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Job Function:
Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development
Job Sub Function:
Pharmaceutical Product R&D
Job Category:
Scientific/Technology
All Job Posting Locations:
Beerse, Antwerp, Belgium, Geel, Antwerp, Belgium
Job Description:
POSITION SUMMARY
The Principal Scientist, Advanced Manufacturing - Synthetics Strategy & Deployment is a global technical and strategic role within Manufacturing Science & Technology (MSAT). The role is responsible for defining, prioritizing, and deploying advanced manufacturing technologies, digital solutions, and innovation programs across the global synthetic drug substance network.
This position serves as a strategic leader for advanced manufacturing deployment, partnering with global and site leadership to accelerate technology adoption, enhance process robustness, improve supply reliability, and realize measurable business value. The Principal Scientist drives deployment strategies from concept through commercialization and lifecycle implementation while ensuring alignment with business priorities, technical roadmaps, and regulatory expectations.
The role acts as a global technology leader and trusted advisor to cross-functional stakeholders, enabling scaling and deployment of transformative capabilities including process intensification, real-time release testing (RTRt), process analytical technology (PAT), advanced process control, digital manufacturing, multivariate analytics, modeling, and data-driven manufacturing solutions.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Global Advanced Manufacturing Strategy
- Develop and implement global deployment strategies for advanced manufacturing technologies across the synthetic manufacturing network.
- Partner with MSAT, Supply Chain, JJT, Development, Quality, Specification Management, Regulatory Affairs, and Site Leadership to identify and prioritize deployment opportunities.
- Establish long-term technical roadmaps aligned with business objectives, capacity strategies, sustainability commitments, and innovation priorities.
- Shape future-state manufacturing and integrated quality capabilities through evaluation of emerging technologies and industry trends.
- Influence enterprise investment decisions and technology portfolio prioritization through governance.
2. Technology Deployment Leadership
- Lead global deployment of advanced manufacturing and integrated quality technologies following a prescribed End-to-End Innovation Deployment Process.
- Partner with neighboring functions to provide strategic oversight and alignment for technology transfers, scale-up activities, and process implementation.
- Ensure effective deployment plans are developed and executed across multiple sites and products.
- Drive standardization and best practices across deployment programs.
- Ensure successful knowledge transfer and long-term sustainability of deployed technologies.
3. Business Value Creation and Realization
- Define and communicate compelling business cases for deployment opportunities.
- Lead development of value propositions including cost, quality, reliability, compliance, cycle time, and sustainability benefits.
- Establish value realization frameworks and performance metrics.
- Monitor deployment outcomes and ensure achievement of expected business benefits.
- Support Long Range Financial Planning (LRFP) and strategic business planning activities through robust opportunity evaluation.
4. Technical Leadership and Subject Matter Expertise
- Provide scientific leadership for complex technical challenges associated with commercial manufacturing processes.
- Guide technical decision-making for manufacturing modernization initiatives.
- Promote scientific excellence through application of data science, automation, digital technologies, and advanced process understanding.
5. Global Stakeholder Engagement and Influence
- Establish strong partnerships with manufacturing sites, platform organizations, and external collaborators.
- Influence leadership through clear communication of technical strategy, risks, opportunities, and progress.
- Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
- Represent MSAT in governance forums, steering committees, and strategic initiatives.
6. Innovation and External Engagement
- Monitor external technology developments and benchmark industry capabilities.
- Develop relationships with academic institutions, technology suppliers, industry consortia, and strategic partners.
- Evaluate emerging solutions and identify opportunities for competitive advantage.
- Contribute to publications, patents, and thought leadership activities when appropriate.
7. Technical Documentation and Regulatory Support
- Author and review technical reports, deployment plans, business cases, and scientific assessments.
- Support regulatory filings and inspections related to deployment technologies.
- Ensure documentation meets corporate quality and compliance requirements.
- Establish and maintain technical standards and deployment guidance documents.
- Drive consistency in deployment execution and knowledge management globally.
LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Demonstrate Credo-based leadership and influence without authority across a global matrix organization.
- Lead complex, multi-site initiatives with significant business impact.
- Build and sustain high-performing collaborative networks.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Degree
- MS or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemical Engineering, Data Science, or a related scientific discipline preferred with significant relevant experience.
Experience
- Minimum 10-15 years of experience in pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, MSAT, process engineering, or related technical functions.
- Demonstrated experience leading global deployment of complex manufacturing technologies.
- Experience with commercialization, technology transfer, process validation, and lifecycle management.
Technical Expertise
Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Advanced Manufacturing Technologies
- Process Intensification
- Process Analytical Technology (PAT)
- Real-Time Release Testing (RTRt)
- Quality Control, Analytical Development
- Global Regulatory awareness
- Advanced Process Control (APC)
- Digital Manufacturing, Data Architecture, SDLC
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Applications
- Digital Twins and Process Modeling
- Technology Transfer and Commercialization
Skills
- Strategic thinking and business acumen.
- Exceptional scientific and technical problem-solving capabilities.
- Strong project and portfolio management skills.
- Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to lead within a complex global matrix environment.
- Demonstrated change management skills
- Strong technical writing and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated capability to translate innovation into measurable business value.
- Strong collaboration and networking capabilities across organizational boundaries.
Languages
- Fluent in written and spoken English and Dutch.
PREFERRED CHARACTERISTICS
- Demonstrated passion for innovation and manufacturing transformation.
- Experience in supporting global synthetic drug substance manufacturing networks.
- Proven ability to bridge science, quality, technology, digital capabilities, and business strategy.
- Strong commitment to patients, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and life-long learning.
- This role requires flexibility to travel, with an expected travel commitment of approximately 35%, including 10% intercontinental and 25% local/regional travel.
Required Skills:
Preferred Skills:
Budget Management, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC), Clinical Trial Protocols, Critical Thinking, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Drug Discovery Development, Industry Analysis, Interdisciplinary Work, Market Research, Organizing, Pharmacokinetic Modeling, Process Improvements, Product Development, Product Strategies, Report Writing, Safety-Oriented, Scientific Research
The anticipated base pay range for this position is:
€79.800,00 - €137.770,00
Benefits:
In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees’ and companies’ performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location’s eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.
*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.