Back to jobs
tags.new

Director, Business Operations (Global Quality Control)

Visp, Valais, Switzerland

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance. 
 
WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:
 
*RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
 
*AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
 
*LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
 
*MODEL EXCELLENCE:  The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

The Director, Business Operations (Global QC) will lead the strategic design, implementation, and continuous optimization of global operational frameworks supporting Vaxcyte’s Quality Control (QC) and supporting Analytical interfaces. This role ensures that analytical inputs and QC operations are scalable, compliant, efficient, and aligned with corporate and regulatory expectations as the organization advances from development through commercial readiness.

The Director will serve as the central business operations leader for the Global Quality Control, partnering with leaders in Analytical Development, Analytical Science & Technology, Stability, Process Development, Manufacturing Science and Technology (MS&T), and Quality. This individual will drive governance, process standardization, infrastructure development, and cross-functional coordination to enable timely, compliant, and uninterrupted supply of Vaxcyte’s innovative vaccines.

Essential Functions:

Operational Excellence & Strategy
•    Lead the design and execution of operational strategies that translate Vaxcyte’s global vision into efficient, compliant, and scalable QC and analytical business operations.
•    Develop and maintain a global QC operations strategy, ensuring alignment with clinical and commercial objectives.
•    Implement continuous improvement frameworks (e.g., Plan-Do-Check-Act) to enhance efficiency, scalability, and compliance across analytical and QC processes.
•    Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) that assess operational performance, quality, delivery timelines, and cost efficiency across the global analytics network.
•    Partner with cross-functional leaders to ensure analytical and QC infrastructure, systems, and processes are integrated into overall business objectives.
•    Lead initiatives that improve operational automation, data visibility, and process robustness.

Governance & Compliance
•    Establish and maintain robust governance frameworks for QC and analytical operations in alignment with global cGMP regulations and internal quality standards.
•    Define, visualize, and formalize QC business processes using RASCI principles, ensuring clear ownership and accountability across the analytical network.
•    Review and enhance the Quality Management System (QMS) infrastructure to close gaps, harmonize SOPs, and strengthen procedural consistency.
•    Ensure data integrity principles are embedded in all operational practices, compliant with Vaxcyte’s DI policies and global standards.
•    Support global inspection readiness and lead preparations for regulatory inspections, partner audits, and customer reviews.
•    Collaborate with Quality to ensure analytical operations and contract testing laboratories meet all compliance requirements.

Infrastructure & Systems Leadership
•    Oversee the development and validation of business systems, data management platforms, and documentation practices across global analytical and QC sites.
•    Ensure that contract and in-house laboratories maintain robust equipment qualification, calibration, and maintenance programs to support reliable analytical testing.
•    Lead network and site planning activities, including external partnerships and outsourcing strategies with CDMOs and CROs.
•    Develop business cases for laboratory expansion, outsourcing scenarios, and infrastructure investments to support strategic growth.

Capability Building & Team Leadership
•    Collaborate and mentor a global team of QC operations professionals to ensure scientific, technical, and operational excellence.
•    Drive training programs that enhance technical proficiency, compliance culture, and cross-functional understanding within the analytics organization.
•    Foster a culture of innovation, learning, and continuous improvement across the analytical network.
•    Collaborate closely with functional heads across Analytical Development, Analytical Science and Technology, Stability, and Manufacturing to harmonize operational practices.
•    Represent Global Analytics and QC Operations in governance bodies, steering committees, and cross-functional business forums.

Requirements: 

•    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or higher) in Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, or related field.
•    12+ years of progressive experience in Quality Control, Analytical Operations, or Technical Operations within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.
•    Demonstrated leadership in developing and managing operational systems in GMP-regulated environments.
•    Strong understanding of cGMP, global regulatory requirements, and analytical testing operations.
•    Proven ability to design and implement business processes, governance models, and performance management systems.
•    Experience with vendor management and collaboration with CDMOs/CROs on analytical testing and QC operations.
•    Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
•    Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills; adept at data-driven decision-making.
•    Demonstrated passion for process improvement, operational efficiency, and automation

Reports to: Head of Quality Control
 
Location: Visp, Switzerland

Compensation:
The compensation package will be competitive and includes an equity component.

Relocation: 
This role is not eligible for relocation assistance. 

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

 

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Vaxcyte? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Vaxcyte’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.