Head of Lab Equipment

Business Introduction

We manufacture and supply reliable, high-quality medicines and vaccines to meet patients’ needs and drive our performance. Our network of 37 medicines and vaccines manufacturing sites delivered 1.7 billion packs of medicines and 409 million vaccine doses in 2024 to help make a positive impact on the health of millions of people. Our supply chain is not just core to our operations; it’s vital to bringing our innovations to patients as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible. Technology is transforming how we manufacture medicines and vaccines, enabling us to increase the speed, quality and scale of product supply. We need the very best minds and capability to help us on our journey to make more complex products, harnessing the power of smart manufacturing technologies including robotics, digital solutions and artificial intelligence to deliver for patients.

Job Purpose

You will lead the Lab Equipment & Systems function in Belgium, driving reliable and future-ready laboratory operations. You will work closely with QC, R&D, Technical Services and Engineering to manage equipment lifecycle, lab systems and capital projects. We value clear decision makers who coach teams, collaborate across disciplines, and balance compliance with practical delivery. This role offers visible impact, strong career growth and the chance to shape how labs support science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Your responsibilities

This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career. These responsibilities include some of the following:

• Own the lifecycle of laboratory equipment and systems for QC and R&D, from acquisition to decommissioning.
• Lead delivery of medium and small capital projects and upgrades, ensuring timelines, budget and quality are met.
• Partner with Technical Services, Engineering, EHS and Quality to manage equipment qualification, validation and inspection readiness.
• Manage vendor relationships, service contracts and spare parts strategies to reduce downtime and cost.
• Oversee lab information systems and digital tools used in laboratory operations, supporting implementation and data integrity.
• Build and coach a multidisciplinary team and external service partners to deliver high quality, safe and efficient lab support.
• You will work in a collaborative, matrixed environment.

Key day-to-day duties

Key day-to-day duties include:

• Define short- and long-term equipment and systems roadmaps aligned with business needs.
• Prioritize and prepare business cases for Capex, addressing obsolescence, capacity and compliance risks.
• Ensure equipment qualification, preventative maintenance and performance metrics are in place.
• Drive continuous improvement of lab workflows, asset utilization and cost efficiency.
• Support investigations and root cause analysis for equipment or system failures.
• Represent lab equipment and systems in governance forums and regulatory interactions.

Additional information

• Reporting line: VP QC Belgium Operations
• Level of the role: Director
• People management (direct / indirect reports, etc.): 9 DR. Around 70 IR
• Business travel requirements: limited
• Primary location: Wavre
• Secondary location: no
• Relocation support provided: no
• Regular presence onsite: required

Basic Qualification

• Bachelor degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related technical discipline
• Minimum 8 years’ experience managing laboratory equipment, facilities or engineering projects in a highly regulated environment
• Proven experience with equipment qualification, validation or commissioning activities
• Strong track record in project delivery, budget management and vendor oversight
• Familiarity with laboratory systems and data integrity principles for digital tools
• Fluency in English and French – both written and spoken

Preferred Qualification

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Biotechnology or similar technical field
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical or vaccine environments
• Knowledge of GxP compliance, quality systems and inspection readiness