About UZ Leuven: As Belgium's largest university hospital, UZ Leuven aims to push boundaries by combining specialized care and innovative treatments with human attention and respect for each patient. Nearly 10,000 passionate staff provide the best customized care every day.

Future healthcare providers and staff receive high-quality training at UZ Leuven, with a view to lifelong learning and innovation. As a pioneer in clinical research, the hospital also thinks about tomorrow's patient care.

As an academic hospital, UZ Leuven plays a crucial role in medical education and research, collaborating closely with KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine and other research institutions. It offers a wide range of specialized medical services and treatments across various medical disciplines.

About KU Leuven: Founded in 1425, KU Leuven has been a centre of learning for almost six centuries and is the oldest catholic university in the world. Today, it is Belgium’s highest-ranked university, home to a tradition of academic excellence and ethical integrity that serves as the backbone for everything we do. KU Leuven offers a wide variety of programmes in English supported by high-quality interdisciplinary research at both the university and its acclaimed hospitals. Given its history, high-quality education, world-class research and cutting-edge innovation, KU Leuven is rightly known as one of the world’s great universities.

Position Overview: UZ Leuven, KU Leuven and KU Leuven R&D are building an ATMP hub which incorporates a GMP facility for cell therapy production. As the Senior Operational Manager of our GMP cell therapy facility you will play a crucial role in setting up the facility and its processes and once up and running ensuring the efficient and compliant operation of our manufacturing processes. You will be an essential part of the management team of an ATMP facility that is build to develop new cell-and gene therapy products and as a team you will be responsible for driving the overall operations towards profitability. You will lead a team of talented professionals and collaborate closely with key stakeholders and management to drive operational excellence and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. 

• Play a crucial role in the setup and management of the new ATMP Hub in its journey towards (financial) sustainability.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the GMP cell therapy facility, including manufacturing, quality control, and facility maintenance.
• Coordinate the building of the new facility
• Lead and develop a team of operational staff, providing guidance, coaching, and support to ensure high performance and adherence to GMP standards.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders within UZ leuven and KU Leuven to drive process improvements and ensure alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to optimize efficiency, productivity, and resource utilization within the facility.
• Maintain compliance with GMP regulations and guidelines, overseeing documentation, training, and audits as necessary.
• Manage facility budget, expenses, and resource allocation to meet operational goals and objectives.
• Ensure a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the facility.

• Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with at least 3 years in a managerial or leadership role.
• Extensive knowledge of GMP regulations and guidelines, with experience in cell therapy manufacturing preferred.
• Proven track record of successfully managing GMP manufacturing operations, including process optimization, resource planning, and compliance.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across functional areas and levels of the organization. 
• Demonstrated ability to drive results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.