Head of Engineering

Head of Engineering

Chanelle Pharma

Loughrea, Ireland

Basic Summary:

The Head of Engineering is responsible for leading all site engineering, maintenance, utilities, facilities, and capital project activities to ensure a safe, compliant, and reliable pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. This role ensures the site meets GMP, HPRA/FDA/EU regulatory expectations, maintains high equipment reliability, delivers strategic capital investment, and implements long-term engineering excellence to support business growth.

As our Head of Engineering your key responsibilities will be as follows:

Leadership & Strategy:

• Develop and execute the site engineering & technical services strategy;
• Lead engineering teams including maintenance, utilities, calibration, projects, facilities, and automation;
• Champion safety, reliability, and continuous improvement;
• Work with value streams to improve OEE & efficiency levels on key production processes.

Engineering Governance & Compliance:

• Maintain GMP-compliant systems and equipment;
• Upgrade and own engineering policies and standards;
• Oversee regulatory inspections and statutory compliance.

Maintenance & Reliability:

• Direct preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance;
• Implement reliability engineering practices;
• Reduce downtime and equipment-related deviations.

Capital Projects & Site Expansion:

• Lead the CAPEX portfolio and major site expansions;
• Manage design, construction, C&Q, and handover;
• Control budgets and vendor performance;
• Support new commercial contract enquiries with CAPEX & operational standards (i.e. machine speeds etc.).

Facilities, Utilities & Energy:

• Oversee HVAC, water systems, boilers, chillers, compressed air, and cleanroom utilities;
• Manage facilities, buildings, grounds, and contractor control;
• Drive sustainability and energy-saving initiatives.

Automation, Controls & Digitalisation:

• Own the automation strategy;
• Support MES, data integrity and Industry 4.0 initiatives;
• Ensure cybersecurity for control systems.

Budget, People & Performance:

• Manage operational and capital budgets;
• Develop engineering talent and succession plans;
• Monitor KPIs including OEE and equipment uptime.

Education and Qualifications:

Essential:

• Degree in Engineering;
• 10+ years pharmaceutical or GMP-regulated leadership;
• Strong knowledge of EU GMP, HPRA/FDA requirements;
• Proven CAPEX and maintenance strategy experience.

Desirable:

• Master’s degree or Chartered Engineer;
• Lean, TPM, Six Sigma experience;
• Automation and digital transformation exposure.

Skills and Competencies:

• Leadership and communication skills;
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving;
• Excellent stakeholder management;
• Data-driven decision-making;
• Ability to manage change in a regulated environment.