Site Utility Lead

Summary

#LI-Onsite

Location: Durham, NC

***The Site Utility Lead is an Associate Director level role***

If you’re energized by owning the systems that keep a manufacturing campus safe, reliable, and ready for what’s next—this is your opportunity to lead from the front. As the Site Utility Lead, you will lead a site‑based team of utility and electrical engineers and technicians supporting continuous operations across a two‑site manufacturing campus, with accountability for the reliable operation, integration, improvement, and lifecycle planning of critical building and utility infrastructure. You will partner across engineering, quality, validation, and operations to enable day‑to‑day performance and future growth through capital project support, disciplined change control, corrective and preventive actions, inspection readiness, and clear key performance indicator‑driven improvements—while helping advance site decarbonization initiatives aligned with Novartis sustainability goals.

About the Role

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor utility and electrical engineers and technicians supporting round-the-clock manufacturing operations.
• Ensure reliable, efficient operation of building and utility infrastructure across a two-site manufacturing campus.
• Plan and deliver utilities support for current and future capital projects and site objectives.
• Coordinate site shutdowns, repairs, and small infrastructure projects to minimize operational disruption.
• Optimize resource sharing across sites to maximize capability and reduce total operating costs.
• Manage external service providers, ensuring training, qualification, and safe execution of contracted work.
• Lead site decarbonization initiatives aligned to Novartis sustainability goals.
• Define, monitor, and improve facility and utility key performance indicators; present regular performance and budget reports.
• Own change control and corrective and preventive actions for assigned systems; lead deviation investigations as needed.
• Represent utilities engineering during regulatory audits, ensuring maintenance readiness and technical support for inspection responses.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in regulated biotechnology or biopharmaceutical manufacturing environments.
• 3+ years of demonstrated people leadership experience, preferably in site or utilities engineering functions.
• Strong knowledge of health, safety, and environmental regulations and current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements.
• Proven ability to lead through complex, high‑pressure situations with sound judgment and structured decision‑making.
• Demonstrated success collaborating across quality, validation, operations, and engineering teams in fast‑paced settings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation and leadership‑level presentations.
• Proficiency using standard office software, building management systems, and computerized maintenance management systems.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience leading site sustainability or decarbonization initiatives in an industrial or regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting utilities and infrastructure for continuous operations across multi‑building or multi‑site manufacturing campuses.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $138,600 and $257,400 per year.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors. Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

Company will not sponsor visas for this position.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.