TCF04 Site Head, VP Manufacturing

Job Description

We are seeking a Vice President to serve as the Site Head of Manufacturing supporting the Kite TCF04 facility in Amsterdam, NL. This position will report to the Global Head of Manufacturing and will be a member of the Global Manufacturing Leadership Team (GMLT) and ACE Kite Leadership Team (ACE KLT). They will have the opportunity to lead a cross functional site team to further evolve and mature Kite’s state-of-the-art commercial cell therapy manufacturing facility.

The Site Head VP of Manufacturing will translate Kite’s business priorities and objectives into short-term and long-term commercial site strategies and manufacturing execution. They will lead a cross-functional site leadership team and end-to-end 24x7 business operations, overseeing Site Manufacturing, Site Facilities & Engineering, Site Supply Chain, Site Business Strategy & Operations and Site Manufacturing Sciences and Technology (MSAT) while having matrixed oversight of Site Quality, IT, Finance, Legal, PA, and HR. The position holds a highly influential role in various local public arenas (local city/country, medical, patient, and universities), making it a key industry influencing role in promoting cell therapy. Generally day-to-day responsibilities include developing manufacturing strategies; executing site operations; ensuring cGMP compliance; establishing new capabilities, processes and technologies; forming teams and developing people while creating an inclusive culture of safety, quality and operational excellence for a variety of generations.

Are you interested in formulating and implementing strategies in support of accessing more patients with life-saving cell therapies while maximizing shareholder value? Come join us in our mission to cure cancer!

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Strategy – Collaborates closely across manufacturing network, setting global network strategy and cascading this to site strategies and goals for training, technology, budget, and cost models with commercial and clinical for intersection of manufacturing processes to effectively deliver consistent high-quality product to patients

• External Representation – Kite leader for KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders), government officials, patients, and regulatory and university partnerships

• Product Supply – Ensures site operations are executed safely, compliantly, effectively and efficiently to meet product demand and financial targets

• Compliance – Close collaboration with Quality, Compliance, and F&E to maintain high level of cGMP compliance and safety through the effective monitoring and reporting of metrics. Close collaboration with Legal to remain compliant from a business perspective.

• Technology – Close collaboration with Process Development and IT to execute process and technology transfers and effectively deploy automation solutions.

• Continuous Improvement – Sets culture of continuous improvement and drives product/process improvements to improve reliability, quality, productivity, and efficiency.

• Talent Development – Close collaboration with business partners and HR to build and develop a robust leadership team, develop the next generation of leaders by creating a feedback rich culture, ensuring effective personal development of leaders, and building a strong succession pipeline.

• Business Continuity – Develops proactive risk mitigation processes and protocols to ensure patient supply and service level agreements.

• Partnership with Gilead/ACE Region and Kite Tech Ops executives across the network to set strategy and shared objectives. Influence and/or develop broad-based programs and initiatives to meet executive level vision and mission. Close collaboration and partnership with ACE KLT and manufacturing network peers to ensure patient supply and service level agreements are met.

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD with 14 years of experience OR

• MA/MS/MBA with 16 years of experience OR

• BA/BS with 18 years of experience OR

• High School with 22 years of experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education - BS degree in life sciences, engineering or related field, advanced degree, e.g. MS, MBA and/or PhD preferred with at least 15 years of experience managing operational teams in the biotechnology or biologics industry, preferably with 10+ years of senior leadership experience.

• Interpersonal Skills – vulnerable, humble, confident, courageous. Ability to give and earn trust. High level of emotional intelligence, exceptional listening, verbal and written communication skills.

• Decision Making - consistent track record to make objective and unbiased decisions with imperfect information. Ability to adopt other people’s point of view - especially if different than one’s own.

• Collaboration – cross-functional, corporate and site experience with a focus on bringing varied perspectives together, sharing standard methodologies, and effectively using resources to further Kite’s enterprise strategy and achieve Technical Operation’s objectives.

• Change Management - effective Sponsorship, Change Agent and influencing skills. Adaptive, agile, flexible, open minded. Consistent record to build cross-functional commitment, lead, simplify and scale complex dynamic organizations through transformational change.

• Business & Scientific Acumen - broad understanding of the business model, science, facilities, engineering, process development, supply chain, quality, compliance, regulatory, and information technology expectations for cell therapy. Previous cell therapy team leadership experience preferred/highly desired

• Enterprise Leadership - ability to build empowerment and accountability across teams and functions by being bold in aspiration and agile in execution, making time for people, listening, speaking openly and explaining the “why”, believing in others and oneself to make sound decisions, and owning the impact of one’s words and actions.

• Entrepreneurial - high energy level with a positive “can do” attitude, ability to adapt and think “out of the box” and rapidly turn ideas into action in a nascent, evolving, innovative industry. Manage ambiguity with aplomb and calmness. Creative, innovative and risk-taking.