Site Head

Job Title: Site Head / Head of Site Operations

Location: Mumbai, India

Industry: Life Sciences / Pharmaceutical Services / CRO

Reporting to: Regional / APAC Leadership

Job Overview

A global life sciences services organisation is seeking an experienced Site Head to lead end-to-end operations of its Mumbai site. This individual will be fully accountable for operational excellence, regulatory compliance, financial performance, people leadership, and strategic growth of the site.

The successful candidate will act as the primary site leader and key point of contact for regional and global stakeholders, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and customer delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

Site Leadership & Strategy

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for site operations, ensuring alignment with regional and global objectives.
• Act as the legal and operational representative of the site, serving as the primary escalation point for internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee day-to-day site operations including laboratory services, technical operations, quality, supply chain, and support functions.
• Ensure on-time delivery of services while meeting cost, productivity, and performance targets.
• Implement and monitor KPIs to track site performance and operational effectiveness.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with global and local regulatory requirements (e.g., GLP, GMP, ISO, AAALAC, CPCSEA, CDSCO, and other applicable standards).
• Lead regulatory inspections, client audits, and internal quality audits.
• Foster a strong culture of quality, data integrity, and ethical conduct across the site.

People & Culture

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary leadership team and broader workforce.
• Build a high-performance culture with strong focus on safety, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Partner with HR on workforce planning, succession planning, talent development, and retention strategies.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

• Own site P&L, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Drive revenue growth through operational scalability, capacity planning, and collaboration with commercial teams.
• Support client engagement, technical discussions, and resolution of complex customer issues.

Safety, Health & Environment (EHS)

• Ensure a safe working environment with strong adherence to EHS standards and biosafety practices.
• Champion site safety programs and proactive risk management.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Veterinary Sciences, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience within life sciences, CRO, pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated laboratory environments.
• Proven experience leading large, complex operations or laboratory sites with multi-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and quality systems in regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, P&L, and operational performance.
• Experience working within a global or matrix organisation is highly preferred.

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership and decision-making
• Operational and financial acumen
• Deep quality and compliance mindset
• Strong stakeholder and client management skills
• Change management and continuous improvement
• Excellent communication and people leadership skills

What’s Offered

• Opportunity to lead a strategically important site within a global life sciences organization
• High-impact leadership role with regional and global exposure
• Competitive compensation package with long-term growth opportunities