Role at a glance
- Job function
-
Manufacturing & Skilled Trades Equipment Engineering & Maintenance
- Salary
- Not Disclosed
- Location
- Waterford
- Work arrangement
- On-site
- Employment
- Full-time
- Experience
- Significant experience as an Engineering & Maintenance Manager/ other Management role
- Education
- Higher level Degree in Third level Engineering qualification or equivalent
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Role Summary
Leads assigned engineering and maintenance activities for the Lyophilisation unit, supporting reliable supply of lyophilised vial products. The role oversees maintenance execution, equipment reliability, compliance, continuous improvement, and maintenance resources.
What You'll Do
- Lead engineering and maintenance activities across batch filling and lyophilisation, batch turnaround and release, shutdown planning,...
- Ensure work complies with cGMP, safety, and engineering standards, and monitor GMP compliance through audits, deviation follow-up, and...
- Execute maintenance strategies and monitor maintenance KPIs, equipment reliability, and cGMP readiness.
- Ensure employees are trained on relevant SOPs and GMP requirements, and that procedures are defined and followed.
- Develop continuous-improvement initiatives and manage maintenance spend, headcount, parts, and services.
Generated from the employer's posting. Verify important details before applying.
View full postingQualifications
Required: Higher-level degree in a third-level engineering qualification or equivalent; significant experience as an Engineering & Maintenance Manager or in another management role; experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing; engineering and maintenance standards applied across the asset lifecycle; technical knowledge of sterile filling and lyophilisation technology; detailed knowledge of cGMP regulations; problem-solving, analytical, facilitation, and interpersonal skills; ability to influence site KPIs and drive area improvement; understanding of health, safety, and legal requirements for safe team operation.
Preferred
- Engineering and maintenance technical expertise in sterile filling and lyophilisation
- Engineering and maintenance management experience in a pharmaceutical environment
- Proven engineering and maintenance track record in a highly regulated industry
Original job description
Content provided by the employer
Original job description
Content provided by the employer
Job Title: Head of Engineering & Maintenance - Lyophilisation
- Location: Waterford Ireland
- Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
- Working Arrangement: 5 Days On-Site
About the role
Reporting directly to the Head of Site Engineering & Maintenance and as a leader for Sanofi, you will play an integral role within the Lyophilisation Autonomous Production Unit management team, ensuring reliable supply of lyophilised vial products for our rare disease patients globally.
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
- Lead all assigned Lyophilisation engineering & maintenance activities to ensure that objectives are met across batch filling & Lyophilisation (Loading/unloading), batch turnaround time, batch release cycle time, annual shutdown planning, project/program implementation, CI plans, etc.
- Ensure all activities are undertaken in compliance with cGMP (FDA 21 CFR Part 211, EU GMP Annex 1), Safety and Engineering Standards
- Timely execution of maintenance strategy (Corrective, Preventative, Predictive Maintenance
- Ensure compliance across maintenance KPIs (Work orders, PMs, MTBF/MTTR, permits, LOTO, etc)
- Ensure equipment reliability strategy is deployed and sufficient for cGMP
- Ensure all employees, for which they are responsible, are trained against SOPs and GMP requirements relevant to their job
- Ensure procedures are correctly defined and followed
- Monitor the level of GMP compliance in their area on an on-going basis through audit, deviations and GMP document reviews
- Develop and improve the effectiveness of training on a regular basis
- Develop and lead a continuous improvement program that will result in savings to COGs
- Manage maintenance spend (Budget, headcount, parts, services)
About You
Essential requirements:
- Higher level Degree in Third level Engineering qualification or equivalent
- Significant experience as an Engineering & Maintenance Manager/ other Management role
- Demonstrable experience of pharmaceutical manufacturing environment
- Engineering & Maintenance standards applied across the life cycle asset management
- Technical knowledge of relevant sterile filling and lyophilisation technology
- Detailed knowledge of cGMP regulations
- Good problem solving and analytical skills
- Effective facilitator & Excellent interpersonal skills
- Influences site KPI’s and drives area improvement
- Full understanding of Health & Safety and legal requirements for the safe operation of the team
It would be advantageous to have (not essential):
- Engineering & Maintenance technical expertise in sterile filling and lyophilisation
- Engineering & Maintenance management experience in a pharmaceutical environment
- Engineering & Maintenance proven track record in working in a highly regulated industry
Why choose us?
- Shape the future of medicine and vaccine delivery with cutting-edge technology, ensuring seamless launches and a resilient global supply.
- 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.
#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 000Final 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.
About the company
Sanofi
Large Enterprise
Sanofi is a global healthcare leader committed to promoting health and well-being through the development of innovative medicines, vaccines, and therapeutic solutions. With a diverse portfolio that spans multiple therapeutic areas, including diabetes, oncology, and immunology, Sanofi is dedicated to addressing pressing health challenges and improving patient outcomes worldwide. Headquartered in France, the company employs over 100,000 individuals across more than 100 countries, fostering a culture of collaboration and scientific excellence to drive advancements in healthcare.