Director Master Data and Systems
Location: Bornem (Belgium) or Colmar (France) or Greenwood (US) or Rewari/ Gurugram (India) or Puebla (Mexico)
The Director, Master Data and Systems is responsible for defining and executing the global Master Data strategy for CHI Supply Chain, ensuring high-quality, standardized, and governed data that enables operational excellence, digital transformation, and data-driven decision-making across the enterprise.
As the functional leader for Master Data, Analytics, Governance, and Systems within Supply Chain, the role establishes the long-term vision, operating model, governance framework, and capabilities required to support business growth and evolving customer needs.
The position drives the transformation of data management practices by identifying capability gaps, prioritizing strategic initiatives, and delivering sustainable solutions that enhance supply chain performance and business outcomes. Working closely with Supply Chain, Commercial, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, and IT leaders, the position translates business requirements into scalable data and system solutions, drives adoption of global standards, and embeds a culture of data ownership, governance, and continuous improvement. A critical component of the role is ensuring operational readiness as the business moves into a standalone environment, including system implementations, carve-outs, acquisitions, and operating model changes. The position is accountable for establishing independent Master Data, Analytics, and Systems capabilities that enable a successful transition to a standalone Shared Services operating model while ensuring uninterrupted business continuity.
What you will get:
- An agile career and dynamic working culture
- An inclusive and ethical workplace
- Compensation programs that recognize high performance
- A variety of benefits dependent on role and location
- The full list of our global benefits can be also found on https://www.lonza.com/careers/benefits.
What you will do:
Master Data Strategy & Governance
- Provide enterprise design authority for SAP Master Data structures, standards, governance processes, and data architecture decisions to ensure alignment with business strategy, reporting requirements, and operational excellence.
Data Quality, Lifecycle Management and change management
- Develop and maintain analytics, dashboards, KPIs, and performance reporting to provide transparency on data quality, governance compliance, operational effectiveness and business risk.
- Monitor and execute on the change request process regarding global master data objects
Organizational Build-Out & Shared Services Transformation
- Design, build, and operationalize a standalone global Master Data and Service organization capable of supporting all CHI Business Units independently.
- Define the target operating model, organizational structure, service delivery framework, and resource strategy required to support standalone readiness and long-term operational sustainability.
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, and capability development to establish a high-performing global organization with the appropriate mix of internal and external resources.
- Drive knowledge transfer and transition activities from incumbent organizations and service providers to ensure business continuity and minimize operational risk.
- Establish and manage Shared Service Center operating principles, service catalogs, SLAs, KPIs, escalation mechanisms, and governance processes with CHI Business Units.
- Define global service coverage models, working hours, time-zone strategies, and support structures to ensure effective service delivery across all regions.
- Develop training, competency, and succession frameworks to build sustainable organizational capability and reduce dependency on legacy support structures.
- Ensure successful cutover readiness into a standalone company and execution for all Master Data, Analytics, Governance, SAP roles and finance applications, while achieving full operational independence within agreed transition timelines.
Continuous Improvement & Compliance
- Lead audit and assessment programs to identify risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across processes, systems, and ways of working.
- Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and governance standards.
Organization Leadership
- Lead the Master Data organization and associated external service providers.
- Build talent, capabilities, and a culture of data-driven decision-making.
- Ensure alignment of priorities, resources, and performance across the global team.
What we are looking for:
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Data Management, or a related field.
- 10+ years of relevant experience in Master Data Management, Data Governance and Supply Chain.
- Deep technical/functional experience with SAP Master Data structures, data architecture, and ERP implementations.
- Demonstrated expertise in defining data quality KPIs, change control processes and reporting dashboards.
- Analytical skills and leadership skills to combine the management of a big team with the project based activities.
- Fluency in English (spoken and written).
- Proactive mindset
- Self-starter & Decision-maker
- Autonomous Leadership
Strong plus:
- Proven track record of managing large global teams, including external vendors and Shared Service Centers (preferably also in India).
- Hands-on experience leading organizational carve-outs, legacy transitions, or building standalone Shared Services.
About Lonza
At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.
Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.
Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.