Site Automation Lead (Pharma)

Location: Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands; manufacturing site

Company

Johnson & Johnson MedTech develops healthcare and medical technology solutions across Innovative Medicine and MedTech.

What you will do

• Lead and develop the site automation organization, including individual contributors, supervisors, and managers.
• Define and execute the site automation and execution systems strategy, ensuring standardization and architectural alignment.
• Lead automation and data-driven projects with compliant, safe, on-time, and within-budget delivery.
• Oversee execution systems across design, validation, integration, master data, recipes, and lifecycle documentation.
• Ensure system reliability, upgrades, continuous improvement, infrastructure coordination, and effective 24/7 support.
• Manage cross-functional stakeholders, vendors, contracts, governance, policies, procedures, and performance KPIs.

Requirements

• BSc in Engineering, Science, or a related technical field with 10+ years of manufacturing experience, or an advanced degree with 8+ years of experience.
• 4+ years of leadership and delivery experience and 4+ years in pharmaceutical or GMP-regulated manufacturing automation or IT.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP, FDA-regulated environments, validation practices including FAT, SAT, and IO/PQ, and GAMP principles.
• Deep expertise in ISA-95 Level 1–3 systems, including DeltaV, PLCs, MES PAS-X, OSI PI, and infrastructure, plus understanding of Level 4 system integration.
• Experience applying ISA-95 and ISA-88, managing projects and finances, translating business needs into technical solutions, and leading change across a matrix organization.
• Fluent English required; Dutch is advantageous.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive work environment focused on individual dignity, diversity, and employee development.
• Leadership role within the Global Engineering & Technology organization and the Leiden leadership team.
• Work in a regulated manufacturing environment focused on compliance, innovation, and operational excellence.