Production Manager

Production Manager

Position Summary:

• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, core hours 8:00am-4:30pm
• 100% on-site (San Diego)

Catalent, Inc. is a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), and Our purpose-built San Diego location provides comprehensive clinical supply services including clinical supply management, primary and secondary packaging, complex labeling services, clinical storage, distribution, and clinical returns and destruction, and will also include stability chambers. Located less than a mile from Catalent’s West Coast early-phase oral drug product development center of excellence, customers choosing this convenient Catalent location can now enjoy a fully integrated development, clinical supply manufacturing and distribution solution.

Catalent Pharma Solutions in San Diego is hiring a Production Manager to lead the day‑to‑day operations of the Clinical Production team. This role oversees primary and secondary packaging and labeling activities in support of clinical trials and commercial products. The Production Manager ensures all work is completed efficiently, safely, and in alignment with cGMP, SOPs, and applicable regulatory requirements. This position leverages deep knowledge of packaging, clinical operations, and internal Catalent processes to drive operational performance and positively impact SQDC metrics.

Reporting directly to the Director of Operations/Site Lead, this individual is responsible for all GMP activities and the leadership, development, and performance of production associates.

The Role:

• Schedule Production, Pre‑Production, and Label Control staff to ensure proper coverage, productivity, and cost‑effective operations.
• Oversee daily production activities, resolving issues with QA, internal stakeholders, and external clients as needed.
• Execute and manage the production and packaging schedule, ensuring on‑time starts, deliveries, and adherence to line standards.
• Adjust departmental plans and resource allocations to address operational challenges and meet business needs.
• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports through routine 1:1s, performance reviews, and growth-focused feedback.
• Foster a collaborative team environment and resolve packaging issues in alignment with Quality and cross‑functional partners.
• Maintain a safe workplace by identifying, investigating, and improving safety concerns and supporting EHS program participation.
• Ensure training compliance for Production staff, including GMP, HR, and Safety.
• Lead or support investigations (discrepancies, deviations, complaints), perform root cause analysis, and oversee CAPA activities.
• Ensure accurate procedures, shift communication, operational metrics, and continuous improvement participation to support safe, compliant, high‑quality outputs.
• All other duties as assigned

The Candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering discipline preferred.
• Minimum of five years of people management experience.
• At least ten years of relevant industry experience required; clinical or pharmaceutical packaging preferred.
• Demonstrable leadership experience at Catalent (including but not limited to participation in Catalent-sponsored leadership programs such as NGGL, GOLD, LEAD Now, GM Excellence, and GROW) may be considered in place of external experience.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to manage performance, resolve team challenges, foster collaboration, and effectively interact with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders; able to present information clearly with excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to plan and independently execute multiple projects under tight or emergent deadlines; demonstrates a bias toward action, drives improvement, and is proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Role requires extensive computer use, writing, phone and in‑person communication, and the ability to work extended shifts or overtime; must accurately perceive speech and perform repetitive keyboarding tasks while sitting, standing, or walking for prolonged periods.
• Ability to work for extended periods in GMP environments (controlled room temp, refrigerated, and freezer areas), walk production areas as needed, and operate a manual pallet jack; may also be licensed to operate Powered Industrial Truck lifts.

The anticipated salary range for this role in California is $110,000 to $120,000 annually. The final salary offered to a successful candidate may vary, and will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to: the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, skillset, education, business needs, etc.  Catalent is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.

Why you should join Catalent:

• Awesome employee activities: Movie Day, Monthly Birthday Celebrations, Friday Bagel Breakfast, On-site Fitness Center with machines, on-site yoga classes, Sponsored Sports Teams, and several other company-sponsored events that encourages positive employee comradery, which contributes to effectively building positive employee relationships, overall creating a positive work environment.
• Environmentally friendly green initiatives with on-site practices as well as regularly participating in Beach Clean-up activities for community engagement.
• Defined career path and annual performance review and feedback process. Potential for career growth on an expanding team within an organization dedicated to preserving and bettering lives.  
• Several Employee Resource Groups focusing on Diversity and Inclusion.
• Competitive salary with bonus potential. Generous 401K match and Paid Time Off accrual. Medical, dental and vision benefits effective day one of employment. 
• 152 hours of PTO + 10 paid holidays.
• Positive and fast-paced working environment focusing on continually improving processes to remain innovative and dynamic.
• Tuition Reimbursement – Let us help you finish your degree or earn a new one!
• WellHub program to promote overall physical wellness.
• Perkspot - offers exclusive or private discounts from approximately 900+ merchants in a wide array of categories.

Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career!  Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference. 

personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.

Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.

Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to [email protected]. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.

Important Security Notice to U.S. Job Seekers:

Catalent NEVER asks candidates to provide any type of payment, bank details, photocopies of identification, social security number or other highly sensitive personal information during the offer process, and we NEVER do so via email or social media. If you receive any such request, DO NOT respond— it is a fraudulent request. Please forward such requests to [email protected] for us to investigate with local authorities.

California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE.