External Manufacturing Operations Lead (Devices)

Make your mark for patients

We are looking for a collaborative, dynamic and results driven External Manufacturing Operations Lead (Devices) to join us in our External Manufacturing Operations team, based in any of our HUB locations: Atlanta, GA, Raleigh, NC, Boston, MA. This hybrid role (at least 40% of the time in office) requires up to 20% travel both domestically and internationally.

About The Role

You will lead the operational management of UCB's selected global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMO) & Strategic Vendors. The External Manufacturing Operations Lead is also accountable to manage related projects happening at our Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations such as technology transfers, new product introductions, and process improvements. In collaboration with Center of Excellence functions, and primarily the Devices, Wearables and Packaging (Device) team, you participate in the development and implementation of the UCB industrial manufacturing.

Who You’ll Work With

You will work with internal stakeholders such as External manufacturing business leads, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Legal, Compliance, Procurement, and Supply Chain. Externally, you will work with contract manufacturing organizations.

What you’ll do:

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations with external manufacturing partners , leading regular cross‑functional touchpoints to ensure smooth collaboration, strong communication, and consistent delivery.
• Provide technical guidance to strengthen manufacturing performance , drive process efficiency, uphold quality standards, and lead improvement initiatives when issues arise.
• Troubleshoot and resolve manufacturing deviations , leading investigations and corrective actions for complex technical or supply challenges.
• Coordinate and implement changes with external partners , supporting quality, supply chain, and procurement teams with performance reviews, compliance checks, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Plan and manage near‑ and long‑term capacity needs in partnership with Supply Chain to ensure reliable supply and operational readiness.
• Lead cross‑functional project teams to execute technology transfers, validation activities, investigations, and business‑support work for both existing and new products.
• Support regulatory submission activities , conduct risk assessments with external manufacturers, and follow through on mitigation plans.
• Develop business cases and recommendations for external manufacturing decisions and stay current on relevant technologies and market insights to guide strategy.
  
  

Interested? For this position you’ll need the following education, experience and skills:

Minimum Experience/Skills Required:

• Bachelors Degree
• Minimum of 5-7 years of significant operations management experience in a “Good Manufacturing Practice” (GMP) environment
  
  

Preferred Experience/Skills:

• Master’s degree
• International exposure in the pharmaceutical or medical device domain
• Strong technical knowledge on device manufacturing
• Experience in External Manufacturing functions combined with knowledge in injectables/injection molding and medical devices manufacturing
• Knowledge of other languages (French) is an advantage
• Ability to lead multi-functional global teams, influence others, hold teams accountable, results orientated, able to manage complex projects from development through commercialization and to attain results
• Must be able to manage external business partners and relationships to influence partners to deliver results that UCB needs
• Relationship management, including robust communication and networking, internally & externally
• Non hierarchical management skills (influencing without authority)
• Basic financial & business knowledge
• Project Management experience
  
  

The reasonably anticipated salary range for this position is $148,000-$194,300 per year. The actual salary offered will take into account related knowledge, skills, experience and location among other factors and may fall outside the expected range.

Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

About Us

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are over 9.000 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science.

Why work with us?

At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential.

At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless explicitly stated in the description or precluded by the nature of the position, roles are hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. UCB invites you to voluntarily self-identify during the application process. Provision of self-identification information is entirely voluntary and a decision to provide or not provide such information will not have any effect on your application for employment, your employment with UCB, or otherwise subject you to any adverse treatment. Any information you provide will be considered confidential and will be kept separate from your application and/or personnel file and will only be used in accordance with applicable laws, orders, and regulations.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on US-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com for application to US based roles. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.