Manager, Cell Therapy Manufacturing in Summit, NJ

About the role

At Bristol Myers Squibb, employees are driven by the question “Who are you working for?” which fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency. Our purpose‑focused culture inspires the discovery, development, and delivery of innovative medicines to overcome serious diseases. We offer meaningful work, growth opportunities, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This role contributes to reimagining the future of cell therapy, helping to unlock its full promise and put more patients on the path to a cure.

The Manufacturing Manager oversees a Work‑Centered Team (WCT) responsible for executing cell‑therapy manufacturing processes. The manager ensures the WCT maintains a culture of safety, compliance, innovation, and continuous improvement within Manufacturing Operations and reports to the Senior Manager, Manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Values – Leads by example and drives the team to adhere to BMS values of Inclusion, Accountability, Innovation, Urgency, and Passion.
• GMP – Ensures WCT members execute cell‑therapy manufacturing according to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), following approved SOPs and Work Instructions.
• Safety – Takes personal responsibility for safe work; performs regular safety Gemba walks, knows hazards, demonstrates safe behavior, and operates/maintains equipment to prevent injuries.
• Documentation – Accountable for Production Records; performs batch record reviews (BRR) or electronic batch record review by exception; ensures documentation follows ALCOA+ principles, is right‑first‑time, and complete; resolves documentation errors to meet turn‑around times.
• Process Expertise – Maintains hands‑on expert knowledge of each unit operation, demonstrates good execution, back‑fills for absent team members, and develops technical expertise of CAR‑T manufacturing requirements.
• Resource Management – Provides production scheduling with daily/weekly/monthly resource availability information; tracks actual vs. planned absence; hires personnel meeting job criteria and BMS values within budget.
• Priorities – Sets and adjusts WCT priorities to align with site/functional goals; establishes WCT goals, monitors performance, and reports metrics in tier and site meetings.
• Training – Ensures WCT members have required training for CAR‑T GMP manufacturing; maintains 100% on‑time training completion; verifies proficiency before task execution; monitors training due dates and disqualifies personnel from GMP tasks if SOPs/WIs or batch records are not followed.
• Team Building and Development – Recruits, interviews, and hires high‑performing WCT members (Operators, Team Leads, Supervisors); creates/maintains Workday profiles; administers annual performance reviews; provides recognition and guidance; conducts regular 1:1 meetings for mentorship; cascades company information and supports professional development; builds cross‑functional relationships with Quality, Warehouse, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing Science & Technology.
• Deviations – Works proactively to reduce deviations; drives continuous improvement; prepares No Impact deviation records compliant with ALCOA+; provides Area Management Approval as needed; reports deviation progress, maintains metrics, performs Pareto analysis, and closes deviations on time; offers coaching to build expertise.
• CAPAs, Change Controls & Projects – Participates in CAPAs, Change Controls, and Projects as required by business and directed by senior management.
• Budgets – Effectively controls expenses within influence (overtime, supplies, travel & entertainment).
• Meetings – Facilitates weekly Tier meetings and weekly Performance Review meetings with WCT using site‑standard tools; participates in monthly Manufacturing Performance Review meetings; attends Daily Production Scheduling meeting to summarize training status and resource availability; attends daily cross‑functional manufacturing meeting to report previous‑day activities, successes, equipment outages, or processing delays.
• Behaviors – Maintains balanced, unbiased functional relationships; champions teamwork and communication; identifies and mitigates risks in manufacturing operations; develops team through coaching; instills proper problem‑identification behaviors; acknowledges ideas/issues with feedback; coordinates across the value stream; breaks down larger goals; escalates issues appropriately; leads/participates in Go & See (Gemba) activities; leads/coaches Improvement & Coaching Kata; removes bottlenecks; communicates expectations for Improvement/Coaching Kata and Go & See; practices Hansei to reassess and realign teams; builds culture of root‑cause analysis; uses visual management; establishes performance measures and targets; uses actual results to identify waste, reduce variation, and improve productivity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred, or equivalent work experience; ability to think and lead strategically.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of relevant manufacturing experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of leadership experience, including management of direct reports.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of EHS and cGMPs and the know‑how to work and manage within a regulated environment.
• Aptitude for biotechnology principles and manufacturing systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency in selecting and managing personnel.
• Adaptable to a fast‑paced, complex, and ever‑changing business environment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles required.
• Excellent communication skills (English).

Working Conditions

• Intermittent walking and sitting; may require sitting or standing for extended periods.
• Must be comfortable working with contained human blood components.
• Physical dexterity sufficient to use computers and documentation.
• Sufficient vision and hearing capability for the job environment.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds.
• Ability to work around laboratories and controlled, enclosed, restricted areas.
• Cleanroom garments and personal protective equipment required in designated areas (covering head, parts of the face, core body, and legs/feet).
• Makeup, gum, nail polish, or other potential microbial sources prohibited in restricted areas.
• Flexibility to don clean‑room garments.

Schedule

Shifts Available: Q4 Wednesday – Saturday (with every other Wednesday off), Onsite Night Shift, 5 p.m. – 5:30 a.m.