Allerton Bishop is searching on behalf of a global pharmaceutical company with European headquarters who is hiring on a remote basis in United Kingdom. Our client is expanding global with a strong emphasis on Europe and we are searching for a Director of External Manufacturing — a strategic leader responsible for commercial readiness and external manufacturing.
This role is critical to ensuring a successful new and existing product introduction (NPI / EPD), overseeing complex CMO/CDMO operations and driving the technical execution required for global regulatory approval and commercial supply.
Key Responsibilities
You will lead external manufacturing activities for small molecule drug products, partnering closely with MSAT, Regulatory, Quality and Supply Chain.
- Lead end-to-end external manufacturing across oral solid dose and sterile/aseptic liquid drug products.
- Partner with MSAT to provide robust technical oversight of products, processes and external manufacturing partners.
- Oversee technology transfer activities across external manufacturing sites.
- As Director of External Manufacturing, oversee execution of commercial batch manufacturing in line with supply, quality and regulatory requirements.
- Provide technical oversight of CMOs/CDMOs, ensuring manufacturing performance, technical capability and operational delivery.
- Manage budgets, timelines, vendor performance and programme resources.
- Identify and resolve manufacturing risks, deviations, process challenges and supply issues across the external network.
Experience & Expertise
You will be an experienced pharmaceutical manufacturing leader with a strong background in small molecule drug product manufacturing, ideally covering both oral solid dose and/or sterile/aseptic liquid products.
Requirements include:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related scientific discipline; MS/PhD preferred.
- Strong technical knowledge of small molecule pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Experience across oral solid dose manufacturing, including tablets and/or capsules.
- Experience with sterile/aseptic liquid drug product manufacturing, such as vials, ampoules or pre-filled syringes.
- Strong preference for external manufacturing / CMO / CDMO management experience.
- Proven leadership, stakeholder management and project management capabilities.
Director of External Manufacturing | Small Molecule | Oral Solid Dose | OSD | Tablets | Capsules | Sterile Manufacturing | Aseptic Manufacturing | Sterile Liquids | Drug Product | External Manufacturing | CMO | CDMO | MSAT | CMC | Technology Transfer | Tech Transfer | Commercial Manufacturing | Commercial Launch | Technical Operations Director