, as well as being responsible for a program with cross-functional projects
• Expertise running large scale, capital projects within a matrix organization
• Ability to work to tight deadlines in a fast-moving environment
• Demonstrates ownership, delivers results, and achieves targets
• Strong ability to negotiate and influence

• Data driven decision maker and problem solver, with strong problem-solving skills

• Understanding of operational excellence, including continuous improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)
• Strong understanding of and proven experience with cGMP requirements for biologics manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of current industry trends and can use the latest technologies
• Strong interpersonal and executive presence

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.

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $197,000.00 and $280,000.00 Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including the successful candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and job-related knowledge. Full-time employees receive a comprehensive benefits package including performance-related bonus, 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.

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.