Head of Engineering, Maintenance & Utilities (EMU)
Location: Louvain‑la‑Neuve, Belgium
Department: Operations / Site Leadership
Reports to: Site Leader LLN
About Zoetis LLN
Zoetis is the world’s leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting customers and their businesses across more than 100 countries. At our Louvain‑la‑Neuve manufacturing site, we produce high‑quality vaccines and biolopharmaceuticals that support global animal health. We are looking for a strategic, people‑focused Head of EMU to ensure the reliability, performance, and sustainability of our site assets and infrastructure.
About the Role
The Head of EMU is a key member of the Site Leadership Team and is responsible for all engineering, maintenance, and utilities functions at the LLN site. This role ensures equipment reliability, oversees capital investments, maintains infrastructure integrity, and supports current and future manufacturing needs. The position plays a central part in business continuity, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and sustainability.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic & Technical Leadership
Define and implement the EMU strategy aligned with the Site Master Plan and global objectives.
Drive continuous improvement in equipment reliability, energy efficiency, and operational performance.
Lead the Business Continuity Management (BCM) program and ensure robust risk‑mitigation and resilience plans.
Champion innovation, automation, and advanced technologies, including predictive maintenance and energy optimization.
2. Capital Project Management
Develop and manage the site’s capital investment plan based on long‑range capacity, new products, compliance, and infrastructure needs.
Establish and govern project execution standards, ensuring alignment with Zoetis project methodology and financial processes.
Lead Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings and maintain performance dashboards for schedule, cost, and quality.
Oversee execution of major engineering projects to ensure safety, compliance, and business impact.
3. Operational Excellence & Compliance
Lead preventive and corrective maintenance programs for equipment, utilities, and infrastructure.
Ensure full compliance with GMP, EHS, and all relevant global and local regulatory expectations.
Strengthen reliability programs to reduce downtime and ensure operational continuity.
Maintain site utilities (HVAC, purified water, steam, waste management, etc.) at optimal performance levels.
4. People Leadership
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of engineering, maintenance, and utilities professionals.
Foster a culture of collaboration, ownership, safety, and continuous improvement.
Implement effective talent development, succession planning, and capability‑building initiatives.
Inspire teams through clear communication, coaching, and recognition.
5. Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Engagement
Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Global Engineering, GMT, and regulatory bodies to ensure seamless operations.
Serve as a key advisor to the Site Leader on technical risks, strategic investments, and site infrastructure needs.
Represent EMU in audits, inspections, and internal governance forums.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
At least 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, vaccine, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
10 + years of leadership experience managing engineering and maintenance functions.
Strong background in utilities, capital project management, equipment reliability, and industrial infrastructure.
Deep knowledge of GMP, EHS, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Proven ability to manage complex technical environments and large multidisciplinary teams.
Strong financial and project‑management skills, including budget oversight and contractor/vendor management.
Experience in aseptic/biological manufacturing environments is a strong asset.
Preferred
Experience driving cultural and digital transformation in an operational setting.
Ability to operate effectively in a matrix environment with multiple stakeholders.
Forward‑thinking mindset with a focus on sustainability and energy performance optimization.
Key Competencies
Strategic and analytical thinking
Leadership & talent development
Operational excellence mindset
Strong communication and stakeholder engagement
Project governance & risk management
Commitment to safety, ethics, and quality
Education & Languages
Master’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent technical discipline.
MBA or relevant advanced degree is a plus.
Fluency in French and English is required.
Full time
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