Job Title: Manufacturing Operations Manager

• Location: Waterford, Ireland
• Job Type: Regular, Full-time

About the Job

Reporting directly to the Head of Product Supply, and as a key leader within the Product Supply Autonomous Production Unit (APU) at Sanofi Waterford, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliable supply of mAbs & Lyo products to patients worldwide. This position involves day-to-day leadership of operational teams, ensuring timely and compliant production while driving performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.

You will oversee critical manufacturing processes related to vial & syringe inspection, assembly & Packaging, working closely with cross-functional stakeholders in Quality, Engineering, Planning, and Technical Services to ensure seamless execution of production targets in a highly regulated GMP environment.

This is a people-focused leadership role with strong expectations around coaching, compliance, lean execution, and operational excellence.

Ready to get started?

Join a global network that powers how Sanofi delivers - seamlessly, purposefully, and at scale. In Manufacturing & Supply, you'll help reimagine how life-changing treatments reach people everywhere, faster.

About Sanofi

We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system - and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. 

Main responsibilities:

• Operations Leadership
  • Lead all assigned inspection, Assembly and packaging operations to ensure timely execution of batch schedules, turnaround time, and product release cycle time.
  • Execute production planning in alignment with supply chain and scheduling teams to meet demand.
  • Manage operational readiness for new products and support technology transfer and process validation activities.
  • Ensure effective shift handovers and communication across teams.
  • Drive execution of KPIs related to throughput, downtime, deviations, and productivity.
• Compliance and Quality
  • Ensure all operations are executed in full compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Safety, Environmental, and Sanofi Quality standards.
  • Monitor GMP compliance through deviation management, audit support, SOP reviews, and batch documentation reviews.
  • Ensure procedures are current, accurate, and effectively implemented by the team.
  • Support and lead investigations (deviations, CAPAs), working closely with QA, TS, and other stakeholders.
  • Promote a culture of continuous quality improvement and right-first-time execution.
• People Management and Development
  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of operators, leads, and/or supervisors across the mAbs operations.
  • Ensure all employees are adequately trained for their roles, including technical and GMP training.
  • Conduct performance evaluations, develop talent, and implement succession planning.
  • Foster a culture of engagement, ownership, and collaboration within the team.
  • Actively participate in recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning processes.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Develop and implement a site-level continuous improvement strategy focused on reducing Cost of Goods (COGs), improving efficiency, and simplifying processes.
  • Lead or support lean initiatives, kaizen events, and problem-solving teams.
  • Implement metrics and visual management tools to support performance monitoring and daily accountability.
  • Promote a proactive approach to problem-solving and operational excellence.
• Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
  • Promote and maintain a zero-incident safety culture.
  • Ensure that all operations and employees follow HSE policies and procedures.
  • Conduct routine safety audits and risk assessments within the production area.
  • Drive compliance with safety training and environmental standards.

About You

• Higher-level diploma/degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Science, Engineering, or related technical field).
• Significant experience in an Operations Manager or equivalent leadership role.
• Demonstrable experience working in a pharmaceutical GMP manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of inspection/ packaging, or similar manufacturing technologies.
• Proven ability to lead operational teams in a regulated manufacturing setting.
• In-depth knowledge of cGMP, regulatory expectations, and batch documentation.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to lead through influence.
• Good problem-solving, analytical thinking, and decision-making abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to influence site-level KPIs through leadership and improvement activities.
• Understanding of Health & Safety and legal requirements for manufacturing operations.
• Exposure to Lean Six Sigma or similar operational excellence methodologies would be an advantage.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections (FDA, HPRA, etc.) would be considered an advantage.

Why choose us?

• Transform lives worldwide by delivering life-changing treatments anywhere, anytime.  
• Grow, thrive, and make an impact in a workplace that empowers you to bring your best self every day, with pride.  
• Help deliver 30+ new product launches by 2030, ensuring patients get treatments faster than ever.  
• Every year, we distribute over 4 billion units of medicines and vaccines, ensuring people worldwide receive the treatments they trust.  
• Be part of an organization that invests in people, technology, and sustainability, leading the industry in low-carbon manufacturing and digital transformation.  

#LI-EUR

Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

The salary range for this position is :€84 000,00 - €112 000

Final compensation will be determined based on demonstrated experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs.