Team Lead

Business Area: Industrial Operations & HSE
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Milano, IT
Based in Parma, Italy, Chiesi is an international research-focused pharmaceutical and healthcare group with over 85 years’ experience, operating in 30 countries with more than 6,000 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: We are proud to be the largest global pharmaceutical group to be awarded B Corp Certification, a recognition of high social and environmental standards. Our people make a critical difference to our success, which is why it is vital that we attract and retain the right talent who will continue to enrich our culture by living and breathing our values and behaviors.
In fact, we are a global family made up of different cultures, different genders, generations, ethnicities, abilities, sexual identities and many other enriching diversities.
Chiesi Global Manufacturing Division
Chiesi Group has three production plants:
Parma (Italy), the strategic hub for the production and distribution of our products, serving as an international supply center with exports to over 80 countries.
In 2024, a new Biotech Centre of Excellence has launched in Parma. 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.
We are looking for a Site Program Lead to support and coordinate the Operational Readiness Programs of our new pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Nerviano (Milan). The Program Lead will act as a program manager and integrator, working across functions (Production, QC, QA, Engineering, Supply Chain, IT, etc.), identifying readiness gaps, driving stream-level planning and execution, and enabling the site to transition from project to operational state in a GMP-compliant and business-ready manner.
Act as program manager for selected readiness streams, such as the creation of QC laboratories or the setup of new production departments.
Define and manage stream plans, milestones, risks, and interdependencies.
Monitor the overall progress of operational readiness activities, escalating bottlenecks and proactively proposing solutions.
Interact with technical SMEs, project managers, and business owners to ensure cross-stream alignment.
Support or lead risk assessments, implementation planning, and problem‑solving related to GMP readiness.
Minimum 8–12 years of experience in pharmaceutical operations, technical operations, or manufacturing projects.
Proven experience in greenfield or brownfield site projects, tech transfer, or operational startup environments.
Solid understanding of GMP principles, pharmaceutical quality systems, and regulatory expectations.
Experience in or close interaction with QC labs, production departments, or MS&T is highly preferred.
Background in project or program management in complex, matrixed environments.
Project management certification (e.g. Languages
Fluent English and Italian (written and spoken) is mandatory.
Knowledge of French will be considered a plus
Strong program management and organizational skills: able to track multiple workstreams and interdependencies.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills – able to engage with senior leaders and operational teams alike.
Capable of leading cross‑functional meetings, facilitating decisions, and driving alignment.
Comfortable with ambiguity and capable of working in a fast‑evolving project environment.
In Chiesi we firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, that is why we invest in continuous training, learning and development. Therefore, we strive to continuously promote and satisfy development needs, paying particular attention to the quality of our working environment and to collective well-being.
That is why we offer flexible working approach, remote working, support in the relocation process, tax assistance service for foreign colleagues and many other people‑care services.
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