Director / General Manager

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Director / General Manager

Pharma Services Group – Drug Product Division (DPD)📍 Tilburg, Netherlands | Fully site-based🗣 Dutch-speaking candidates preferred

Make a global impact—right here in the Netherlands

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. Every day, our teams support breakthroughs that protect the environment, ensure food safety, and help bring life-saving medicines to patients around the world.

We are now seeking a Director / General Manager to lead our Pharma Services Group, Drug Product Division (DPD) at our Tilburg site—a critical part of our global CDMO network. This role is fully site-based and offers significant local leadership responsibility alongside global engagement.

The Tilburg site operates as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) within Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Pharma Services Group – Drug Product Division, specialising in oral solid dose (OSD) softgel manufacturing for clinical and commercial customers.

This is a senior leadership role with full P&L responsibility, offering the opportunity to shape strategy, drive growth, and lead high-performing, cross-functional teams in a regulated, fast-moving environment.

The Role

As Director / General Manager, you will:

• Own and execute the business strategy for the Tilburg DPD site, aligned with global PSG objectives

• Lead with full P&L accountability, driving sustainable growth, profitability, and operational excellence

• Inspire and develop cross-functional teams across operations, quality, commercial, and technical functions

• Partner closely with customers, global stakeholders, and industry leaders to strengthen relationships and expand market presence

• Shape product and service roadmaps, supporting innovation and long-term competitiveness

• Navigate complex, regulated environments while maintaining a strong focus on accountability, delivery, and results

This role offers genuine influence—locally, regionally, and globally.

Required Experience

• Advanced degree with 6+ years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years in product management, business leadership, or related fields

• 5+ years of senior leadership experience managing teams within a matrix organisation

• Demonstrated success with P&L ownership, business growth, and operational performance

• Strong capability in strategic planning and execution within complex, regulated environments

• Experience leading cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams and influencing senior stakeholders

• Solid financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and pricing strategy

Ideal Candidate Profile (Preferred)

• Proven experience operating in a matrix environment, balancing local site leadership with global and regional stakeholders

• Works council experience and a strong understanding of employee relations within European frameworks

• Experience leading oral solid dose (OSD) manufacturing operations (softgel preferred), or comparable high-volume, quality-critical manufacturing environments (preferred but not essential)

• Background in industries, such as:

  • Pharmaceuticals / Life Sciences

  • Automotive / Aerospace

  • Food or FMCG manufacturing

• Experience working in GMP, quality-led, or safety-critical environments

• Strong track record of mentoring and developing leadership teams

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel up to 30% globally

• Dutch language capability preferred due to site leadership and local stakeholder engagement