Why Site Head Searches Fail
Site Head searches fail more often than most companies admit. The failure rate is not in sourcing but in assessment. Companies hire for technical credibility and discover too late that the role is fundamentally a general management position.
The Site Head must manage the P&L, navigate local government relationships, lead a workforce of 200 to 2,000 people, maintain inspection readiness at all times, and serve as the face of the facility to clients, regulators, and corporate leadership simultaneously. Very few candidates do all of these things well.
The Experience Matrix
When mapping the candidate pool, we assess four dimensions:
Operational scale: Has the candidate run a facility of comparable size and complexity?
Modality match: Does their manufacturing experience align with the facility's product portfolio?
Regulatory track record: Have they personally led inspection preparations and hosted inspections?
Commercial acumen: Have they managed a site P&L and made resource allocation decisions that balanced quality, cost, and timeline?
Compensation Structures
US-based Site Heads for mid-to-large manufacturing facilities command base salaries of $280,000 to $380,000 with total compensation of $380,000 to $550,000. CDMO Site Heads tend to sit at the higher end because the multi-client complexity demands a broader skill set.
European Site Heads range from EUR 180,000 to EUR 280,000 base, with Swiss-based roles commanding premiums of 30-50% above this range.
The Relocation Question
More than any other role in pharmaceutical manufacturing, Site Head searches are constrained by geography. The role requires physical presence at the facility, and many manufacturing sites are not in major metropolitan areas.
Relocation packages for Site Head hires typically include full moving costs, temporary housing for 3-6 months, spousal career support, and in some cases housing allowances. Companies that underinvest in relocation support narrow their candidate pool significantly.
The 90-Day Risk
The highest-risk period for a Site Head hire is the first 90 days. The incoming leader must establish credibility with the existing workforce, assess the current state of regulatory compliance, understand client relationships, and begin building their own leadership team - all while maintaining continuous manufacturing operations.
The best Site Head hires spend their first 30 days listening rather than changing.