Director Advanced External Manufacturing

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies, or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them.

Our global team of more than 100,000 colleagues delivers an unrivalled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience, and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Location: Singapore or Malaysia
 

Position Overview

Sitting within our Global Business Services team, the Director of Contract Manufacturing Engineering – Asia plays a critical role in driving Thermo Fisher’s cost-out strategy through Contract Manufacturing partnerships across a global network of Contract Manufacturers, with primary responsibility for the Asia region.

This role works closely with R&D, Finance, Procurement, and Operations to ensure that our Contract Manufacturers deliver measurable improvements in cost efficiency, quality, scalability, and operational performance, while driving sustainable cost reduction, improved margins, and competitive advantage. The position focuses on building strong, value-driven partnerships and advancing innovation, automation, and Operational Excellence across the external manufacturing network.

This role is centered around three key pillars:

• Contract manufacturing and OEM management excellence (commercial, operations, performance, engineering)
• Operations strategy (Make/Buy; Core/non-Core)
• Co-man site operations / supply intervention

Requires international travel up to 50%, including overnight stays.

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Lead a team in the development and deployment of a scalable engagement framework focused on cost reduction, quality improvement, and risk management

• Build and maintain strong, strategic partnerships with Contract Manufacturers to drive long-term value creation and performance improvement

• Establish and drive contract manufacturing and OEM management excellence (commercial, operations, performance, engineering) across the external manufacturing network

• Define and lead operations strategy (Make/Buy; Core/non-Core), including manufacturing footprint decisions and value chain optimization

• Lead co-man site operations / supply intervention, including direct engagement at supplier sites to resolve performance issues, stabilize supply, and drive recovery actions

• Define and lead long-term strategic initiatives to drive sustainable cost reduction through innovation, automation, and Operational Excellence

• Define, track, and drive execution of cost optimization initiatives, including backlog management, key performance metrics, Approved Vendor List (AVL) governance, and value chain optimization

• Assess and adapt engagement strategies based on feedback to ensure alignment with Thermo Fisher’s operational goals

• Conduct regular performance reviews, including quarterly business reviews and on-site workshops at Contract Manufacturer locations

• Partner with Procurement and R&D to drive strategic sourcing and design changes, including supplier tiering and BOM optimization

• Develop and standardize tools, training materials, and methodologies to ensure consistent and scalable execution across Contract Manufacturers

Required Education / Experience / Skills

• 8+ years of experience in Contract Manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, or operations strategy roles, with a strong focus on cost reduction and value engineering

• Proven experience in contract manufacturing and OEM management excellence (commercial, operations, performance, engineering)

• Demonstrated experience in operations strategy (Make/Buy; Core/non-Core)

• Hands-on experience in co-man site operations / supply intervention, including supplier performance improvement and issue resolution

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field; Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred

• Strong engineering and advanced manufacturing background, including experience with automation, digitalization, and process optimization

• Proven experience in Operational Excellence (Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement) within manufacturing environments

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams in a global, matrixed environment

• Demonstrated leadership experience, including cost evaluation, financial modeling, and investment value assessment

• Strong expertise in cost analysis, financial modeling, and return on investment tracking

• Proven ability to develop and implement strategic frameworks across multiple business units

• Experience in risk management, supplier performance management, and scalable solution deployment

• Outstanding interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams

• Experience with digital manufacturing, data analytics, or Industry 4.0 solutions is a plus

Core Competencies

• Strategic Vision: Ability to translate high-level strategic goals into executable plans with measurable outcomes
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to synthesize complex data into actionable strategies
• Problem Solving: Expertise in identifying inefficiencies and implementing scalable solutions
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: A strong entrepreneurial mindset is required to build and sustain long-term, value-driven relationships with contract manufacturing partners
• Hands-on Leadership: Demonstrates a pragmatic, hands-on approach, actively engaging with teams and Contract Manufacturers to drive execution and deliver measurable results
• Collaboration & Influence: Strong ability to influence stakeholders across functions and regions
• Adaptability: Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.