Job Information
Kelly Services Technical Director - OTC Manufacturing in Royston, Georgia
Director, Technical Operations
Seeking a hands-on Technical Operations leader from pharmaceutical or OTC manufacturing environments with strong experience supporting GMP production, equipment optimization, and process validation.
Location: Royston, GA (Onsite)
Compensation: $150K–$175K
Overview
A growing pharmaceutical manufacturing organization is seeking a Director of Technical Operations to lead plant-facing engineering and technical activities across manufacturing, validation, and technology transfer. This role is responsible for driving process engineering, equipment optimization, and continuous improvement within a cGMP-regulated environment supporting a diverse portfolio including OTC, Rx, medical devices, and consumer products .
This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong mechanical and process engineering expertise with direct impact on manufacturing performance and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering & Technical Leadership
Lead process engineering, technical operations, and validation teams supporting manufacturing and packaging
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on equipment performance, process efficiency, and throughput
Serve as the technical authority for manufacturing operations and engineering activities
Equipment & Manufacturing Operations
Oversee design, installation, qualification, and optimization of manufacturing and packaging equipment and production lines
Ensure equipment and processes are operating at optimal efficiency, reliability, and compliance
Support new product introductions with strong engineering and operational readiness
Technology Transfer & Scale-Up
Lead end-to-end tech transfer of products into GMP manufacturing environments
Oversee feasibility, scale-up, validation, and commercial readiness activities
Ensure smooth integration of new products into existing production lines
Process Optimization & Problem Solving
Lead root cause investigations , deviation management, and CAPA implementation
Utilize data, trending, and statistical tools to improve process capability and reduce variability
Drive process robustness and manufacturing consistency
Validation & Compliance
Oversee execution of process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), cleaning validation, and continued process verification
Ensure all engineering and technical operations comply with cGMP, FDA, and global regulatory requirements
Support regulatory inspections as a technical SME
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment and execution
Collaborate with external clients on tech transfer and manufacturing support activities
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field (Mechanical strongly preferred)
10–15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, OTC, or consumer product manufacturing
Strong background in:
Process engineering and equipment optimization
Technology transfer and scale-up
Process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Proven leadership experience managing plant-facing technical or engineering teams
Deep knowledge of cGMP, FDA, and regulatory compliance requirements
Experience in OTC or high-volume manufacturing environments strongly preferred
Background in CDMO or contract manufacturing environments is a plus
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