Transformation Director - Life Sciences (Interim)

Interim Operations Transformation Director – Consumables

Duration: 6 Months

Location: Oxford (predominantly on-site, with flexible working)

Day Rate / FTC: Competitive & DOE

We are seeking an experienced Interim Operations Transformation Director to lead a critical six-month transformation programme within the consumables division of a highly successful Oxford-based bioanalytical instrumentation scale-up. This role is focused on rapidly scaling consumables operations — including optical slides, calibrants, and reagents — by strengthening supply chain resilience, production efficiency, and quality control frameworks.

The successful candidate will be an operational leader with a strong transformation background who can stabilise current processes, implement scalable systems, and deliver immediate performance improvements to enable the next phase of growth.

Key Objectives

• Deliver a 6-month transformation roadmap focused on stabilisation, optimisation, and scalability of consumables operations.
• Rapidly assess current operational gaps and implement quick wins in supply chain, production, and quality.
• Strengthen relationships with contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) and key suppliers to improve reliability and reduce lead times.
• Introduce data-driven operational performance metrics to improve visibility and decision-making.
• Establish a robust foundation for long-term operational scalability beyond the interim period.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Transformation

• Lead a focused transformation programme across consumables manufacturing, supply chain, and quality control.
• Rapidly diagnose operational bottlenecks and execute targeted process improvements.
• Design and implement scalable systems to support increased production volumes and new product introductions.

Supply Chain & Production Optimisation

• Strengthen end-to-end supply chain strategy, improving OTIF performance, yield, and cost control.
• Manage relationships with CMOs and critical suppliers, ensuring performance KPIs are met.
• Implement robust planning and scheduling processes to balance demand and capacity effectively.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure consumables operations fully comply with relevant ISO, GMP, and regulatory standards.
• Partner with QA/RA to enhance quality systems and ensure readiness for audits and CAPAs.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Provide decisive leadership to operations, production, and supply chain teams during the transformation period.
• Act as the key operational interface at the senior leadership level, reporting on transformation progress and risks.
• Mentor and upskill team members to embed a culture of continuous improvement.

Candidate Profile

• Proven track record as an Operations Director, Site Lead, or Transformation Leader within consumables, biotech, medical devices, or similar regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading short-term transformation programmes in scaling, high-growth businesses.
• Strong expertise in supply chain optimisation, production planning, and quality management.
• Knowledge of ISO and GMP standards with experience managing audits and compliance frameworks.
• Hands-on, data-driven, and comfortable delivering rapid change while aligning with long-term strategic goals.