Global Technology Lead Technical Operations - Spray Drying (f/m/d), 100% at Bachem Americas, Inc. – Bubendorf, Basel-Landschaft

To further strengthen our global Technical Operations organization and create business impact, we are recruiting a Global Technology Lead for Spray Drying –
MS&T platforms. This is a senior, highimpact global technology leadership role with strong visibility across Technical Operations and Engineering. It acts as the global technical authority for Spray Drying across the Bachem Group, accountable for technology strategy, standards, lifecycle stewardship, and scalable deployment across all sites.

By owning the technology globally, this role sets standards and makes decisions while owning the full lifecycle from innovation and design to routine manufacturing, ensuring robust, scalable GMP execution and compliance. This role is created in a build-up phase, offering the opportunity to shape mandate, governance, and operating model. The role also supports operational units through hands-on support during the implementation of the new technology.

Your responsibilities:

• Own and continuously improve the global spray drying technology platform (standards, lifecycle stewardship, performance targets, and capability roadmap).

• Close interaction with the CAPEX and CMC project teams, with corresponding assumption of responsibility within these teams to implement the technology on time and in line with quality requirements.

• Accountable for global Spray Drying technology decisions, including process standards, technical risk acceptance, and justified deviations

• Sets global standards and acts as the escalation point for complex Spray Drying technical issues. Owns the relevant framework, such as the associated documentation.

• Define and maintain global best practices for spray drying, including process design, scale-up approach, CPP/control strategy principles, cleaning concepts, and qualification/validation readiness.

• Lead and support technology transfer and industrialization of spray drying processes from development or pilot into GMP manufacturing.

• Act as technical authority for troubleshooting, investigations, and robustness improvements across sites.

• Set global standards for equipment evaluation, selection, and specification; partner closely with Engineering and Manufacturing on design inputs and operational requirements.

• Act as the global technical lead for Spray Drying in CAPEX and CMC projects by ensuring Spray Drying technology choices support scalability, compliance, and operational excellence

• Collaborate with Manufacturing, OT, Digital Manufacturing and Data Science, and Quality to ensure consistent GMP execution and inspection readiness for spray drying topics.

• Drive execution via projects and cross-functional workstreams, mobilizing stakeholders through matrix and lateral leadership.

• Establish structured knowledge-sharing (guidelines, templates, lessons learned, training concepts, expert community).

• Enable data-driven process monitoring and continuous improvement through structured reviews and trending.

Your Profile:

• University degree (Master or PhD) in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field.

• At least 10 years of professional experience in pharma or CDMO environments with progressive responsibility in MS&T, technical operations, or platform/technology leadership roles.

• Strong hands-on industrial experience in spray drying within regulated manufacturing environments; pharma or CDMO experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience with scale-up, tech transfer, and industrialization of spray drying processes.

• Proven ability to lead complex topics through projects and lateral leadership without direct reports.

• Experience working in global, multi-site, cross-functional environments.

• Deep expertise in spray drying unit operations, equipment design considerations, and process robustness.

• Strong understanding of GMP requirements and qualification/validation expectations.

• Solid technical risk management and control strategy mindset.

• Excellent written and spoken English (C1) is mandatory. German proficiency is strongly preferred to interact on the ground at the Bubendorf site.

• Willingness to accommodate global collaboration and travel of approximately 20–30%, depending on project pipeline and phase

Our offer:
 

• The role offers broad exposure across global Technical Operations and Innovation Platforms and close collaboration with senior stakeholders. It will enable strong professional visibility and provide the opportunity to shape group‑wide innovation long-term.

• This role operates globally with an initial focus on Switzerland and selected projects in California

• A dynamic and rapidly growing work environment with internal development opportunities 

• Employee development through numerous internal and external training opportunities 

• 60% coverage of pension fund contributions by Bachem AG as well as option for extra-mandatory pension provision with our Pension Plan Plus 

• Access to the Swibeco benefits platform with discounts from external partners 

• Fresh, healthy and varied food in our staff restaurant  

• A wide range of free sports activities on the Bachem Campus 

Would you like to shape global Operational Readiness frameworks with us?

We look forward to receiving your complete application documents via our application portal.

Learn more about the Bachem Group and our working environment at the Bubendorf site on our website.