Senior Director - Operations

Bring more to life. 

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?  

At Cytiva, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.   

You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life. 

Working at Cytiva means being at the forefront of providing new solutions to transform human health. Our incredible customers undertake life-saving activities ranging from fundamental biological research to developing innovative vaccines, new medicines, and cell and gene therapies.  

At Cytiva you will be able to continuously improve yourself and us – working on challenges that truly matter with people that care for each other, our customers, and their patients. Take your next step to an altogether life-changing career. 

Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible. 

You would be joining a multi-billion-dollar global leader in biotechnology as the Senior Director - Operations in Muskegon, which is a pivotal role within Cytiva’s Biotechnology Group. This is a rare opportunity to lead the establishment and future operations of a state-of-the-art chromatography resin manufacturing site in Muskegon, Michigan—the largest capital investment in Cytiva and Danaher’s history, co-funded by the U.S. government through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The work arrangement for this role is onsite in Muskegon.

Becoming the head of this flagship site, you will have full accountability for delivering and finalizing an advanced, multi-phase project that will enable multi-site manufacturing of Cytiva’s chromatography resins—critical components used in global biopharmaceutical research and industrial protein purification. The Muskegon site will operate in parallel with Cytiva’s established facility in Uppsala, Sweden, ensuring enhanced security of supply for customers worldwide. 

As a key member of the Resins & Technologies (R&T) Operations leadership team, you will report directly to the VP Operations R&T to play a critical role in shaping the future of chromatography technology globally. With a footprint spanning Sweden, Denmark, the UK, and the U.S., and a team of over 1,000 associates, R&T is a cornerstone of Danaher’s mission to advance the frontiers of science and improve human health. 

This is more than a leadership role—it’s a chance to leave a lasting legacy in the life sciences industry. 

What you will do: 

• Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day guidance to a diverse team of managers and project leaders. Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvements. Strengthen the local leadership team in Muskegon while championing the Danaher culture and values, ensuring a smooth cultural integration that respects and retains the unique spirit of the Muskegon site. 

• Oversee Operational Execution Across Project Workstreams Manage the daily operations of multiple, advanced project workstreams. Ensure that team efforts are aligned with overall project goals and timelines. Proactively identify risks, remove roadblocks, and adjust priorities to maintain momentum and deliver results on schedule. 

• Drive Clear, Transparent, and Cross-Functional Communication Establish and maintain open lines of communication across local and global teams. Use visual and structured communication methods to ensure clarity and alignment across geographies, functions, and stakeholders. Promote a culture of openness and shared understanding. 

• Serve as the U.S. Integration Lead for Global Project Deliverables  Act as the primary point of accountability for receiving and integrating project deliverables from Sweden. Align activities and priorities with global counterparts and leadership teams to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities and knowledge transfer between sites. 

• Lead Collaboration with External Design and Build Partners Ensure good relationship with key third-party partners responsible for design and build. Be the escalation point and strive to find efficient countermeasures and foster a collaborative solution-oriented environment.

• Monitor Performance and Ensure Regulatory Compliance Define, track, and analyze key performance indicators to assess operational effectiveness by setting a strong foundation and identify areas for improvements. Ensure all activities comply with relevant industry regulations, legal standards, and internal company policies, maintaining a strong focus on safety and quality.  

• Contribute to Strategic Planning and Organizational Leadership Play an active role in the R&T leadership team, contributing to long-term strategic planning with a global site master plan risk management, budgeting, and talent development. Represent the business unit in executive reviews, customer meetings, and other high-level forums requiring senior leadership engagement.

 

Who you are:  

• Educational Background A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical field is required. A secondary degree in Business Administration or a related discipline is strongly preferred to support both operational and strategic leadership responsibilities. 

• Senior Leadership and Global Project Experience Minimum 10 years of experience in a senior management or general leadership role, ideally with exposure to global project management and/or large-scale capital investment initiatives. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver results in complex, high-stakes environments. 

• Strategic Thinking and Decisive Problem Solving Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to navigate complex administrative and compliance landscapes. Demonstrates a pragmatic, solutions-oriented mindset and is comfortable making tough decisions when necessary. 

• Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement A track record of running a production unit, implementing continuous improvement initiatives and structured problem-solving approaches. Experience driving operational efficiency and fostering a culture of accountability and performance. Being the person who dares to raise their hand when help is needed. 

• Exceptional Communication and Leadership Presence Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with a preference for face-to-face engagement over digital communication. Able to build trust, influence stakeholders, and lead through collaboration and clarity. 

• Change Leadership and Agility in Dynamic Environments Demonstrated ability to lead teams through change, manage ambiguity, and maintain focus on key priorities. Brings energy, resilience, and a growth mindset to drive transformation in a dynamic environment.

• Business Acumen and Customer-Centric Approach Strong commercial awareness and the ability to translate technical capabilities into customer value. Adept at building strategic relationships, understanding customer needs, and aligning team efforts to deliver impactful solutions. Comfortable operating in a matrixed, global organization.

 

Travel, Motor Vehicle Record & Physical/Environment Requirements: 

• Ability to travel approximately 25% domestically and internationally

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in: 

• Experience from the bioprocess industry 

• Experience working in a global production environment 

• Experience working with finance close to production

 

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Cytiva, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it’s a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job. Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info. 

The annual salary range for this role is $225,000 - $260,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

This job is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay. 

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees. 

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.  

Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

For more information, visit www.danaher.com.

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