Maintenance Manager - GMP, Global Biologics Operations

Maintenance Manager

Nijmegen | GMP | Global Biologics Operations

Fulltime, onsite

Lead a skilled team. Bring structure to a growing GMP site. Build a stronger maintenance organisation.

We are looking for a Maintenance Manager with a technical background and proven experience leading people in a technical environment.

This is a high impact role for a leader where you can make a visible contribution by helping a skilled team work in a more consistent and proactive way. You understand maintenance, know how to develop people and you are passionate about improving structure, team performance and reliability in a changing environment.

You'll step into a team with strong technical knowledge and committed people. The opportunity, and the challenge, is to bring greater consistency, focus and follow-through to the way maintenance is planned and delivered, while helping the team grow with the needs of the site.

The opportunity

The maintenance organisation has grown organically over the past few years. As a result, there is strong technical capability in the team, and with change management in mind a clear, prioritisation and alignment is needed.

As Maintenance Manager, you will help shape the next phase of the function. You will bring structure to planning and execution, strengthen ownership and support the development of a team with different strengths, experience levels and working styles.

This is a role for someone who can combine people leadership, operational control and maintenance credibility - someone who can take the lead, build trust and help move the team forward.

The role

You will lead the maintenance team and relevant external contractors responsible for utilities, facilities systems, site infrastructure, plant and equipment.

In this role, you will be accountable for maintenance strategy, planning, execution and compliance across your area of responsibility. You will work closely with Engineering, Facilities, SHE, Operations and Quality to ensure maintenance is delivered safely, reliably, on time and in line with GMP and site requirements.

You will also act as the site's key maintenance voice in maintenance-related topics such as preventive and corrective maintenance, reliability improvement, technical documentation, deviations, CAPAs, audits and inspections.

What you do

You will:

• Lead, coach and develop the maintenance team (5fte) and relevant contractors and service partners.
• Create more structure and discipline in maintenance planning, prioritisation, execution and follow-up.
• Strengthen the balance between planned and reactive maintenance.
• Drive reliability and asset performance by addressing recurring issues and supporting sustainable solutions.
• Develop and implement maintenance strategies for assigned assets across the site.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, SHE, regulatory and site standards.
• Support and challenge the team in a way that builds accountability, confidence and performance.
• Manage contractor and supplier performance across safety, quality and service delivery.
• Partner effectively with key stakeholders across Engineering, Facilities, SHE, QA and Operations.
• Represent the maintenance function with confidence and clarity in projects, investigations, audits, inspections, deviations and CAPAs.

What will make you successful

This role needs a leader who knows how to read the situation and adapt. You know how to delegate, when to step in and how to support experienced people.

You are comfortable leading experienced professionals with different working styles. You create clarity, address issues when needed and help people adapt to new ways of working, while giving them the trust and space to do their job.

You are a team player. You build trust, communicate clearly and bring energy to the group. You are visible, determined and comfortable taking the lead.

What you bring

You may already be working as a maintenance, or facilities manager, or you may be ready to take the next step from a technical team lead, supervisor or senior specialist role. What matters most is that you combine technical understanding with the ability to coach and guide people, create structure and work collaboratively in a regulated production environment.

You understand the content of the work well enough to ask the right questions, challenge yourself constructively and make sound decisions. You have experience in a regulated environment, and you understand the importance of careful planning, documentation and compliance.

You also bring:

• Bachelor level education in a relevant technical, engineering, maintenance or facilities discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in a technical, maintenance, engineering or facilities environment.
• Proven experience in people management and operational leadership.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to motivate people, create accountability and manage performance.
• Experience with preventive and corrective maintenance, planning, coordination, reliability improvement and contractor management.
• Experience working in a regulated production environment, where safety, planning, documentation and compliance are important.
• Experience with GMP, cleanrooms or pharmaceutical manufacturing is an advantage.
• Fluency in English. Dutch language skills are strongly preferred, given the day-to-day interaction with Dutch-speaking colleagues, contractors and suppliers.

The successful candidate will already be living and working in the Netherlands. We are unable to offer relocation support or sponsorship at this site.

Why this role is exciting

This is a real opportunity to make an impact.

You'll be joining during a period of change and growth with a new line being implemented, with the chance to shape how the maintenance function develops from here. The technical knowledge is already there. Your role is to bring the leadership, structure and performance focus that helps the team move to the next level.

For the right person, this is a chance to build a stronger, more aligned and more proactive maintenance organisation - while developing people and leaving a visible mark on the site.

What we offer

At AstraZeneca we support continuous learning and provide room to grow, both professionally and personally. In addition, we offer: 27 vacation days + option to buy 10 additional days, 1 paid volunteering day, €230 annual sports allowance, 8% holiday allowance, 12.5% target bonus.

Please note that a VOG (Certificate of Conduct) will be required as part of the hiring process for the successful candidate.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca works to improve quality of life for patients with serious diseases. We develop medicines in oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, respiratory and immune disorders, and vaccines.
Globally, 75,000 colleagues work across six continents. In Nijmegen, around 100 colleagues produce, test, and package biologics for early clinical development. Our site plays a crucial role in bringing new medicines into first-in-human and early-phase studies.

We follow science, put patients first, and strive to do the right thing. We value curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement - creating an environment where people can grow and thrive.

A great opportunity to help shape the future of our site and contribute to meaningful work.

Apply today

Ready to lead, improve and build what comes next? We'd like to hear from you. This is a role where your leadership will be visible day to day.

You'll work with skilled, knowledgeable people in an environment that is evolving and full of opportunity. If you want to join a company in change, lead a capable team and build something stronger for the future, this could be the right next step. Apply by clicking on the apply button at the bottom of this page.

Questions?

Our Recruitment Team, Karin Raadschelders or Caroline van Oppen, is available at [email protected] or +31 (0)85 - 047 0244.

We don’t work with a fixed closing date; we will commence our screening process immediately - the vacancy will close as soon as we’ve found the right candidate.
 

Date Posted

28-Oct-2026

Closing Date

26-Nov-2026

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.