Production Manager - Pharmaceutical Plant

Job description

The Production Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing all manufacturing activities within the plant, ensuring production targets are achieved safely, efficiently, and in compliance with GMP, quality, and regulatory requirements. This role drives operational excellence, continuous improvement, workforce development, and cross-functional collaboration to support business growth and customer satisfaction. Key Responsibilities Production Leadership Manage daily production operations to ensure safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are met. Develop and implement production plans aligned with business priorities and customer demand. Monitor and improve plant performance through KPI management, including OEE, productivity, waste, efficiency, and service levels. Ensure optimal utilization of personnel, equipment, and resources. Quality & Compliance Ensure compliance with GMP standards, company procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements. Collaborate closely with Quality Assurance and Quality Control teams to maintain product quality and audit readiness. Lead investigations related to production deviations, CAPAs, and operational issues. Continuous Improvement Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity and reduce operational costs. Identify process optimization opportunities and implement corrective and preventive actions. Promote a culture of operational excellence and accountability across the manufacturing organization. People Management Lead, coach, and develop production supervisors and manufacturing teams. Foster employee engagement, performance management, and talent development. Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with EHS policies and procedures. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Planning teams to ensure smooth plant operations. Support new product introductions, scale-up activities, and process transfers when required. Participate in strategic projects related to capacity expansion, automation, and operational improvements. Qualifications Education Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Industrial Management, or a related field. Experience Minimum 1 year of manufacturing leadership experience within pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, chemical, FMCG, or highly regulated environments. Proven experience managing production teams in a GMP-regulated facility. Strong track record of delivering operational improvements and productivity gains. Technical Skills Knowledge of GMP requirements and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies. Competencies Strong leadership and people management skills. Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Results-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset. Fluent Italian and good English skills. Our Commitment to a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging Ecolab is committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and furthering the principles of Equal Opportunity to Employment. We will recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement based on individual qualifications and job performance in all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement. Ecolab will not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, or disability. Compensation Range: The annual total compensation range for this position is 59,500-74,400-89,200 EUR. This position is eligible for annual bonus. Benefits: Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. Collective Agreement Information (Italy): In Italy, Ecolab applies the National Collective Labour Agreement for the Chemical Industry (CCNL Industria Chimica).