Associate Director, Head of Human Resources, Houston

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across three continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

Due to continued business growth and expansion, and internal leadership movement, Lonza is seeking an experienced, strategic, and dynamic Associate Director, HR Partnering (HR Site Head) to lead the people agenda for our Houston site.

As the senior HR leader for the site, this individual will serve as a key member of both the Site Leadership Team and the broader global HR organization. The role is responsible for partnering with business leaders to drive organizational effectiveness, foster a high-performance culture, support transformational growth, and ensure the development of a sustainable and engaged workforce.

The Associate Director, HR Partnering will play a critical role in aligning people strategies with business priorities, influencing organizational direction, and enabling operational success within a rapidly growing and highly dynamic manufacturing environment.

As the HR leader for a 24/7 manufacturing facility, this role requires a highly visible, hands-on, and engaged onsite presence. The successful candidate will demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to provide effective HR leadership and support across the site's operational schedule while maintaining strong connections with employees and leaders at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the Site Head and Site Leadership Team.

• Build collaborative and effective partnerships with site leadership, internal stakeholders, the SPM HR Strategic Partner, and the global HR network.

• Develop and execute short- and long-term HR strategies aligned with business objectives and the Houston site vision.

• Translate business strategy into actionable people priorities and execution plans that drive organizational performance.

• Challenge and influence leaders to continuously improve organizational effectiveness, team performance, and talent development.

• Lead organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent management initiatives.

• Drive all people-related aspects of business transformation, growth, and change management programs.

• Provide strategic HR guidance that mitigates business risk while fostering positive employee relations.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable employment laws, regulations, and company policies.

• Develop and implement employee engagement strategies that strengthen culture, improve engagement outcomes, and enhance workforce experience.

• Build and sustain robust talent pipelines to meet current and future business needs in a highly competitive talent market.

• Deliver global HR initiatives while achieving site-specific people and business objectives.

• Leverage workforce data, analytics, and metrics to assess effectiveness, identify trends, and inform decision-making.

• Serve as a critical link between operational teams and senior leadership, ensuring alignment across business priorities.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Psychology, or a related field. Master's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related discipline preferred

• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including leading a broad HR function as part of a senior leadership team.

• Experience within a CDMO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or advanced manufacturing environment.

• Proven success partnering with senior business leaders to develop and execute people strategies that drive business results.

• Strong expertise in employment law, compensation, organizational development, workforce planning, employee relations, talent management, safety, training, and labor relations.

• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and business transformation initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams and drive cultural transformation in complex organizations.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

• High degree of integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.

Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including the successful candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and job-related knowledge. Full-time employees receive a comprehensive benefits package including performance-related bonus, medical and dental coverage, 401k plan, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off (PTO), and more.

Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.