Head of CAPEX 80-100% (m/f/d) — Lonza

Full description

Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates and their families, if needed.

Join us as Head of CAPEX 80-100% (m/f/d) in Visp and take ownership of the site's entire capital investment portfolio. In this key leadership role, you will drive the planning, governance, and execution of strategic investment projects, leading multidisciplinary teams and ensuring the successful delivery of complex engineering and infrastructure programs that enable future growth.

The Head of CAPEX holds full operational and financial responsibility for Visp's CAPEX portfolio, overseeing projects from concept development through engineering, construction, commissioning, qualification, and handover to operations. You will ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in compliance with GMP and quality standards, while shaping the site's mid- and long-term investment strategy. Acting as a key interface between Engineering, Production, Quality, and Corporate Capital Management, you will play a critical role in transforming strategic investments into operational reality.

What you’ll get

• An agile career and dynamic working culture
• An inclusive and ethical workplace
• Compensation programs that recognize high performance
• In addition to a competitive salary, you can expect numerous lifestyle, family, and leisure benefits. Our full list of tailored local benefits in Visp can be found on: Benefits - Visp

What you’ll do

• Lead and oversee the full Visp CAPEX portfolio (CHF 15–40M p.a.), ensuring projects are prioritized, resourced, and delivered in line with strategic business objectives.
• Provide leadership and development for a team of project managers and engineering professionals, fostering project management excellence and scalable delivery capabilities.
• Own investment planning and CAPEX budgeting, preparing recommendations and business cases for Site Leadership and senior stakeholders.
• Ensure the successful execution of projects from concept through commissioning and qualification, delivering on safety, quality, schedule, budget, and GMP compliance requirements.
• Act as the primary interface between Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, Procurement, and Global Functions, aligning stakeholders and driving portfolio performance.
• Manage external engineering partners, contractors, and suppliers, including contract management, commercial negotiations, and claims resolution.
• Drive continuous improvement of engineering and investment strategies, identifying opportunities to optimize costs, strengthen asset reliability, and support long-term site growth.

What we are looking for

• Degree in Engineering (Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a comparable technical discipline); additional qualifications in Project Management are an advantage.
• Extensive experience leading large-scale CAPEX projects and investment programs within a regulated industry, ideally pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemicals, or a similar GMP-compliant environment.
• Proven leadership experience with a strong track record of managing multidisciplinary teams and developing high-performing organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in managing external engineering partners, EPCM contractors, and vendor relationships, including contract and commercial management.
• Strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills with the ability to balance operational priorities and long-term investment objectives.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Corporate functions.
• Fluent in German and English

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.

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