Associate Director, Manufacturing

About the role

AstraZeneca is building its first biologics manufacturing campus in Singapore, a USD 1.5 billion investment delivering end-to-end Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) capabilities, small-molecule chemical API production, large-molecule monoclonal antibody manufacturing, conjugation, sterile filling and lyophilization, and final secondary packaging. The Associate Director of Manufacturing leads day-to-day GMP manufacturing execution across the Singapore ADC buildings, keeping complex operations flowing, ensuring right-first-time outcomes and building team capability to meet a fast-evolving production schedule.

Key responsibilities

• Lead daily and weekly execution of the approved production plan across shifts, prioritizing work and protecting safe batch progression and schedule adherence.
• Maintain visible shopfloor leadership, coach first-line leaders, reinforce standard work and close performance gaps.
• Uphold cGMP, process safety, containment controls and local requirements, and ensure hazards and risks are controlled.
• Ensure timely initiation of deviations, lead or sponsor root cause analysis and deliver effective CAPAs.
• Drive operational readiness for systems, areas and campaigns, including procedures, batch records, training, staffing, line readiness, materials, cleaning, digital workflows and acceptance of qualified equipment.
• Coordinate with QA, QC, Engineering, Validation, Safety, Supply Chain, MSAT and project teams, resolving issues within delegated authority.
• Represent Manufacturing in technical transfer, process validation and change implementation.
• Deploy approved Lean, digital and AI-enabled solutions to improve flow, reliability, changeover, cycle time and productivity without compromising GMP or safety.
• Establish tier performance management tracking safety, quality, delivery, cost and people metrics.
• Lead and develop shift and team leaders, support succession plans and foster an inclusive, accountable culture.
• Maintain inspection-ready operations and documentation, and support inspection responses.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Biotechnology or a related scientific or engineering subject.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical experience, including substantial leadership in cGMP manufacturing, technical operations or operational readiness.
• Experience leading manufacturing operations and teams in a regulated environment; shift-based or 24/7 exposure strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting facility start-up, major equipment introduction, technical transfer, process validation, new product introduction or capacity expansion.
• Proven people leadership, coaching, communication, judgement and decision-making skills.

Required skills

• Strong working knowledge of highly controlled manufacturing in drug substance, drug product or drug linker.
• Production planning, shopfloor management, deviation and CAPA delivery, change control, inspection readiness and cross-functional issue resolution.
• GMP documentation and operational risk management; experience fronting GMP, safety and corporate audits or inspections.
• Lean or structured problem-solving methods.
• Desirable: advanced degree, Lean Six Sigma, experience with MES, automation or AI-enabled solutions in GMP, greenfield/brownfield start-ups, and familiarity with Singapore regulatory expectations.

The role works on average at least three days per week from the office, with flexibility.