Executive Director, Plant Management

Executive Director, Plant Management

You will develop and shape a culture of employee safety and production quality whilst driving efficiencies within the operation. You’ll ensure the facility operates in compliance with “Good Manufacturing Practices”. In this role, you’ll make strategic and tactical staffing decisions and be responsible for continuous improvement in productivity, and operating efficiency, as well as supporting new product development and launch.

You will report to VP, of Global Pharmaceutical Operations, and Packaging Operations.

Welcome in our team

The Menu Plant is the only our plant in Japan located in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture. The Menuma plant is located about 90 kilometers from Tokyo, and it takes about 40 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kumagaya Station. It takes about 20 minutes by taxi from Kumagaya Station. The Menuma Plant started operations in 1982 and supplies products to the Japanese market. We package some formulations as well as vaccines and tablets. There are about 330 staff working at the Menuma, of which about 210 belong to your organization (GPO).

Main Responsibilities

ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY

Ensure, compliance with all corporate and local regulatory requirements, permanent inspection readiness and create a strong EHS culture .

Maintain and exceeds Safety standards & Environmental goals/metrics and enhance the site Safety & Environmental strategic plans to continuously improve EHS performance.

Hold and document Site Safety Councils.

Support sustainability energy and waste reduction programs.

GMP / Quality

Comply with Global Policies, Procedures and Guidelines, and regulatory requirements and execute Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the performance of day-to-day activities and all applicable job functions at the plant

Provide full support to the above responsibilities to ensure that employees are appropriately trained to perform their assigned tasks on an ongoing basis.

Prepare and respond to internal (GMP) audits and Health Authority Inspections

PLANNING AND BUDGET

Translate strategies into proposals for the Site profit plan (including capital investments), and ensure profit plan management and required reporting Operate within approved Capital Budgets and spending targets/Profit plans

Evaluate and manage capacity and resources to achieve short and long-term supply requirements and profit/cost objectives.

Responsible for launch of all new products on time and supporting the Global Facilities plans.

Operate an S&OP process.

LEVERAGING BUSINESS BENEFIT

Lead the development of the site Strategy and Hoshin Kanri in line with Corporate objectives.

Improve Business Processes throughout the site including productivity initiatives.

Uses our Production Systems to drive site improvements.

Champions Operational Excellence / Zero Loss initiatives for site and Division.

Supports Divisional and Global initiatives to increase productivity.

Maintains and improves site systems - Supports Records Retention process.

Supports Divisional inventory reduction program.

Manages write offs to acceptable levels.

Achieves net productivity improvement as agreed by Division and supports site and Divisional productivity initiatives.

Ensure all Incidents, Minor and Major deviations are fully investigated and prevent recurrence.

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT AND HR

Lead the site Leadership Team, recognize the strengths and development areas of individuals, guide and coach the team to focus on what matters, act with urgency and embrace their differences to win as one team.

Achieves Human Resource Targets and supports Divisional HR metrics, fostering a culture of ‘safe to speak up’, development and diversity and inclusion.

Achieves Site Training Targets and supports Divisional training programs.

Supports Divisional and Corporate policies and procedures, including introduction of new systems and program.

Ensures site talent management and succession plan, including the development of senior/middle managers.

Develop and coach the senior management team on site to be a high-performing team, creating site-wide psychological safety and a culture of accountability.

Be part of the regional Division group of plant directors and support directors to implement divisional strategy and tactics.

Enhance teamwork and continuous improvement by the development and implementation of a strategic plan.

Other

Part of the Japan Country Leadership Team and as such driving cross-divisional collaboration, leading country-wide initiatives.

Your profile

Academic/master’s degree in chemistry, other science or equivalent

Minimum two years experience in a manufacturing leadership position (plant manager/site lead), preferably supervision of manufacturing operations.

Significant experience of working in a GMP pharmaceutical facility

Proven success in developing personnel, cost reduction, and process and quality improvement

Strong verbal and written communication skills in English (Japanese is also preferred or willing to learn).

Experience in Quality Operations and understanding of all regulatory requirements.

Strong leadership skills work well in a team environment, coach/motivate other employees

Experience in implementing or working with an effective continuous improvement i.e., LEAN, Six Sigma, etc.

Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize work and meet business productivity and profitability metrics

Self-motivated, independent, and a proactive mindset of driving execution