VP Engineering & Production Quality (10100-202644)

About the role

At LifeNet Health, you are the advantage. Every day, you help us to save lives, restore health, and bring hope to patients and families around the world. This role is located in Virginia Beach, VA within the Production & Logistics department.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes the multi-year engineering strategy supporting growth, capacity expansion, automation, and modernization across all product lines.
• Provides senior leadership to engineering, process development, maintenance, capital projects, validation, and facilities teams.
• Aligns engineering priorities with corporate strategy, operational goals, and regulatory expectations with executive leadership.
• Leads engineering activities for human tissue processing, medical device manufacturing, and cellular therapy operational platforms, ensuring robust process performance, scalability, and compliance.
• Oversees execution of major capital projects, including facility expansions, cleanroom upgrades, aseptic processing enhancements, and new technology installations.
• Ensures equipment reliability programs meet uptime, utilization, and performance metrics.
• Drives continuous improvement initiatives leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and advanced manufacturing principles.
• Ensures all engineering programs, processes, and equipment meet applicable regulatory and industry standards (FDA 21 CFR 1271, 820, 210/211, AATB, ISO 13485, cGMPs for ATMPs, etc.).
• Partners closely with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to prepare for inspections, submissions, and external audits.
• Champions engineering innovation to enhance product quality, safety, and manufacturability across biological tissues, medical devices, and cell therapy products.
• Supports R&D and Process Development teams with technology transfer, scale-up, and commercialization of new products and processes.
• Introduces digital technologies, automation, and data-driven tools to optimize operations and improve process robustness.
• Buys and develops a high-performing engineering organization with strong technical depth and leadership capability.
• Strengthens cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, R&D, and Program Management.
• Develops and manages departmental budgets, ensuring resource optimization and effective cost control.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Biomedical, Chemical, Electrical, or related discipline)
• Minimum of 15 years experience in Operations/Production/Manufacturing in Life Sciences, Tissue Banking, Medical Device, Pharmaceuticals or related industry (Preferred 20 years)
• Minimum of 12 years’ experience of managing direct reports (Preferred 15 years)

Key Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Proficient with engineering and operations systems and data analytics tools; able to leverage digital platforms to drive efficiency and decision-making.
• Strong ability to interpret and utilize digital dashboards, automation interfaces, and technical software to support process control and continuous improvement.
• Communicates complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences, including executive leadership and regulatory agencies.
• Expert knowledge of FDA regulations, cGMPs, ISO standards, validation practices, and technical documentation.
• Demonstrates long-term, strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into actionable engineering and operational roadmaps. Leads continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven methodologies to enhance quality, reliability, and throughput.
• Anticipates future operational, technological, and regulatory needs, developing forward-looking strategies that position the organization for scalable growth and long-term competitive advantage.
• Committed to building high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and structured development plans that elevate technical capability and leadership strength. Creates a culture of accountability, empowerment, and collaboration while fostering growth in staff at all levels.
• Applies strong analytical skills and scientific reasoning to troubleshoot complex engineering, process, or product-related challenges. Utilizes structured problem-solving tools (DMAIC, 8D, root cause analysis) to identify root causes and implement robust, sustainable solutions.
• Buys and maintains strong partnerships across Operations, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, and external partners to accelerate execution and maintain alignment. Influences and negotiates effectively with stakeholders at all levels to drive consensus, resolve conflicts, and achieve strategic objectives.

Benefits

• Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Profit Sharing Plan
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Paid Parental Leave
• Corporate Sponsored Events
• Incredible teammates
• Tuition reimbursement
• Career & Leadership Development
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Pay

$201k-$268k Plus Bonus Final compensation will be based on factors such as geographic location, qualifications, and prior relevant experience.

Schedule

N/A

Qualifications

N/A

Skills

N/A

Benefits

N/A