Transformation Director (Manufacturing)

About the Company

Our client is a global leader within the healthcare and life sciences manufacturing sector, providing critical products and solutions that support the delivery of lifesaving and life-enhancing medicines to patients worldwide. Operating through an international manufacturing network, the organisation combines significant technical and operational expertise with a strong focus on quality, innovation, and continuous improvement. As the business continues to evolve, it is investing in the transformation and optimisation of its global operations to support sustainable growth, enhanced customer outcomes, and long-term operational excellence.

About the Role

The Director of Business Transformation will hold a highly visible global leadership position, responsible for shaping and executing a transformation agenda across an international manufacturing network and its supporting functions. Working across operations, customers, and global functional teams, the Director will identify and lead significant opportunities to improve cost, quality, supply, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a global transformation strategy aligned with the organisation's broader operational and growth objectives.
• Identify major cross-site opportunities for optimisation and translate these into structured, enterprise-level improvement programmes.
• Lead complex transformation initiatives spanning manufacturing, operational performance, asset transfers and upgrades, new programme introductions, and network optimisation.
• Act as a senior interface with key customers, building strong partnerships and ensuring effective execution against agreed priorities and performance measures.
• Drive alignment across geographically dispersed operations and functional teams, bringing together the right expertise and resources to resolve complex business challenges.
• Challenge established ways of working and accelerate the adoption of best practices across the global manufacturing network.
• Establish effective governance around the transformation portfolio, ensuring clear visibility of progress, performance, risks, and corrective actions.
• Build a strong culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement while developing leadership capability and talent across the organisation.

Requirements

• Senior operational leadership experience, including responsibility across multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Extensive experience leading large-scale business transformation, operational improvement, or change programmes.
• A strong manufacturing and operations background; previous experience as a Site Director, Operations Director, or equivalent senior operational leader would be particularly relevant.
• Experience delivering programmes such as manufacturing network optimisation, new programme ramps, capacity or asset transfers, organisational right-sizing, and cultural transformation.
• Proven ability to lead across a highly matrixed, geographically dispersed organisation without relying solely on direct reporting lines.
• Strong commercial and customer orientation, with experience building effective senior-level customer partnerships.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge established thinking, and navigate complex organisational priorities.
• A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Business, or a related discipline is required. Lean Six Sigma or Black Belt certification would be advantageous.