Director of Operations (Pharma)

Clinigen is a rapidly growing global specialty pharmaceutical services business with a unique combination of services across the pharmaceutical lifecycle. We currently have over 1,000 employees headquartered in the UK with global offices in the US, EU (Belgium, Germany, France), Asia Pacific and South Africa. Clinigen is growing rapidly and is positioned well for an exciting future of continued expansion.

The Role

Due to continued growth, we are seeking a Director of Operations who will play a pivotal role in driving the success of our site operations, providing leadership, direction, and oversight to ensure all operational activities are delivered safely, efficiently, cost-effectively, and in full compliance with GMP standards.

In this influential position, you will collaborate closely with the Clinical Services Leadership Team, shared service functions, and site operational teams to champion performance improvement initiatives, optimise processes, and deliver outstanding operational results. Your ability to lead across multiple functions, inspire teams, and drive operational excellence will be key to achieving business objectives and supporting continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all site operations, ensuring optimal productivity, efficiency, cost control, and day-to-day performance.
• Drive strategic planning and goal setting to support business growth and operational excellence.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance productivity, quality, safety, and cost efficiency.
• Coach, mentor, and develop high-performing teams, creating clear pathways for growth and succession.
• Partner with Finance to develop and manage departmental budgets aligned with business objectives.
• Monitor and report on operational KPIs, using data-driven insights to drive performance improvements.
• Collaborate with HR on recruitment, talent development, and employee relations initiatives.
• Maximise revenue opportunities while maintaining profitability and operational effectiveness.
• Ensure business continuity through effective workforce planning, cross-training, and contingency arrangements.
• Promote compliance with company policies, cGMP standards, and SOP requirements across all operations.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships, particularly with Quality, to deliver exceptional operational outcomes.
• Bachelor's degree required; Pharmacy degree (BSc Pharmacy or PharmD) strongly preferred
• Licensed Pharmacist status required where applicable for the assigned location
• 10+ years' leadership experience managing operational teams, budgets, and executive-level client/vendor relationships
• 5+ years' experience within clinical supply operations
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and a track record of driving profitable growth
• Strong understanding of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and clinical supply industries
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
• Proven ability to lead change, drive results, and execute strategic initiatives
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
• Ability to build effective partnerships and collaborate across cross-functional teams
• Highly organised, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• High level of professionalism and discretion when handling confidential information
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and other business systems

While at Clinigen, you’ll enjoy

The culture. Thanks to our diverse opportunities for engagement and involvement, every colleague’s Clinigen experience can be a bit different, and we’re proud of that. We work hard to ensure our company culture is inclusive to people from all backgrounds and social styles.

The transparency with leadership. All colleagues can share anonymous feedback with leadership on a weekly basis through our employee engagement platform. We use this feedback to inform our actions and decisions. We’ve been able to take steps to continuously improve how we do things at Clinigen.

The benefits. We take pride in having a broad range of activities, systems, and programs that provide a competitive benefit offering and build a culture of celebrating success.

EEO. Clinigen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.