About this role
At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come.
Join Roche, where every voice matters. The Position Welcome to Pharma Technical Development (PTD) – Shaping the Future of Medicine As part of Pharma Global Technical Operations (PT) , Pharma Technical Development (PTD) is integral to Roche’s mission to deliver game-changing therapies from Phase I clinical trials all the way to market launch. PT coordinates every aspect of production across all disease areas and dosage forms to reach millions of patients worldwide.
Within this global network, PTD applies leading technical expertise and cutting-edge technologies to design, develop, supply, and register safe and effective medicines – spanning Drug Substance, Drug Product, formulation, device, packaging, and analytical development. As part of PTD, within Bioprocess Development (PTDB), we are shaping the future of biotechnological process development and making a crucial contribution to the global supply of innovative biopharmaceuticals. The Opportunity – Your Responsibilities As the Head of Purification EU (f/m/d) , you will assume overall responsibility for the strategic, operational, and financial leadership of the department at the Penzberg site, while representing the unit within the Global Bioprocess Development network (PTDB).
In this role, you will lead a highly qualified, complex network of experienced leaders and subject matter experts in Downstream Processing and Protein Purification. In a dynamic, globally connected environment, you will design pioneering strategies, foster technological innovations, and ensure a seamless transition from early-stage development to commercial manufacturing. Leadership, Empowerment & Organizational Development: You will inspire and empower a high-performing organization of leaders, scientists, and technical experts based on modern, collaborative management principles.
You drive continuous organizational evolution, foster a strong Lean mindset and culture of operational excellence, and actively take ownership of strategic workforce planning to nurture top bioprocess talent for the future. Strategic Vision & Executive Business Leadership: You will shape and execute the long-term vision and strategic roadmap for the Purification EU division, aligning it with global Biologics goals. Holding full budgetary accountability (OPEX, CAPEX, headcounts), you will optimize resource allocation and build scalable, agile processes that maximize value creation and speed-to-market.
Technological Innovation, CMC Excellence & Ecosystem Engagement: You will lead the technological advancement and robust execution of complex downstream process development projects (from scale-up to commercial validation of mAbs and novel modalities). Acting as a bridge between high-end science and clinical/commercial manufacturing, you will fuel technological innovation by leveraging cutting-edge platform technologies and actively engaging with academia, scientific networks, and external research partners. Executive Management & Interface Coordination: You will steer the division as a key node in a globally connected matrix, serving as the central executive partner to early research (pRED/LMR), cell culture development, and commercial manufacturing sites across the globe.
You will foster seamless cross-functional collaboration and alignment across time zones with key stakeholders and sister organizations in the US, Japan (Chugai), China, and Europe. Global Committee Representation & Industry Presence: You will confidently represent Roche’s bioprocess technology expertise in top-level international decision-making committees, regulatory interactions (FDA, EMA), and high-profile industry and academic forums, serving as a key ambassador for downstream innovation. Regulatory, Compliance & EHS Governance: You will uphold the highest standards of regulatory compliance, biosafety, and quality governance (cGMP, FDA/EMA standards, GenTG, BImSchG), ensuring that clinical supplies and commercial process transfers consistently satisfy global regulatory submission expectations.
Leadership Competencies & Who You Are Education: A successfully completed degree in natural sciences (Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, or a related field), typically complemented by a PhD. Extensive Professional Experience: Substantial industry and leadership experience (15+ years) in technical development and/or manufacturing, with deep expertise in the downstream processing of therapeutic proteins and antibodies. Inspiring Leader: You possess a strategic and visionary mindset with a proven track record of leading and empowering managers and interdisciplinary teams of experts.
Systems Thinker & Networker: You navigate complex matrix organizations with ease and know how to build robust partnerships across global, cultural, and functional boundaries. Technical & Methodological Expertise: Comprehensive know-how in process development, scale-up, process validation, and modern project and financial management (CAPEX, budget controlling). Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge: Solid understanding of international regulatory requirements (FDA, EMA) as well as GMP and EHS guidelines.
Language Skills: Business-level fluency in both German and English (written and spoken). Your Application We like to keep it simple! Please apply online by uploading only your current CV and relevant certificates (e.g., your PhD certificate or proof of your highest academic degree).
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Who we are A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products.
We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact. Let’s build a healthier future, together. Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.