Company Summary: Centor is a Gerresheimer company. Centor/Gerresheimer is an innovative systems and solutions provider and a global partner for the pharma, biotech and cosmetic industries. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of pharmaceutical containment solutions, drug delivery systems and medical devices as well as solutions for the health industry. The product range includes digital solutions for therapy support, medication pumps, syringes, pens, auto-injectors and inhalers as well as vials, ampoules, tablet containers, infusion, dropper and syrup bottles and more. Centor/Gerresheimer ensures the safe delivery and reliable administration of drugs to the patient. With 35 production sites in 16 countries in Europe, America and Asia, Gerresheimer has a global presence and produces locally for regional markets. With around 12,000 employees, the company generated revenues of around €2bn in 2023. Gerresheimer AG is listed in the MDAX on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A0LD6E6).
Position Summary:
- The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing and optimizing all manufacturing operations related to primary plastic packaging production for the pharmaceutical and prescription industry. This role ensures that production runs efficiently, safely, and in full compliance with pharmaceutical quality standards (GMP), regulatory requirements, and customer specifications.
- Lead cross-functional teams, support continuous improvement initiatives, and drive operational excellence across the plant.
- Direct, perform, or coordinate troubleshooting and repair of all primary and auxiliary production equipment.
- Troubleshoot and maintain critical plant systems, including chilled water systems, dehumidification units, compressed air systems, HVAC, and vacuum material delivery systems, ensuring full operational readiness.
Key Responsibilities:
- Overall responsible for all activities within PPP NA (Gx Berlin, Ohio)
Production & Operations Management:
- Lead daily manufacturing for injection molding, blow molding, assembly, etc.
- Coordinate production according to production planning; meet delivery and quality targets.
- Monitor and improve KPIs (OEE, scrap, downtime, OTIF, throughput).
- Optimize equipment utilization, setups, and process parameters.
Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting:
- Oversee preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance for all production and auxiliary equipment.
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and facility systems (HVAC, cooling, compressed air, water systems).
- Ensure GMP-compliant documentation of all maintenance activities.
- Minimize downtime through root-cause analysis and proactive maintenance planning.
Quality & Compliance:
- Ensure full compliance with GMP, ISO 15378, ISO 9001, and pharma regulatory requirements.
- Support audits, CAPAs, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Work closely with QA/QC to maintain product integrity.
Team Leadership & Development:
- Lead, train, and develop production and maintenance teams.
- Manage staffing, shift planning, and skills development.
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
EHS:
- Enforce all safety and environmental regulations.
- Lead risk assessments, accident prevention, and proper chemical/material handling.
Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement:
- Drive Lean, 5S, Six Sigma, and OE initiatives.
- Identify bottlenecks and improve cycle times, productivity, automation, and SOP accuracy.
General Activities:
- Coordinate with procurement, planning, and warehouse on materials, inventory, and traceability.
- Support cost-reduction efforts related to materials, tooling, and operations.
- Contribute to budgeting, cost optimization, and investment planning.
- Maintain operational reports, dashboards, and performance analyses.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the General Manager PPP NA.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Management, Plastics Technology, or related field; or 5–10 years of relevant experience in plastic manufacturing (pharma packaging preferred).
- Strong knowledge of GMP, ISO 15378, and other pharma regulatory standards.
- Experience with injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and clean-room production.
- Proven leadership, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
- Knowledge of Lean/continuous improvement, MES/SAP, and MS Office.
- High resilience, teamwork, organization, and attention to detail.
- Ability to lift up to 56 lbs (or 80 lbs team lift) and move up to 200 lbs; forklift certification or ability to obtain.
- English proficiency and basic math skills.
Salary Range: $100-120K
What we offer:
Total rewards package with compensation
Healthcare
Prescription drug coverage
Flexible spending accounts
Wellness
Disability coverage
401k match
EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
Life insurance
PTO (Paid Time off)
Holidays
Gerresheimer/Centor is an Equal Opportunity Employer and affords equal opportunity to all applicants and employees for all positions without regards to race, color, religion, sex national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
