Senior Manager, Maintenance

Kyowa Kirin is a fast-growing global specialty pharmaceutical company that applies state-of-the-art biotechnologies to discover and deliver novel medicines in four disease areas: bone and mineral; intractable hematologic; hematology oncology; and rare disease.  A Japan-based company, our goal is to make people smile by delivering breakthroughs where no adequate treatments currently exist, working from drug discovery to product development and commercialization. In North America, we are headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with offices in California, Massachusetts, and Ontario.

The Senior Manager of Maintenance will play a critical role in providing tactical direction and leadership for maintaining drug substance manufacturing operations at the new Kyowa Kirin North America monoclonal antibody drug substance manufacturing facility in Sanford, NC.

Initially, the Sr. Manager will be an individual contributor but will later manage a team of maintenance professionals.

During the facility's startup phase, the Senior Manager of Maintenance will assist in design efforts, develop training programs, maintenance policies and procedures, and implement curricula and learning plans for the site. Additionally, they will be heavily involved in facility construction and startup activities to ensure a safe and injury-free environment.

This role is responsible for leading all aspects of a facility's maintenance operations, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and execution of preventative and corrective maintenance activities, leading a team of maintenance technicians while ensuring equipment uptime, safety compliance, and cost-effective operations across the facility, often requiring strategic planning for long-term maintenance needs and capital improvement projects.

The role is responsible for acting on behalf of the company, specifically regarding the promotion of safe, professional work practices and conditions that comply with environmental, health, and safety policies and regulations.

It is the Senior Manager of Maintenance’s responsibility to ensure that all employees follow safety protocols and procedures. This includes conducting safety audits, investigating and reporting incidents, and developing safety programs.

As a people leader, you will embody compassionate, people-centric leadership to guide and support our team. You will collaborate closely with others, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive environment while driving team development. Your work will reflect the organization’s values and integrity in all your actions. Utilizing situational leadership and emotional intelligence, you will align diverse viewpoints, manage stakeholders, and make empathetic decisions to address individual and team needs effectively. You will also be results-oriented, ensuring that your team not only adapts to challenges but also delivers measurable outcomes that align with business objectives. Additionally, you will help teams navigate through change and uncertainty with resilience and clarity, enabling them to adapt to fast-evolving, rapidly scaling environments and meet new challenges in the biotech industry with a patient-focused mindset.

This role reports into the Director, Engineering

Leadership and Team Management:
•    Lead and manage a team of maintenance supervisors, technicians, and specialists. 
•    Provide coaching, development, and performance management for maintenance staff. 
•    Foster a culture of safety and compliance within the maintenance team. 

Maintenance Planning and Execution:
•    Design, develop and implement comprehensive maintenance plans and schedules, including preventative maintenance programs. 
•    Monitor and analyze maintenance KPIs to identify areas for improvement. 
•    Oversee the timely completion of corrective maintenance tasks. 
•    Manage maintenance work orders and ensure proper documentation.

Budgeting and Cost Control:
•    Develop and manage the maintenance budget, including parts inventory and capital expenditures. 
•    Identify cost-saving opportunities and implement optimization strategies. 

Project Management:
•    Oversee major maintenance projects, including planning, scheduling, and budget management.
•    Collaborate with engineering teams on equipment upgrades and modifications.

Compliance and Safety:
•    Ensure adherence to all safety regulations and procedures within the maintenance department. 
•    Conduct regular safety inspections and training programs.

Reporting and Analysis:
•    Generate detailed reports on maintenance performance, including equipment reliability and downtime.
•    Analyze data to identify trends and make informed decisions about maintenance strategies.

Leadership
•    Results-Oriented: Lead teams by setting clear, measurable goals and ensuring accountability for achieving key objectives. Align resources effectively, remove obstacles, and maintain focus on delivering high-quality results within set timelines.
•    Empathetic Communication: Listen carefully, give helpful feedback, and handle conflicts with care.
•    Team Development: Mentor and guide team members, create growth plans, support ongoing learning, and develop the team with a patient-focused mindset.
•    Inclusive Leadership: Build a diverse, respectful environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
•    Supportive Environment: Encourage a positive workplace, celebrate achievements, and promote work-life balance.
•    Collaboration: Lead by example, promote teamwork and respect, and ensure your actions reflect the organization’s values.
•    Emotional Intelligence: Manage emotions thoughtfully, make empathetic decisions with a patient-focused mindset, and stay calm under pressure.
•    Change Management: Help teams navigate change with clear communication and flexibility.
•    Situational Leadership: Adapt your leadership style to meet the needs of the team, offering guidance or independence as needed, while keeping patient outcomes in mind.
•    Stakeholder Management and Alignment Building: Work with different people to build alignment, guide discussions toward common goals, and ensure decisions are aligned with a patient-focused mindset.

Subordinates:

Maintenance Supervisors

Education
•    Associate’s degree, or Bachelor's degree, in Engineering, Mechanical or Electrical.

•    Or 5 years - 10 years of applicable experience

Experience
•    Minimum of 5 years progressive experience in industrial maintenance management, including leadership roles; pharmaceutical manufacturing experience is a plus.
•    Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
•    Proficiency in CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) software.
•    Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
•    Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
•    Proven ability to manage budgets and optimize maintenance costs.
•    Demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills. 
•    Experience with starting up and operating a biopharma manufacturing facility is a plus.

Non-Technical Skills
Results-oriented and able to navigate ambiguity, you set clear outcomes, track progress, follow through on commitments, and ensure your actions lead to measurable results that advance organizational objectives. Respond promptly, take accountability, and manage tasks efficiently. Adapt to change with clarity, patience, and understanding, guiding teams through evolving challenges. Exhibit strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a solid work ethic while demonstrating cultural sensitivity and the ability to foster alignment in a global environment. Communicate with care by actively listening and considering others' perspectives, fostering productive, engaging interactions, and managing relationships with kindness. Embrace personal growth through continuous learning and knowledge sharing, maintaining a growth mindset. Promote inclusive collaboration by respecting diverse perspectives and creating a welcoming work environment. Contribute positively by recognizing achievements and encouraging a healthy work-life balance. Collaborate with respect, integrity, and humility, prioritizing collective success over individual gain. Resourceful and proactive, challenge the status quo, drive innovation, and develop creative solutions. Apply an enterprise-wide, holistic mindset, working beyond siloed thinking to deliver cohesive, integrated solutions.

Initially working on a construction site and ultimately in a biotech manufacturing site in Sanford, NC.

Work is 100% on-site.  This is not a hybrid or remote role.  

Requires up to 5% domestic and limited international travel. 

KKNA and all of its employees have an obligation to act in accordance with the law and with integrity in all our operations and interactions

It is the policy of Kyowa Kirin North America, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, religion, creed, color, pregnancy, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or affection preference or citizenship status or any other category protected by law.

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