Associate Director, Maintenance, Facilities & Automation
6 days ago
Boulder
Job Description CordenPharma is a leading full-service Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients, drug products (DPs), and packaging. With around 3,000 employees worldwide, we help pharmaceutical and biotech companies manufacture medicines with the ultimate goal of improving people’s lives. Our network, spanning Europe and the U.S., provides flexible and specialized solutions across six technology platforms: Peptides, Lipids & Carbohydrates, Injectables, Highly Potent & Oncology, Small Molecules, and Oligonucleotides. We strive for excellence in supporting this network and are committed to delivering the highest quality products for patient well-being. Our People Vision We strive for excellence. We share our passion. Together, we make a difference in patients' lives. SUMMARY Leads Corden’s site-wide facilities, automation activities, and operational maintenance excellence facility. Plays a crucial role in delivering reliable facility, utility, and engineering operations that support both Research & Development and Manufacturing. Reports directly to the Head of Technical Operations, this is a site-based role with a strong cross-functional footprint and responsibility for performance, quality, and compliance of the facility. The successful candidate will lead large teams in each functional area, manage vendor partnerships, and drive improvements aligned with Corden’s business unit governance framework. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Include the following. Other duties may be assigned. • Oversees site utility supply and cost performance—including electricity, gas, water, and nitrogen—through effective budgeting, forecasting, contract management, and continuous cost‑reduction initiatives. Drives energy‑conservation and waste‑minimization programs to reduce utility consumption and annual spend, • Directs the reliable production and distribution of site utilities, including steam, cooling tower water, low‑temperature cooling, compressed air, nitrogen, and purified water systems, ensuring consistent support for manufacturing and facility operations, • Leads maintenance, upgrades, and modifications for all plant systems, including chemical processing equipment, buildings, HVAC systems, air supply and exhaust systems, offices, internal spaces, and common areas to maintain operational readiness and compliance, • Ensures compliant operation of facilities in accordance with GMP, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards. Oversees building infrastructure, utilities, environmental monitoring, and facility state of control. Supports audits, inspections, and CAPA closure, • Manages all Instrumentation & Electrical (I&E) Systems, overseeing installation, commissioning, upgrades, calibration programs, compliance, and ongoing maintenance to ensure system integrity and safety, • Maintains comprehensive asset data, including equipment specifications, maintenance documentation, and full lifecycle histories to support decision‑making, reliability programs, and regulatory compliance, • Provides strong people leadership, developing a high‑performing team through coaching, performance assessment, skill development, and effective cross‑team collaboration, • Owns and manages departmental budgets across Maintenance, I&E, Facilities, Automation, and Utility operations. Monitors financial performance and ensures alignment with annual budget targets, • Supports SHE (Safety, Health, & Environment) compliance, partnering with the SHE Team on contractor safety programs, site certifications, and permitting activities, • Partners with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to ensure facility readiness for production. Serves as SME for maintenance, facilities, and automation during planning, tech transfers, and process improvements, • Direct preventive and corrective maintenance for facility systems, utilities, HVAC, electrical, calibration assets, and GMP equipment. Ensures maintenance work meets timelines, documentation standards, and operational needs. Establishes and tracks KPIs to drive reliability and continuous improvement. Manages spare parts, vendor coordination, and resource allocation, • Reviews and supports execution of capital projects across Utilities, Maintenance, Facilities, and I&E Systems. Ensures projects meet quality expectations, serviceability requirements, cost targets, and schedule commitments, • Leads the MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations) Program, including strategic purchasing, inventory management, critical spare parts planning, vendor negotiations, and cost optimization, • Serves as designated deputy to the Site Security Officer during absences, supporting continuity of Site Security operations when required, • Leads development and execution of the site’s automation strategy, ensuring alignment with long‑term business objectives, operational excellence goals, and technology standardization across the plant, • Leads the evaluation, selection, and deployment of advanced automation technologies (robotics, MES, DeltaV, PAT, historian solutions, reporting, etc.) to improve efficiency, quality, safety, and agility LEADERSHIP & BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES Provides leadership to the maintenance, facilities, and automation teams, including goal setting; work assignment, planning and prioritization; appraising performance, including rewarding and disciplining; personal development and training; addressing complaints and resolving problems; and coaching/mentoring. This position is responsible for providing leadership and management to assigned projects and is responsible for developing scopes, justifications, cost budgets, personnel requirements, and timelines for ensuring that all major project objectives are met. Fosters a team atmosphere that facilitates positive employee morale. Willingness to take on significant challenges and difficult assignments. SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES Every individual is personally responsible for the safety and environmental aspects of his or her activities in the workplace. Each employee is expected to perform their job duties in a safe manner utilizing all their knowledge, training, ability, and experience. QUALITY RESPONSIBILITIES Corden Pharma Colorado (CPC) is a manufacturer of a variety of pharmaceutical products. In following Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Corden Pharma Colorado manufactures in accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Council for Harmonisation Q7 (ICH), and other global regulations as applicable. This is critical as it is our mission to not place patients at risk due to inadequate safety, quality, or efficacy. CPC’s Quality Management System, which incorporates cGMP, is designed to deliver this quality objective. Attainment is produced through the requisite participation and commitment of all staff across departments and at all levels within the company. cGMP is the part of Quality Management System ensuring products are consistently produced to accurate quality standards. Adherence to clearly defined procedures, in compliance with the principles of cGMP, is required when performing operations across Corden Pharma Colorado. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor's Degree in Life Sciences from a 4-year college or university, and 10 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Previous experience in Pharmaceuticals or GMP environment is strongly preferred. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to comprehend and apply principles of advanced calculus, modern algebra, and advanced statistical theory. Ability to understand basic accounting and financial principles (ROI & IRR analysis, cashflow, committed vs. actual costs, etc.) as they apply to Process Engineering. REASONING ABILITY Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Ability to travel domestically and internationally required. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; work with hands; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach above shoulder height; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. CORE COMPETENCIES These are the specific areas of knowledge, skill and ability that are important for successful job performance. They must be job related and consistent with business necessity. • Broad knowledge of overall business operations related to maintenance, facilities, utilities, automation and associated engineering tasks, • Demonstrated project management and financial management abilities, • Prioritization and organizational skills; proactive problem identification skills for technical, organizational, and personnel issues; management and resolution of conflicting priorities; and ability to delegate, • Demonstrated leadership skills, including team building, employee involvement, coaching, mentoring, facilitation, and communications both within and external to the department, • Broad understanding of maintenance, automation, and engineering functions and application of maintenance systems utilizing and continuous improvement approach to create efficient operations, • Knowledge of qualification and validation systems, including test protocols, execution, and reports, • Broad understanding of chemical hazards and hazard evaluation, • Proficient in various computer skills, in the areas of Microsoft Office Products – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams; statistical analysis programs; and chemical engineering simulation software, • Ability to generate and implement novel ideas and methods to meet both site and project needs, • Ability to analyze situations and anticipate impact of decisions, • Demonstrated ability to interact with management in developing project objectives and site strategies; and advise management regarding technical opportunities and advances, • Demonstrated communication skills (presentation, persuasion, written, oral) across all levels of the organization. Prepares clear and well-organized reports and presentations for audiences including upper management and outside of the site, • Thorough working knowledge and application of QSHE Regulatory Compliance principles related to chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, including FDA, cGMPs, EPA, OSHA, and PSM requirements, • A working knowledge of business and finance; basic accounting and financial principles as they apply to chemical process development; demonstrates vision of future business direction and needs; and drives results which have major economic impact on the site’s profitability SALARY Actual pay will be based on your skills and experience. BENEFITS • 401(k) matching - Corden Pharma will contribute 100% of the first 6% - 100% vested after 2 years of service, • Accident Plan, • Critical Illness Insurance, • Dental Insurance, • Disability Insurance, • Employee Assistance Program, • Flexible Spending Account, • Health Insurance PPO/HSA, • Hospital Indemnity Plan, • ID Theft Protection, • Life Insurance, • Paid Parental Leave, • Tuition Reimbursement, • Wellness Program, • Vacation – Three Weeks 1st Year, • Vision Insurance EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Corden Pharma provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Corden Pharma embraces fair hiring practices. This post will expire April 17, 2026