Site Director

Job details

Posted Friday 07 August 2026

Location England

Job type Permanent

Discipline Site Leader

Reference 54

Recruiter Name George Seward

Site Director

Allerton Bishop are conducting a confidential search for a Site Director on behalf of a global pharmaceutical manufacturer operating a strategically important UK manufacturing facility producing both Drug Substance (API) and Drug Product for global markets.

This is a significant executive leadership appointment, offering full responsibility for a large, complex GMP-regulated manufacturing site that plays a critical role within the organisation's international manufacturing network. The facility supports commercial manufacturing, new product introductions, technology transfer, and future expansion initiatives, with continued investment in operational excellence, manufacturing capability, and innovation.

Reporting to senior global operations leadership, the Site Director will provide strategic and operational leadership across all site functions, including Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Technical Services, Quality, Operational Excellence, EHS, and Site Services. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering world-class operational performance while ensuring the highest standards of quality, regulatory compliance, safety, and employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and overall accountability for all site operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant manufacture of both Drug Substance (API) and Drug Product.
Drive operational excellence across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, quality, and technical operations, delivering improvements in safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing site leadership team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
Deliver strategic business objectives, including capacity expansion, technology transfer, new product introductions, process optimisation, and capital investment programmes.
Partner with Global Operations and executive leadership to define and execute the long-term manufacturing strategy for the site.
Maintain the highest standards of GMP compliance, quality culture, environmental, health and safety performance, and inspection readiness.
Act as the senior site representative during inspections by the MHRA, FDA, EMA, and other international regulatory authorities.
Take full ownership of site financial performance, including operational budgets, forecasting, capital expenditure, resource planning, and key performance indicators.
Build strong collaborative relationships across global functions, commercial teams, customers, and external stakeholders to support business growth and successful execution of strategic initiatives.
Champion a culture of operational excellence, digital transformation, and continuous improvement to strengthen manufacturing capability and future competitiveness.

Candidate Profile

Significant senior leadership experience within pharmaceutical manufacturing, with responsibility for complex GMP-regulated manufacturing operations.
Demonstrated success leading large-scale manufacturing facilities producing Drug Substance (API), Drug Product, or integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
Strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, process development, technology transfer, validation, and commercial operations.
Proven track record of delivering operational excellence, manufacturing transformation, capacity expansion, or major capital investment programmes.
Extensive knowledge of GMP, pharmaceutical quality systems, regulatory compliance, engineering, supply chain, and operational excellence methodologies.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams within complex global matrix organisations.
Commercially astute with outstanding leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and strategic planning skills.
Experience supporting inspections by the MHRA, FDA, EMA, and other international regulatory agencies.
Degree qualified in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Life Sciences, or a related discipline. An advanced degree or MBA would be advantageous.