The Role
Plans and maintains pharmaceutical production schedules, coordinates manufacturing resources, monitors schedule adherence, and manages operational disruptions. Collaborates with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Warehouse, and Engineering teams. Supports manufacturing systems, electronic batch records, data integrity, audits, deviations, CAPA, change control, root-cause investigations, business continuity, and continuous improvement while ensuring GMP and HSE compliance.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Description Summary
We are looking for a highly motivated Operational Scheduler to support manufacturing operations through effective production planning, scheduling, resource coordination, and operational execution.In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring that production activities are optimally scheduled, resources are efficiently utilized, and manufacturing commitments are delivered safely, compliantly, and on time. You will work closely with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Manufacturing Support teams to balance operational priorities and maximize plant performance.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning & Scheduling
- Develop and maintain short- and medium-term production schedules aligned with business priorities and customer demand.
- Review manufacturing plans and identify capacity constraints, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Coordinate production activities to ensure optimal utilization of personnel, equipment, and materials.
- Monitor schedule adherence and proactively manage deviations and operational disruptions.
- Support launch activities and production campaigns to ensure timely execution.
Operational Coordination
- Act as the main point of coordination between Production, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Quality, and Engineering functions.
- Facilitate daily operational planning meetings and communicate schedule changes to stakeholders.
- Ensure production resources are allocated effectively to support manufacturing requirements.
- Support business continuity planning and operational readiness.
Process & Manufacturing Support
- Provide operational support for manufacturing processes and production execution.
- Participate in troubleshooting activities, root cause investigations, and CAPA implementation.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, efficiency, and schedule reliability.
- Support technology transfers and implementation of new manufacturing processes when required.
Manufacturing Systems & Data Management
- Maintain production planning and scheduling data within S4HANA/MES systems.
- Support development and optimization of Electronic Batch Records (EBR) and manufacturing workflows.
- Ensure compliance with Data Integrity, CSV, and digital manufacturing requirements.
- Generate and analyze performance reports to support decision-making.
Compliance & Quality
- Ensure all planning and scheduling activities comply with GMP, HSE, and company requirements.
- Support inspection and audit readiness.
- Participate in deviation investigations and change control activities.
- Ensure timely escalation of quality, compliance, and supply-related risks.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Schedule adherence
- Production plan attainment
- Batch success rate
- On-time manufacturing execution
- Plant KPI achievement (PSP, TPT, OTOR, BOMA, ROA)
- Capacity utilization
- Inventory optimization
- Internal and external audit success
- Continuous improvement implementation
- Business continuity effectiveness
What You'll Bring
Required Experience
- Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, production planning, or manufacturing operations.
- Experience working in GMP-regulated environments.
- Strong understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning, and operational execution.
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives.
Technical Skills
- Production Planning & Scheduling
- Manufacturing Operations
- Capacity Planning
- GMP & Quality Systems
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
- CAPA Management
- Change Control
- Risk Management
- Lean Manufacturing
- Six Sigma
- Process Improvement
- Manufacturing Systems (MES/ERP)
- Data Integrity
- Supply Chain Coordination
- Production Performance Analysis
Leadership & Behavioral Skills
- Analytical Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Stakeholder Management
- Communication Skills
- Prioritization & Decision Making
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Continuous Improvement Mindset
- Project Coordination
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.
Languages
- English (Professional Working Proficiency)
Skills Desired
Data AnalyticsSkills Required
- Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, production planning, or manufacturing operations
- Experience working in GMP-regulated environments
- Understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning, and operational execution
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment
- Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives
- Production planning and scheduling skills
- Manufacturing operations knowledge
- Capacity planning experience
- GMP and quality systems knowledge
- Root cause analysis experience
- CAPA management experience
- Change control experience
- Risk management knowledge
- Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma knowledge
- Process improvement experience
- MES or ERP manufacturing systems experience
- Data integrity knowledge
- Supply chain coordination experience
- Production performance analysis skills
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline
- Professional working proficiency in English
Novartis Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Novartis and has not been reviewed or approved by Novartis.
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Healthcare Strength — Pay and benefits are described as a strong overall package, supported by medical, dental, and vision insurance alongside FSAs/HSAs and disability and life coverage. Mental-health support is reinforced through an employee assistance program with psychological support and a network of mental health first aiders.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout element, with an automatic company contribution plus dollar-for-dollar matching in the 401(k). Additional retirement funding is described through an age-based defined contribution program and access to an employee share purchase plan discount.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-related benefits are framed as robust, including a global minimum of paid parental leave for new parents following birth or adoption. Added supports include domestic partner coverage, dependent-care resources, and benefits such as adoption assistance and child/elder care options.
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The Company
What We Do
Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, working to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.
