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Global Sustainability Manager - Pharma Technical Operations

Roche • Switzerland • Added on Jul 14, 2026
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As the global lead for Pharma Technical Operations, you will steer the energy and resource transformation across a massive international manufacturing network. You are responsible for designing the network standards that will drive decarbonization, water stewardship, and circularity, while providing technical governance for high-stakes capital investments. Your work involves translating high-level corporate environmental targets into concrete engineering roadmaps and scalable technical solutions across diverse global sites.

This role is a high-impact lever for Roche’s goal to halve its total environmental footprint. Because you oversee technical operations, your decisions directly influence the energy intensity and resource efficiency of producing life-saving medicines. You will be at the forefront of eliminating harmful refrigerants and standardizing state-of-the-art green technologies in a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.

This suits someone who is a seasoned engineering or manufacturing leader with a background in biotech, possessing the strategic gravitas to influence global stakeholders and the technical depth to solve unprecedented infrastructure challenges.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to serve as the global technical authority for sustainability within Pharma Technical Operations (PT). You will be accountable for the Eco-balance Action Plans (EAP) across the global network, ensuring that each site meets the corporate ambition to reduce environmental impact by half through standardized technical engineering and operational excellence. Day-to-day, you will govern the Zero GHG emissions program for the Pharma division, defining engineering standards for HVAC, building automation, and energy management. You are tasked with maintaining a consolidated roadmap for site modernization, ensuring that investments align with long-term climate targets and circular economy principles. Beyond technical governance, you will lead the global Community of Practice for energy and water. This involves fostering knowledge sharing across diverse geography and ensuring that all sites are equipped with the skills and data-driven insights needed to manage complex resource conservation projects.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep exposure to how industrial sustainability scales within one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. You will learn to navigate the intersection of strict regulatory requirements (like K6 directives) and aggressive environmental targets, providing a masterclass in change management within a science-led organization. There are significant opportunities to deepen your expertise in next-generation manufacturing technologies, from decarbonized heating and cooling systems to circular water systems. You will also develop a sophisticated understanding of corporate ESG governance and how to align global investment portfolios with Science Based Targets (SBTi).

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate is a recognized expert with at least 12 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or SHE, preferably within the biotech or chemical sectors. A background in mechanical engineering or science is crucial, particularly if it includes hands-on experience with building automation, HVAC, or large-scale energy management systems. Beyond technical skills, Roche is looking for a strategic influencer. You must be comfortable bringing together stakeholders with diverse perspectives to reach a consensus on complex technical roadmaps. Proficiency in English is a must, while German language skills are a valuable asset for navigating the corporate headquarters in Basel.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, move beyond general sustainability talk and focus on your technical engineering achievements in a manufacturing context. Highlight specific instances where you successfully managed capital-intensive projects or transitioned industrial facilities to more efficient energy or water systems. Evidence of your ability to standardize processes across multiple locations will be highly valued. Showcase your systems thinking capabilities. roche values candidates who understand how one technical change in utility management affects the overall biotech production robustness. Aligning your application with their commitment to 'Personalised Healthcare' by showing how operational sustainability supports patient access and long-term pharmaceutical resilience is key.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The focus is heavily weighted toward environmental operations and engineering. Specifically, you will be the driving force behind the race to zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, focusing on the decarbonization of heat and electricity within the manufacturing footprint. You will also tackle resource circularity and water stewardship, ensuring that the Pharma Technical network moves away from linear consumption. Another critical focus is the elimination of halogenated hydrocarbons, ensuring compliance with environmental directives while modernizing the infrastructure that supports drug manufacturing.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

A primary challenge will be the alignment of global sites that may be at different stages of their sustainability journey. Balancing the urgent need for decarbonization with the unrelenting requirement for manufacturing stability and product quality in a regulated environment requires constant negotiation and technical foresight. You may also face challenges related to prioritizing capital investments across the network. Navigating the business case development for new, sometimes unproven, green technologies and ensuring they provide real value across various socioeconomic and geographic contexts will demand high levels of resilience and analytical rigor.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a global governance call to review the portfolio status of site-level Eco-balance Action Plans. You might then transition to a deep-dive technical session with the Engineering and MSAT teams to define a new network standard for energy-efficient cleanroom systems. Afternoons are often spent in consultative roles, advising Group SHE on goal setting or working with procurement on the lifecycle management of sustainable technologies. You will likely spend time facilitating the global Community of Practice, acting as a mentor and focal point for energy and water experts across various Roche locations.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This is a high-visibility global role that serves as a platform for executive leadership within Engineering, Operations, or Sustainability. By governing a massive investment portfolio and driving strategic transformation, you demonstrate capabilities needed for senior leadership positions in technical functions. Furthermore, the role offers the chance to lead pioneering industry benchmarks. Success here can position you as a thought leader in the broader pharmaceutical and biotech sustainability space, often leading to invitations to contribute to external global industry groups and executive-level sustainability committees.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact frequently with Group SHE and senior leadership within Pharma Technical (PT) to align on strategic vision. You are a key partner for site-level engineering and manufacturing teams, providing them with the standards and oversight needed for local implementation. Externally, you will engage with technology providers and industry benchmarking organizations to stay ahead of technical trends. Internally, you will also collaborate with finance and investment committees to secure funding for the green modernization of the manufacturing network.

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