Chief Operating Officer (COO) | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

A leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join its executive leadership team.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic and hands-on operations executive to lead a complex manufacturing organization operating in a highly regulated GMP environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving operational excellence, scaling the business, and supporting the company's continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing and operational activities across Production, Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, Engineering, Quality and Operations.
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with the company's business objectives.
• Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement and process optimization across the organization.
• Build and mentor high-performing leadership teams while fostering a culture of accountability and performance.
• Establish KPIs, operational dashboards and reporting systems to ensure visibility and execution.
• Oversee manufacturing capacity planning, inventory management and supply chain performance.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives supporting business growth and operational scalability.
• Ensure full compliance with GMP requirements and maintain readiness for international regulatory audits.
• Partner closely with the executive leadership team to support strategic initiatives and long-term business growth.

Requirements

• Proven executive leadership experience as COO, VP Operations, General Manager, Plant Manager or Site Director within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device or other highly regulated manufacturing industries.
• Significant experience managing manufacturing operations in a GMP-regulated environment.
• Strong leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams and senior managers.
• Demonstrated success in improving operational performance, manufacturing efficiency and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience leading operational transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong commercial and financial understanding.
• Excellent leadership, communication and decision-making skills.
• Fluent English.

Preferred

• Experience managing international regulatory audits.
• Experience working with global customers and international supply chains.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Life Sciences or a related field. MBA is an advantage.

This position is ideal for an experienced operational leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on management approach and enjoys leading organizations through growth, operational excellence and organizational transformation.