Head of Operations - CDMO cGMP Manufacturing
Direct message the job poster from Verbatim Pharma
Senior Recruitment Partner, connecting Ops & QA with transformative opportunities in the clinical trial Industry
Head of Operations - CDMO / CMO cGMP Pharmaceutical Manufacturing or Contract Packaging
5 days a week on site presence near Mechelen, Belgium - if you are located further away, we can discuss staying away during the week, but you need to be open to this arrangement
CDMO / CMO Pharmaceutical Manufacturing experience required
Dutch / Flemish professional level / fluency is required
You will join a highly ambitious, evolving CDMO based near Mechelen, operating within a cGMP Pharma manufacturing environment. This opportunity aligns closely with senior operational leaders who bring deep experience in regulated manufacturing and thrive in fast paced, client driven organisations.
This business has strong foundations and history in the industry, and is now undergoing meaningful transformation. It will suit someone who enjoys being close to the operation - on the shop floor, with teams, and embedded in day to day decision making - while driving long term operational and commercial success. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will sit at the centre of the company’s next phase of growth. Playing a pivotal role in shaping strategy, culture, and operational execution at site level, with genuine autonomy, visibility, and influence.
As a senior operational leader, you will:
Build, structure, and optimise site operations in Belgium, introducing clarity, consistency, and scalable processes suited to a growing CDMO
Harmonise operations across business units, ensuring alignment, transparency, and best-practice adoption - you will have Operations, H&S, HR reporting into you, with dotted line responsibilities across other site functions like Finance, Quality, BD, IT etc.
Take full P&L ownership, translating commercial strategy into operational execution with true start up style autonomy
Lead and develop a high performing, empowered leadership team, setting clear expectations, accountability, and momentum
Apply strong numerical and commercial insight to drive operational effectiveness—linking customer demand, cost, capacity, and performance directly to shop floor execution.
Adapt commercial priorities into practical operational improvements, enhancing speed, quality, and reliability to meet client expectations
Who This Suits:
Are an open minded, direct, and credible communicator, comfortable leading through change and engaging at all levels of the organisation. We are seeking someone forward thinking, open to adaption and can communicate achievements with clarity and passion
Bring deep, hands-on knowledge of how a fast-paced CDMO GMP manufacturing business operates
Are commercially and numerically strong with prior experience of high level budgetary or P&L responsibility
Seeking someone more single site experience, multi-site / global experience isn't quite what we're seeking
Enjoy hands on leadership, spending time on the shop floor and building systems, teams, and capability from the ground up
You must be Dutch / Flemish speaking for this role (at least professional level)
Other relevant titles:
Operations Director / General Manager / Director of Manufacturing / Senior Director of Production / Head of Packaging Operations / COO / Senior Director of Operations / Head of Manufacturing / Contract Manufacturing / Plant Manager / Site Director / Site Manager / Chief Operating Officer
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Seniority level: Director
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Production
Industries: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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