API Industrial Manufacturing & LCM Sr Director

Date: 2 Jul 2026

Department: Corporate Products Industrialisation

Business Area: Industrial Operations & HSE

Job Type: Direct Employee

Contract Type: Permanent

Location:

Parma, IT

About us

Chiesi is an international research-focused biopharmaceutical group with 90 years’ experience, operating in more than 30 countries, with its Headquarter in Parma, Italy. More than 8,000 employees across the group are united by a singular purpose: promoting a healthier world for our people, patients, and the planet. This is what drives us as we research, develop, and market innovative drugs across our main therapeutic areas. Discover more here.

At Chiesi we are thinking generations ahead, driving sustainable innovation with purpose. This fosters a culture of reliability, transparency, and ethical behaviour at every level. As a Benefit Corporation and a certified B Corp, we have embedded sustainability in our bylaws and continuously measure our impact.

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of who we are. We believe our differences make us stronger. We are a vibrant ecosystem of passionate, talented individuals united by strong values, each bringing unique perspectives that help us to continuously challenge the status quo for the better.

Global Technical Operations & Supply

Global Technical Operations & Supply (Global TechOp&S) is Chiesi’s global manufacturing and supply area, responsible for ensuring consistent, outstanding quality, service and value across our end‑to‑end supply chain. Global TechOp&S oversees the entire lifecycle of the drug: from process optimization and industrialization, to manufacturing, engineering, quality oversight, and supply chain management. Throughout this journey, Operational Excellence drives continuous improvement. This end‑to‑end model is powered by our four manufacturing sites - Parma (IT), Blois (FR), Santana de Parnaíba (BR), and Nerviano (IT) - together with our Virtual Plant network of external partners.

This is what you will do

The Senior Director API Industrialization and Life Cycle Management is accountable for maximizing the industrial and commercial value of the API portfolio across its entire life cycle.

The role ensures effective transition from development to commercial manufacturing, long-term supply sustainability and competitive differentiation in the marketplace.

Acting as a strategic bridge between Global Technical Operations functions and Procurement, this role translates market needs into robust, scalable, and compliant industrial solutions.

You will be responsible for

API Industrialization

Owns and drives the API industrialization strategy in alignment with commercial priorities and portfolio plans.
Ensures predictable time-to-market, reliable supply for new and existing APIs.
Provides senior leadership input into new opportunity evaluation collaborating in due diligence processes.

Life Cycle Value Creation

Accountable for the Life Cycle Management (LCM) strategy of the API portfolio, including robustness, capacity evolution, cost optimization, and second sourcing.
Proactively identifies and mitigates supply, obsolescence, and margin-erosion risks over the product life cycle.
Sponsors and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to sustain competitiveness and long-term value.
Support the evaluation of manufacturing process changes and deviations, control strategy definition

Stakeholder Enablement & Interface

Serves as senior technical and industrial partner to Procurement, R&D, Quality and Supply chain and supply functions contributing to the Drug product industrialization and LCM.
Collaborate with environmental sustainability unit to support ensure sustainable supply chain and products
Supports negotiations.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Influences portfolio, investment, and prioritization decisions through strong industrial and market insight.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

Ensures API industrialization and life-cycle activities comply with GMP, regulatory requirements, and customer agreements.
Anticipates and manages industrial and supply-chain risks with an enterprise-level perspective.
Acts as senior technical contributor during audits.

Organization Impact

Assess, reduces, mitigate supply-chain and life-cycle risks through proactive industrial leadership
Enables faster, data-driven portfolio decisions
Strengthens the organization’s technical credibility with strategic stakeholders

You will need to have

Degree in Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related fields (PhD a plus)
15+ years of experience in API industrialization, process development, or pharmaceutical operations
Strong background in GMP environments and API life cycle management
Strong business oriented mindset with the ability to convert industrial complexity into sustainable commercial advantage
Good regulatory background
Competence in HSE topics (Containment, HAZOP, REACH, CLP, safety regulation)
Understanding of IP landscape (patents, freedom to operate, licencing constrains)

Leadership & Competencies

Strategic mindset with strong scientific and industrial orientation
Proven ability to work in a complex, cross-functional global teams and matrix organization
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing capabilities
Effective communication skills (with both technical and commercial stakeholders) with the ability to translate complexity into action

Location

The primary work location is Parma (Italy). The role offers flexibility, combining on‑site presence with remote work.

Compensation Range

The minimum salary for this role is € 92.000, aligned to our established salary framework. The final offer will reflect the candidate’s skills, experience, qualifications and internal equity considerations.

This role is eligible to participate in an annual bonus scheme, subject to company and individual performance.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including company car, pension, private medical insurance, wellbeing programme, flexible benefits programme.

What we offer

No matter where your path starts at Chiesi, it leads to inspiring possibilities. Your future is our focus, and we are committed to nurturing your development in our dynamic, friendly environment with access to resources and training every step of the way.

We provide top-class benefits, including comprehensive healthcare programs, work-life balance initiatives, and robust relocation support. Our salary package is competitive, comprising a basic salary, performance bonuses, and benefits benchmarked against the external market. Additionally, we offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and tax assistance services for foreign colleagues, all designed to help you thrive.

Chiesi is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of our business. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment based on attitude and merit, without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.