Site Program Lead

Business Area: Industrial Operations & HSE Job Type: Direct Employee Contract Type: Permanent Location: Milano, IT About us 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: Discover more here We are proud to be the largest global pharmaceutical group to be awarded B Corp Certification, a recognition of high social and environmental standards. We are a reliable company that adopts and promotes a transparent and ethical behavior at all levels. We believe that the success of Chiesi is built and shaped by our people and our strong set of shared Values and Behaviors. 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. We are committed to embrace diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities. 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. 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. Purpose 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). This individual will play a key role in translating strategic objectives into executional readiness across multiple streams. 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. Main Responsibilities 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. Coordinate and align cross-functional contributors involved in each readiness stream (e.g. Engineering, Validation, HR, QA, Procurement). Ensure timely delivery of stream outputs (e.g. procedures, layouts, equipment, documentation, people readiness). 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. Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and governance routines for stream tracking and decision-making. Support or lead risk assessments, implementation planning, and problem‑solving related to GMP readiness. Represent the operational readiness function in internal meetings and report regularly to site leadership. Experience Required Minimum 8–12 years of experience in pharmaceutical operations, technical operations, or manufacturing projects. Proven experience in greenfield or brownfield site projects, tech