Director of Facilities

Introduction

Werfen is a growing, family-owned, innovative company founded in 1966 in Barcelona, Spain. We are a worldwide leader in specialized diagnostics in the areas of Hemostasis, Acute Care Diagnostics, Transfusion, Autoimmunity, and Transplant. Through our Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) business line, we research, develop, and manufacture customized assays and biomaterials. We operate directly in 30 countries, and in more than 100 territories through distributors. Our Headquarters and Technology Centers are located in the US and Europe, and our workforce is more than 7,000 strong.

Our success comes from a specific focus in these rapidly evolving diagnostic areas, our commitment to customers, and our dedication to innovation and quality. We’re passionate about providing healthcare professionals the most valuable and complete solutions to improve hospital efficiency and enhance patient care.

Overview

Job Summary

The Facilities Leader plays a critical role in ensuring the Transfusion sites remain safe, compliant, reliable and fully operational, enabling employees and core business activities to function effectively and without disruption. This role is accountable for leading a team of Facilities and Maintenance professionals dedicated to maintaining facilities, grounds, equipment, and environmental health and safety for diagnostic manufacturing, distribution, and business functions as well as supporting the ongoing success and strategy for the Transfusion business. This leader is responsible for all aspects of facility operations, infrastructure, compliance, and expansion across 3 sites located in Georgia, New Jersey and Nova Scotia, Canada. The role is highly cross-functional and requires both strategic planning and hands on execution.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities

• Own end-to-end operations of 3 sites with combined office, medical diagnostics manufacturing, and distribution facility, ensuring safety, reliability, and operational excellence across all buiding systems and campuses.
• Build and manage a high-performing, lean facilities, maintenance, calibration and safey team with clear accountablity and performance standards for both internal resources and external contracted services.
• Develop and execute long and short term strategic plans to maintain and improve facility systems, buildings and infrastructure in alignment with business strategic plans.
• Oversee maintenance of critical infrastructure and manufacturing equipment (HVAC, environmental systems, electrical, plumbing, fire and life safety, filling, labeling and packaging) with strong preventative maintenance, calibration programs and rapid responses to maintain required operating conditions for production, including uptime, redundancy planning, capacity forecasting, cost control, and efficiency.
• Manage and direct physical security and access control systems, ensuring a safe and controlled environment across all campuses.
• Ensure clean, well-maintained, fully functional, and efficient workspaces across campuses.
• Partner with internal and external project management, contractors and architects on construction, renovation, and site expansion. Lead facility build-outs from concept through execution, including budgeting, permitting, and timelines, ensuring all projects meet operational, safety, and compliance standards.
• Manage third-party vendors, establishing contracts and SLAs to ensure high quality and cost effective service, including vendor selection, requirements, quotation, contract negotiation, and ongoing performance management.
• Lead and own Site Master Plan and Business Continuity Plan for the sites, identifying improvements, risks and mitigations, and executing on improvements.
• Lead Environmental Health & Safety program including safety education and training, policies and procedures, accident prevention, audits and inspections, environmental and hazardous material management, safety culture, promotion of safe working habits and conditions to ensure safety of employese and site as well as compliance to regulatory agencies and company policies. Identify areas of improvement and work with cross functional leadership to implement corrective actions and improvements.
• Implement and maintain emergency preparedness plans and incident response protocols, and serve as the around-the-clock emergency point of contact for facility-related issues.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, building codes, fire regulations, and environmental standards, and own audit and inspection readiness across all regulatory bodies and internal quality management system for facilities related systems.
• Create and implement policies and procedures to maintain compliance, performance, and safety of facilities and equipment.
• Provide technical, logistical, and planning expertise to resolve all facility related issues.
• Develop and manage facilities budget for both operational expenses and capital investments.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Networking/Key Relationships:

• This position will interact with all levels of the organization to foster a culture of collaboration, engagement, and awareness across all teams as develop and maintain key relationships with the senior management team throughout Werfen Transfusion leadership team
• Positive representation with key city and state council members, service providers, neighboring businesses, and residents.
• External Regulatory Bodies – Maintain strong relationships and compliance with agencies; ensure readiness for audits and inspections.
• Vendors – Manage contracted services and partner for audits to ensure quality, reliability, and adherence to safety and compliance standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Knowledge & Experience required for the position:

• Bachelors degree in engineering, construction management, architecture, facilities management or a related field required, with Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designation highly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years leading Facilities teams in a regulated and diagnostics environment required.
• Strong working knowledge of all building systems, both mechanical and controls, including HVAC, electrical, DI water systems, refrigeration, compressed air, emergency, and plumbing systems.
• Strong working knowledge of filling, labeling and packaging systems.
• Experience in construction and project management as well as external contracted services.
• Experience in FDA regulated industries and knowledge of GMPs.
• Experience building high performing teams and driving continuous improvement.
• Experience in Clean Room ISO 14644 and ISO 13485 Standards.
• Experience in equipment automation and maintenance.

Management has the discretion of substituting relevant work experience for a degree and/or making exceptions to the years of experience requirement.

Skills & Capabilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across functions, levels, and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams, creating a collaborative and accountable team culture.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and situational adpatability in complex or ambiguous environments.
• Ability to make sound decisions that integrate technical, financial, operational, and business considerations.
• Excellent understanding of GDP, GMP, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), FDA, and ISO.
• Ability to operate with high level of autonomy and multi task, managing both strategic and daily tactical activities.
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office, project management tools, and Quality Systems.
• Results-oriented leadership approach with the ability to align execution, ensure accountability, and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Knowledge of life safety systems.

Travel requirements:

Up to 20% of time, to include international travel

Closing

If you are interested in constantly learning and being challenged on a daily basis we encourage you to submit your resume or CV.

Werfen is an Equal Opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workplace. Werfen strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation based upon an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, mental/physical disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as defined by applicable state or federal law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact [email protected] for assistance.

We operate directly in over 30 countries, and in more than 100 territories through distributors. Annual revenue is approximately $2 billion and more than 7,000 employees around the world comprise our Werfen team.

www.werfen.com