Pilot Plant Systems and Data Lead

The Chemical Process Research and Development (CPRD) department is seeking a Pilot Plant Systems & Data Lead to join our team in Belgium. CPRD has three state of the art chemical pilot plants in Beerse and Geel which support the development of new chemical processes and produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API’s) used in clinical trials. The pilot plants are constantly innovating their technology
- and data infrastructure to accommodate for future product and development needs. The Systems and Data Lead is responsible for the automation systems which support the day to day operations in these pilot plants and facilitate the introduction of new technology and products with a high focus on safety, quality, reliability and innovation. The Systems and Data Lead defines and implements the future data strategy for the pilot plants in close collaboration with the scientists, engineers, safety and quality. This strategy is aligned with the commercial organization and the broader development organization. The focus of this data strategy is on structured data generation and models which support upscaling and process control optimization with the ultimate goal to accelerate process development and the best manufacturing process at launch.

The Johnson & Johnson campus in Belgium hosts 5,000 employees and has a unique ecosystem covering the complete drug development life cycle, with all capabilities from basic science to market access on one campus. The integrated environment of our campus gives our people the chance to experience many different aspects of drug development throughout their career. It has a successful track record of over sixty years of drug discovery and development, and it is one of the most important innovation engines of the Johnson &Johnson group worldwide.

**Responsibilities**:

- In close collaboration with a number of partners, responsible plant systems are reliable and support current and future pilot plant requirements.
- Lead a team which support daily operations related to PCS and MES and which is key to security of supply.
- Stay on top of innovative technology trends and translate this into a digital roadmap for the pilot plants.
- Take the lead in implementation of the data strategy in close collaboration with internal and external systems and technology partners
- Alignment of the pilot plant data strategy with the broader organization to generate maximum benefit for J&J
- Drive the culture and knowledge change required to embrace these new technologies and accelerate implementation.

**Qualifications**:
Experience and Skills
- Ph. D. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, with 3-5 years of experience in the Chemical Industry within the area of process chemistry /chemical operations preferred
- Master in chemistry or chemical engineering or similar with 5 or more years of industrial experience in development/operations in the chemical Industry.
- Knowledge of process safety and GMP compliance
- Basic understanding of plant automation systems like Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
- Passionate to work in a team and energized on people and organization development.
- Strong interest in developing and implementing new state of the art digital tools which support accelerated data analysis and enhanced process understanding and control.

Differentiating competencies:

- Hands-on experience in pilot or large-scale manufacturing plants
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, fluent in English both verbal and in writing.
- Interest in data-analytics and machine learning.
- Challenge the status quo
- Project management skills

Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.