Area Engineering & Maintenance Manager
Sanofi Waterford, Munster, Ireland · €63K–€84K/yr
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing · 10,001+ employees
About the role
The Area Engineering & Maintenance Manager provides leadership to shift-based teams to ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of visual inspection lines. They are responsible for managing production schedules, driving KPIs, and maintaining high standards of quality and safety within the manufacturing environment.
What they look for
Requirements
Candidates must hold a degree in an Engineering discipline and possess experience working in a highly regulated GMP environment. Strong problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills are essential for this role.
Full description
Job Title: Area Engineering & Maintenance Manager
- Location: Waterford, Ireland
- Job Type: Regular, Full-Time
About the job
Reporting to the Engineering Manager, you will play an integral role within the Product Supply Unit’s team, ensuring reliable supply of syringe and vial products to our patients globally.
The Product Supply APU consists of multiple platforms for the PFS inspection, assembly, labelling, cartoning, of autoinjectors and prefilled syringes and vials. The platforms range from manual processes through to high-speed, high volume automated production lines.
Ready to get started?
Join a global network that powers how Sanofi delivers — seamlessly, purposefully, and at scale. In Manufacturing & Supply, you’ll help reimagine how life-changing treatments reach people everywhere, faster.
About Sanofi:
We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.
Main Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Management
- Provide first-line leadership and supervision to shift-based operation teams across the Lyophilised Vial Semi-Automated Visual Inspection and Pre-Filled Syringe Manual Visual Inspection lines
- Lead, coach, and develop operators, fostering a high-performing and engaged team culture
- Plan and manage shift resourcing, attendance, and rostering to ensure adequate coverage across the inspection area
- Deliver operator training and ensure ongoing competency across visual inspection techniques and standards
Production & Operational Leadership
- Lead the safe, compliant, and efficient day-to-day operation of the inspection work centers
- Manage production schedules and priorities for the inspection area in coordination with wider Product Supply planning
- Drive achievement of area KPIs including output, right-first-time, quality, and OEE/efficiency targets
- Ensure effective changeovers and line set-up between batches/products within the inspection area
Quality, Compliance & Safety
- Ensure all inspection activities are performed in full compliance with cGMP and HSE regulations
- Uphold and reinforce a strong safety culture within the team, ensuring adherence to site safety standards
- Own and maintain visual inspection standards, ensuring operators are qualified and calibrated to defect libraries
- Support and lead investigations into inspection-related deviations, non-conformances, and quality events
- Ensure data integrity across inspection records, batch documentation, and electronic systems
Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving
- Apply systematic problem-solving methodologies to address recurring inspection issues, defects, or downtime
- Drive operational excellence initiatives specific to the inspection area, including lean/Opex tools
- Champion digital adoption within the inspection area (e.g., digital inspection tools, Quanta shop-floor systems)
- Identify and implement improvement opportunities to enhance inspection line performance and reduce false rejects
Collaboration & Communication
- Act as the key point of contact for the inspection area, liaising with Quality, Engineering & Maintenance, Automation, and Supply Chain teams
- Communicate performance, issues, and priorities clearly across shifts and to senior Product Supply leadership
- Support cross-functional projects and technology transfers impacting the inspection lines
About you
- Experience in a highly regulated GMP environment.
- Degree in an Engineering discipline.
- Strong problem solving and communication skills.
- Strong documentation/protocol generation and execution skills.
- Automation experience is desirable.
Why choose us?
- Shape the future of medicine and vaccine delivery with cutting-edge technology, ensuring seamless launches and a resilient global supply.
- Transform lives worldwide by delivering life-changing treatments anywhere, anytime.
- Grow, thrive, and make an impact in a workplace that empowers you to bring your best self every day, with pride.
- Help deliver 30+ new product launches by 2030, ensuring patients get treatments faster than ever.
Pursue progress, discover extraordinary
Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.
At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.
Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!
The salary range for this position is :€63 200,00 - €84 267Final compensation will be determined based on demonstrated experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs.
