Based in Parma, Italy, Chiesi is an international research-focused pharmaceutical and healthcare group with 90 years’ experience, operating in 31 countries with more than 7,000 employees (Chiesi Group). To achieve its mission of improving people’s quality of life by acting responsibly towards society and the environment, the Group researches, develops and markets innovative drugs in its main therapeutic areas: Discover more here

Chiesi Group has three production plants: Parma (Italy), the strategic hub for the production and distribution of Chiesi’s products, serving as an international supply center with exports to over 80 countries. Here, solid medicines such as tablets and dry powders for inhalers, solutions and suspensions for inhalations and sterile suspension vials for endotracheal administration are produced. In 2024, a new Biotech Centre of Excellence has launched in Parma. The new facility is dedicated to developing and producing monoclonal antibodies, enzymes and other proteins. Blois-La Chaussée Saint Victor plant (France), a center of excellence specializing in the production of Dry Powder Inhalers and Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs). The site manages direct distribution to customers in the French market and exports to other markets, effectively meeting both local and international needs. Santana de Parnaiba (Brazil), specialized in the production of pressurized solutions and suspensions for inhalation therapy (pMDIs). Additionally, it has an area dedicated to nasal sprays for the European market. Santana produces pressurised solutions and suspensions for inhalation therapy (MDI). In 2025, a new investment in Nerviano (Italy) has been announced with the construction of a new facility which will be primarily dedicated to manufacturing carbon minimal inhalers (reinforcing the company’s commitment to both patients’ health and sustainable healthcare solutions), dry powder inhalers and sterile biological products.

Following the continued growth of the company, to strengthen the Global Engineering Department, Chiesi decides to introduce the:

Head of Design and Engineering Operations

Main responsibilities

Reporting to the Global Operational Engineering and Design Senior Director, the candidate will lead the Engineering Design Leads as technical authorities, delivering best in class design activities within major strategic projects. He/she will ensure a strong point of reference for manufacturing sites in terms of reliability engineering, maintenance approaches, problem solving concerning process systems, utilities, and infrastructural areas.

Ensures seniority in all design activities related to major strategic projects, providing adequate stuffing in terms of competence and capacity management and a proper escalation governance;
Ensures through strong leadership that the technical authorities effectively support manufacturing sites in achieving maximum operational effectiveness;
Ensures the proper maintenance of industrial assets across production sites, while continuously aligning them with evolving market trends and technological advancements;
Leverages leadership and technical expertise to act as a key reference for troubleshooting and problem-solving across assigned operational domains;
Serves as the technical authority for EHS and GxP compliance aspects related to design engineering and engineering operations;
Provides leadership to ensure that the global strategic plan is effectively underpinned by robust technical solutions;
Provides leadership in the governance of Global Operational Engineering, ensuring continuous monitoring of reliability KPIs across production sites and promoting excellence in the lifecycle management of manufacturing assets.

Candidate profile

Master’s degree in mechanical or chemical engineering;
8 –12 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong track record in project management and design engineering leadership for major projects, with leadership roles in pharmaceutical engineering operations;
Strong expertise in Pharmaceutical equipments, Operational Engineering, Project Management, Plant Reliability, Troubleshooting/RCA, Good Engineering and Manufacturing Practices;
Excellent Strategic Leadership, with a focus on People Management and Talent Development;
Strong Data-Driven Decision Making skills and ability to work Cross-Culturally;
Proficient in spoken and written English.