Platform Expert [Technical Manager] - Ware, Hertfordshire -United Kingdom (Stevenage, United Kingdom)

Platform Expert [Technical Manager]

GlaxoSmithKline - Ware, Hertfordshire -United Kingdom (Stevenage, United Kingdom)

Job Description

Basic qualifications:

Scientific degree
See details.
Preferred qualifications:

Scientific degree / PhD
Details:

We are a science-led global healthcare company
We make innovative medicines, vaccines and
consumer healthcare products that are used by
millions of people around the world, allowing
them to do more, feel better and live longer.

The products we develop and manufacture and
how we do this contributes directly to the health of
patients and consumers, and indirectly to the wider
well-being of the economy and society.

An exciting opportunity for a Platform Expert (Technical Manager) exists within our Product Introduction Planning at GSK Ware Manufacturing.

=> Job Purpose and Key Responsibilities:
•To lead & manage a team of Technologists (in the Manufacturing or Packaging technical disciplines) who provide technical support to existing products in the Respiratory/Tablets Product Stream.
•To direct a team of Technologists in the preparation & execution of NPI trials and planned changes to the agreed planned timescales. (The team may operate over a double day shift pattern and so effective direction & communication is critical.)
•To actively facilitate the improvement of product and process capability and batch yields across the supply chain in the Respiratory/Tablet streams. Specifically be accountable for driving Cost of Goods (COG) and Cost of Waste (CoW) improvements
•To ensure day to day technical issues are resolved urgently to minimise reject levels.
•To promote & monitor technical standards throughout the product stream and ensure they are adhered to
•Effectively manage up to 10 Production/Packaging Technologists including responsibility for technical training, the PDP process, compliance with standards and other GSK general management processes to ensure business priorities and targets are met.
•Input technical opinion as a platform expert at site level e.g. Stream SCP, STQC and some above site forums e.g. DME, Supply Chain Planning.
•Develop core understanding and Technical expertise for the equipment platforms in the stream including new Technologies.

=> Accountability
•Ensure all NCE trials are prepared & executed to the required PPD roadmap timetable avoiding any delay to a planned launch. Ensure trials are supported with appropriate on-line support and technical learnings are captured, reported & applied
•Make a significant year on year improvement to the cost of manufacturing by directing a team of technologists towards reducing the Cost of Goods (COG) and Cost of Waste (CoW) for existing commercial processes.
•Successful execution of planned changes to the materials and processing of existing products.
•Successful resolution to technical problems involving existing global supply products
•Leading and coordinating process investigations. Engaging support of Product Technical & Product Performance Teams where required
•Lead and inform opinion on the technical design of trials.
•Management of complex technical project plans to ensure the production & packaging technologists deliver on key product stream objectives.
•Provide technical advice (including strategy development, risk management, mitigation plans) to leadership teams of both the Function Technical Groups and the Supply Chain.
•Deliver their aspects of technical projects on time in full.
•Manage teams of up to 10 people: Direct Reports: D3 to D5.

=> Advanced Accountabilities:
•Drive improvement programs that lead to significant cost reduction across a portfolio of products / engaging Primary supply sites – scope outside of Ware.
•Successful resolution to technical problems involving existing global supply products through in-depth Technical expertise
•Leading and coordinating process investigations. Coordinating input from multiple function within site and groups external to Ware.
•Drive and lead strategy development and improvements on a 3-5yr outlook.
•Manage teams of up to 10 people: Direct Reports: D3 to D5 and matrix linkage with other teams external to site.

=>Complexity:
•The Platform Expert/ Team Leader is based at Ware reporting to either the Stream Technical Manager (where this role exists) or to the Unit Manager/VSL.
•The Platform Expert/ Team Leader role is primarily concerned with supporting manufacturing unit operations in terms of the day to day capability of unit processes and the delivery of NCEs trials to R&Ds strict timelines.
•There are key stakeholder needs to balance in terms of support. Each Unit Manager/Value Stream leader will have individual priorities biased in favour of commercial or NPI needs. Each PD leader will have their own NCE priorities. A key accountability for the Platform Expert/Team Leader is to have sufficient knowledge of the key milestones of the NCE projects along with the Value Stream daily & weekly priorities in terms of customer orders - and make the right call in terms of any conflicting priorities of technologists. Urgent unexpected technical issues with a process or a changing NCE priority are regular occurrences.
•The Platform Expert/ Team Leader role may operate at the interface of Production, Quality (including Validation), Logistics and R&D when supporting a project or solving a technical process issue.
•The Platform Expert/ Team Leader operates and influences effectively across all functions and levels of the Respiratory/Tablet Supply Chain – see typical stakeholder map attached.
•The Platform Expert/ Team Leader leads large technical projects often involving regulatory and/or validation implications.
•The Platform Expert/ Team Leader is the point-of-contact for NP&GS, the Dose Form Leader, GMS Engineering, Process Engineering, Product Owners and technical leads across the GMS network with regards to their particular area of expertise.
•The Platform Expert works with Process Engineering to ensure technical group is trained in the most up to date data collation (PMT,PAT) and trending techniques
•The role holder must lead and manage in an environment where health, safety, environment, quality, compliance and functional standards are set, monitored and adhered to. The leadership behaviours demonstrated by this role set the standard for technologists and all staff interfacing with this group, including manufacturing teams.
•The role holder requires the ability to simultaneously execute multiple activities and to understand dependencies and resolve conflicts between them.

=> Advanced Complexities:
•Proactively manages multiple stakeholders, both internal and external to Ware & GSK.
•Provides guidance based on expertise and critically influences key stakeholders across the value stream.
•Drives maintaining good effective networks including groups outside of own functional area and Site
•Strong interaction, engagement and influence at senior levels within R&D.
•Independent management of multiple complex products and strategic projects that also span outside of the Value Stream / Site

Please apply via the online application system.
Closing date for application : Friday 17th May 2013.

When applying for this role, please use the 'cover letter' of the on-line application to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above. Thank you for your interest in this opportunity. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.


Contact information:

You may apply for this position online by selecting the Apply now button.

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Company Description

GlaxoSmithKline is a science-led global healthcare company that researches and develops a broad range of innovative medicines and brands. Our products are used by millions of people around the world, helping them to do more, feel better and live longer.
GlaxoSmithKline has three primary areas of business in pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer healthcare. Our commercial success depends on creating innovative new products and making these accessible to as many people who need them as possible. By achieving this, we will be able to grow our business and provide benefits to patients, consumers, society, our employees and our shareholders.
With our headquarters in the UK, we have a wide geographical reach. We have offices in more than 115 countries, major research centres in the UK, USA, Spain, Belgium and China and an extensive manufacturing network with around 70 sites globally.
Research is vitally important to the success of our business, and we spent just under £4 billion in 2011 in our search to develop new medicines, vaccines and innovating consumer products. We are one of the few healthcare companies researching medicines and vaccines for the World Health Organisation's three priority diseases - HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. 

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