Plant Manager

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Job Function:
Supply Chain Manufacturing
Job Sub Function:
Manufacturing Assembly
Job Category:
People Leader
All Job Posting Locations:
Nijmegen, Netherlands
Job Description:
ROLE MANDATE
Lead the Nijmegen plant safely and compliantly while building the organization, operating system and manufacturing capabilities required for reliable supply, successful scale-up and sustainable growth.
Reports to: Synthetics E2E SC Lead
Key direct reports: Direct: Senior Operations Manager, PMO Lead, Site Administration. Indirect: full Nijmegen Make site matrix functions
Job Summary
The Plant Manager is a people leader with end-to-end accountability for the safe, compliant and reliable operation of the Nijmegen site, including manufacturing, supply chain and supporting site functions, ensuring continuous, cost-effective supply against forecasts and inventory goals. The role sets the site vision and strategy, translates business priorities into an executable multi-year plan, and leads the cross-functional Site Leadership Team in a matrix environment to deliver results across safety, quality, service, cost, people and growth.
The position ensures effective implementation and performance of the Nijmegen Quality Management System in line with regulatory and internal requirements, strengthens operational discipline and assured customer supply, ensures inspection and audit readiness, builds organizational capability and creates the conditions for successful capacity expansion.
Key Accountabilities
Site strategy and enterprise leadership
· Own the site strategic plan, annual business plan, operating priorities, governance and performance rhythm.
· Lead the Site Leadership Team, clarify decision rights and ensure effective cross-functional execution and escalation.
· Partner with and drive supporting functions (Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, Finance, Planning and EHS&S) to ensure execution, compliance and accurate reporting.
· Represent Nijmegen in network, investment and portfolio discussions, clearly articulating site capabilities, risks and opportunities.
Safety, quality and compliance
· Ensure full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, quality-system requirements, company policies and Health, Safety and Environmental standards.
· Build and sustain a culture in which product quality, patient safety, data integrity and employee safety are non-negotiable.
· Maintain continuous inspection and audit readiness, with strong oversight of CAPAs, nonconformances, validation, training and remediation commitments.
· Ensure the Nijmegen Quality Management System is effectively implemented and performing in line with ISO 13485, EU MDR, FDA 21 CFR Part 820, MDSAP and Johnson & Johnson requirements, with regular audits and timely preventive and corrective actions.
· Act as senior site management during regulatory inspections and ensure timely, transparent and effective resolution of observations.
Operational performance and reliable supply
· Own overall site performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, productivity and people metrics.
· Ensure reliable production and release through robust planning, tiered accountability, risk management and disciplined problem solving.
· Drive manufacturing excellence, process repeatability, right-first-time execution, yield improvement and sustainable cost performance.
· Use dashboards, control charts and tiered performance indicators to take timely action where results deviate from controls or targets.
· Reduce critical defects, field issues and waste, and drive cost improvement projects through Lean, Six Sigma and Process Excellence.
· Balance near-term delivery with long-term capability, maintenance, calibration, engineering and lifecycle-management needs.
Growth, scale-up and transformation
· Lead site readiness for capacity expansion and future volume growth, ensuring facilities, equipment, systems, processes and organization mature together.
· Provide executive sponsorship for critical capital, validation, technology-transfer and operational-readiness programs.
· Ensure investment proposals are supported by clear capacity models, business cases, resource plans, milestones and risk controls.
· Lead change with a strong focus on business continuity, stakeholder alignment and adoption.
Financial and business stewardship
· Own the site budget and financial performance, including operating expense, capital investment, productivity and headcount plans.
· Build and maintain multi-year financial and resource plans that support supply, compliance and growth commitments.
· Make fact-based trade-offs, manage risks proactively and ensure resources are focused on the highest-value and most critical priorities.
· Ensure appropriate controls, governance and transparency in business and project reporting.
People, culture and organization
· Build a high-performing, inclusive and accountable site culture grounded in Our Credo, the Johnson & Johnson Leadership Imperatives and ethical leadership.
· Design and develop the organization required for current operations and future scale, including succession, workforce and capability planning.
· Lead managers and senior individual contributors in a matrix environment, with accountability for career development, regular coaching and feedback, and "ready now" succession plans for key positions.
· Attract, onboard, coach and retain strong leaders and technical talent; set clear expectations and address performance issues promptly and fairly.
· Engage employees through visible leadership, clear communication, listening and recognition.
Decision Rights and Measures of Success
Safety and compliance: No compromise on safety or quality; sustained inspection readiness; timely closure of commitments and systemic risk reduction.
Customer and supply: Reliable plan attainment, predictable release and service performance, with effective recovery when disruptions occur.
Operations: Improved right-first-time, yield, productivity, schedule adherence and asset reliability.
Growth: Expansion milestones achieved with controlled risk, operational continuity and demonstrated readiness.
Financial: Delivery of budget, capital and productivity commitments with transparent forecasting and controls.
Organization: Critical roles staffed, succession depth strengthened, engagement supported and leadership capability measurably improved.
Experience and Education
· Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, operations, supply chain or another relevant discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.
· 10+ years of progressive experience in regulated manufacturing, preferably medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology or life sciences, including at least 3 years in senior operations leadership roles.
· Proven experience as the accountable leader of a manufacturing site, operations business unit or complex multi-functional operation, with full profit-and-loss, budget, quality and people responsibility and leadership of managers and senior leaders.
· Strong tenure and career stability, with a history of seeing major programs and organizational changes through to completion.
· Proven record of leading through scale-up, transformation, capacity expansion, technology transfer or significant compliance improvement, with successful and sustained outcomes.
· Demonstrated, measurable performance outcomes, such as an inspection and

Skills
Risk Management