Head of Global Operations Strategy (m/f/d)

Job Description

we are committed to saving and improving lives by unlocking the power of the immune system.

Our commercial product portfolio includes market-leading vaccines against smallpox, mpox, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, typhoid fever, and cholera, and we have exciting product launches coming up. We excel in R&D innovation, manufacturing, and commercialization, striving to improve health and quality of life for people worldwide, protecting our tomorrow.

Join us in our mission to make a difference.

We are one of the largest pure-play vaccine companies and are on an exciting growth journey across the commercial portfolio, with key product launches coming up.

We are building a Global Supply Chain and Strategy organization and seeking a Head of Global Operations Strategy to join the team.

We are looking for a visionary and inspiring leader to lead the development of the manufacturing and supply network strategy across global operations and drive its implementation. This role will lead the annual long-range strategic planning exercise across all products and be accountable for cross-product operations strategy development and its deployment. Additionally, the role will be the Global Operations lead on business development projects and accountable for driving appropriate results, integration, and alliance management.

This senior leadership position reports to the VP, Head of Global Supply Chain and Strategy, and will be part of the Global Supply Chain and Strategy Leadership Team.

The position can be located in Germany, Denmark or Switzerland.


As Head of Global Operations Strategy, you are responsible for developing and executing the global manufacturing and supply network strategy, including long-range forecasting and network modeling to meet future demand for vaccines and new product introductions. You will lead the capacity planning and Capex strategies to address potential shortages or over-capacities while driving economic assessments, sourcing decisions, and cost evolution. You oversee cross-product strategies and collaborate with Finance on strategic investments to support the product portfolio. You will manage business development projects, integrations, divestments, and partner alliances.

Additionally, you will:

  • Liaise with Global Supply Chain to align long-term modeling with short-term planning and ensure smooth network transitions.

  • Drive workforce planning to support strategic goals and operational execution.

  • Lead initiatives to optimize manufacturing processes and realize economies of scale.


  • You hold a master's degree in relevant fields e.g. Sciences, Economics, Finance, Engineering. Maybe spiced with an MBA. You have experience from a strategic Operations setup within pharma/biopharma and experience in shaping operations strategy globally. Understanding the vaccine business and environment is a plus.
  • Influencing: Demonstrates clear leadership and the ability to influence and persuade. Develops influential relationships with internal and external customers, suppliers and partners at senior management level, including industry leaders. Makes decisions that impact the work of employing organizations, achievement of organizational objectives, and financial performance.

  • Business and Technical Acuity: Inherent discernment and executive communication skills with an in-depth understanding, and experience with pharma/biopharma/vaccines operations and strategy, as well as commercial business acumen. Absorbs complex operations information and communicates optimal at all levels to operations and non-operations audiences. Assesses and evaluates risk. A strong desire to learn and expand one's leadership skills.

  • Analytical Thinking: Acquiring a proper understanding of a problem or situation by systematically breaking it down into its parts and identifying the relationships between these parts, selecting the appropriate method/tool to resolve the problem, and reflecting on the outcome so that insights are identified and internalized.

  • Complexity: Ability to handle complex business problems, step back, analyze, and develop breakthrough strategies. Creatively applies a wide range of strategic and management principles. Ability to multi-task and switch between tasks quickly and smoothly.

  • Excellent written and spoken command of English is a must; you have the ability to draft Senior Executives-ready business cases in English.

  • High level of personal energy and self-motivation with an ability to energize others.


  • As the Head of Global Operations Strategy, you will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact, driving strategic decisions that shape the future of Bavarian Nordic's Global Operations.
  • You will be part of an international company with unique technology and a dedicated workforce.
  • We welcome people who share our passion and willingness to make a difference.
  • We offer a dynamic and flexible work environment and the opportunity to develop your personal and academic competencies.
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