Director, Commercial Operations Gene Therapy
Catalent · Harmans, MD
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $197k–$230k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- 11 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level production role at Catalent (pharma & life sciences) in Harmans, MD.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- FDA / GMP, Casting
- Base pay
- $197k–$230k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Maryland: typical posted base $113k–$156k. This one lists $197k–$230k.
Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 13 production engineer openings in Maryland, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Maryland plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 12 other live production postings in Maryland.
- Base pay
- About 67% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $102k–$153k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- EHS / safety 31%
- Automation 23%
- Team leadership 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Casting, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Catalent
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Catalent in Harmans
7 other open roles at this site.
- Senior Process Engineer - Equipment · Process · Senior
- Reliability Engineering Manager · Reliability · Manager
- Engineering Technician · Manufacturing
- Director of Engineering, Facilities, and Validation · Quality · Director+
- Senior Director, Continuous Improvement · Lean / CI · Director+
- Senior Engineering Technician · Manufacturing · Senior
Full description from CatalentAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Commercial Leadership & Client Ownership: Serve as the site commercial lead and key relationship manager for new and existing clients, maintaining high-touch communication and driving seamless technical transfers to routine commercial production.
- ◆Proposal & Pricing Strategy: Partner with Business Development and Site Finance to establish robust commercial pricing, evaluate Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), enforce value pricing strategies, and capture current fiscal year revenue opportunities.
- ◆Contract Management & Execution: Direct client contract lifecycles—including Commercial Supply Agreements (CSAs), Development & Licensing Agreements, and term sheets—ensuring complete capture of fees, price escalations, KPIs, and forecast commitments.
- ◆Cross-Functional Site Alignment: Embed within the Site Leadership Team, working directly with the Site GM, Supply Chain, MSTAT, Operations, Quality, and Project Management to optimize site revenue, manage Accounts Receivable, and resolve client disputes.
- ◆Financial & Revenue Protection: Oversee site S&OP revenue input, funnel forecasting, and lead site-wide Revenue Leakage mitigation through rigorous tracking, training, and governance.
- ◆Client Experience & Onsite Visits: Elevate the client experience by hosting high-impact client site visits and continuous program updates.
- ◆Other
responsibilities
as needed.
Required Qualifications
- ✓Minimum of 5+ years of direct experience within a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) environment across technical project management, commercial operations, quality, or business development.
- ✓Ability to work 100% onsite at our Harmans, MD facility 5 days a week.
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in a relevant science, engineering, or business discipline.
- ✓Comprehensive understanding of drug development processes, scale-up, GMP manufacturing, analytical research, quality systems, and regulatory expectations.
- ✓Proven track record in direct contract negotiation, pricing architecture, COGS analysis, and financial acumen within a matrixed organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Extensive direct commercial or operational experience specifically in Gene Therapy manufacturing.
- ✓MBA or advanced technical/scientific degree.
- ✓Advanced proficiency with ERP, MRP, and CRM platforms.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Director, Commercial Operations
Catalent is seeking a Director, Commercial Operations to join our gene therapy manufacturing facility in Harmans, Maryland.
The Commercial Operations team serves as the vital link between our clients and site operations. Responsible for end-to-end commercial ownership across existing customer relationships and new business integration, this team drives pricing strategy, contract negotiations, revenue tracking, and account management to turn signed opportunities into life-saving commercial therapies.
About Our BWI Facility: Located near Baltimore (BWI), our Harmans, MD campus is a dedicated center of excellence for commercial gene therapy manufacturing.
- •Location: 100% Onsite at our facility in Harmans, MD
- •Shift: Monday – Friday, First Shift
Where Urgency Meets Impact
At Catalent BWI, we're not just manufacturing therapies; we're helping bring hope to patients and families facing rare genetic diseases. Every milestone achieved has the potential to move life-changing treatments one step closer to those who need them most.
Our mission requires agility, resilience, and commitment to excellence. This is a fast-paced environment where priorities evolve; challenges are embraced, and continuous improvement is part of our culture. Our team is energized by purpose, inspired by challenge, and motivated to make a meaningful impact.
Why you should join Catalent
- •Direct, high-visibility leadership role driving commercial growth at a premier Gene Therapy facility.
- •High-impact, mission-centered environment with monthly Patient Days bringing you directly to the mission.
- •Opportunity to play a key role in driving growth within a global CDMO leader.
- •Competitive compensation package, including incentive opportunity.
- •Day-one medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- •Generous paid time off and holiday schedule (152 hours + 8 holidays)
- •401(k) with company match.
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.