Associate Director, Applied Data Science & Modelling

Location and Relocation Assistance

The position is located in Visp, Switzerland. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates and their families, if needed.

Company Overview

Join Lonza and contribute to the future of Advanced Synthesis through AI, machine learning, and data science. This strategic opportunity merges scientific expertise with advanced analytics and digital innovation to accelerate research, enhance decision-making, and deliver significant business impact across the organization.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based, fostering close, real-time collaboration and team alignment. You will have the flexibility to work remotely for up to 20% of your time, equivalent to one day per week.

What You Will Get

• An agile career and dynamic working culture.
• An inclusive and ethical workplace.
• Compensation programs that acknowledge high performance.
• The chance to shape and scale AI/ML and Data Science capabilities within a global organization.
• Leadership opportunities through mentoring, capability building, and strategic influence.
• A variety of benefits tailored to your role and location in Visp, Basel, or Oss.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI/ML, advanced analytics, and data science solutions to tackle high-value scientific and operational challenges.
• Collaborate with R&D scientists and stakeholders to translate complex business needs into scalable digital solutions.
• Design and implement predictive models, optimization tools, and decision-support systems to improve scientific outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Work with data engineering, digital, and technical teams to deliver comprehensive end-to-end solutions from concept through deployment.
• Drive innovation by evaluating and introducing emerging AI/ML methodologies and best practices.
• Influence strategic priorities and establish scalable standards across Data Science & Modelling initiatives.
• Mentor colleagues and contribute to the growth of digital capabilities within the team.

Qualifications

• PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, AI/ML, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Bioconjugation, or a related scientific discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Solid industry experience in data science, AI/ML, computational sciences, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, or related fields in pharma, biotech, or CDMO environments.
• Advanced expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science with a proven track record of delivering business impact.
• Strong programming skills in Python and familiarity with machine learning frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Scikit-learn.
• Experience in developing end-to-end data science solutions from exploration to deployment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration capabilities.
• Experience in bioconjugation, MLOps, digital transformation, or scientific workflow optimization is highly desirable.

Our Values

At Lonza, our greatest asset is our people. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work collaboratively to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion, and Integrity guide our work. We believe that every idea has the potential to enhance lives, and we aim to create an environment where innovation thrives, fueled by the diverse perspectives of our team members.

Join Us

If you're prepared to help transform our customers' groundbreaking ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.