Validation Team Lead

We’re Hiring: Validation Team Lead (Onsite – Loughrea)

Are you passionate about building strong validation systems, leading high-performing teams, and making a real impact in a GMP-regulated environment? If so, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

We’re looking for a Validation Team Lead to take ownership of our full validation program, from strategy to execution. This is an onsite role based in Loughrea, supporting a growing pharmaceutical manufacturing operation.

What You’ll Be Doing

In this role, you’ll be the driving force behind all validation activities. You will:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a skilled validation team, fostering engagement and high performance.
• Allocate resources and prioritise work to meet both compliance and business needs.
• Own and maintain the Validation Master Plan (VMP) and associated SOPs.
• Ensure all validation activities—process, cleaning, equipment, utilities—are executed to GMP standards.
• Oversee process validation for new and existing products, including protocols and reporting.
• Manage cleaning validation to ensure strong control over cross-contamination risks.
• Coordinate validation efforts for equipment, analytical instruments, and utilities (HVAC, water systems, etc.).
• Support tech transfers and new product introductions from a validation standpoint.
• Ensure documentation is always inspection-ready and compliant.
• Address audit findings and implement effective corrective actions.
• Continuously look for opportunities to improve validation processes and efficiency.
• Stay up to date with evolving regulatory expectations and implement best practices.

What You Bring

• A degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Science, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in validation within a GMP environment, including 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Strong technical background in process, cleaning, equipment, and utilities validation

Skills That Will Help You Succeed

• Deep understanding of GMP and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
• A proactive, analytical mindset and strong problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• A commitment to accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.

If you thrive in a structured, regulated environment and enjoy leading people while driving validation excellence, we’d love to hear from you.

Interested? Apply or reach out for a confidential chat! Emily.Blinkhorn@cpl.ie

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