Job Title: Commissioning Manager
Location: Bavaria, Germany
Project: Pharmaceutical Project
Start Date: 05/11/2026
Contract Type: Freelance
About the Client:
The client is a major international life-science organisation delivering complex, highly regulated facilities. The contractor supports the client across design, construction, commissioning, qualification, and operational startup. The project environment is fast-paced, safety-critical, and requires close coordination between engineering, suppliers, operations, and construction teams.
Role Overview:
The Commissioning Manager supports the commissioning lead in planning, coordinating, and supervising all commissioning activities across construction, TGA, and ELT trades. The role ensures safe, compliant, and efficiently executed commissioning and qualification activities. This position acts as the key on-site interface between suppliers, trades, operating engineers, construction management, and client stakeholders, ensuring readiness, documentation accuracy, and seamless handover from construction to operations.
Key Responsibilities:
·· Coordinate and supervise commissioning activities for all systems, acting as the main point of contact for suppliers and third-party teams.
· Develop detailed commissioning plans and timelines in alignment with the project schedule.
· Prepare commissioning documentation: checklists, technical information, site walk-throughs, and required tooling arrangements with on-site workshops.
· Lead and participate in weekly commissioning meetings and daily on-site coordination rounds.
· Update and maintain daily commissioning progress tracking tools (Excel-based).
· Ensure commissioning safety, site order, and cleanliness; organize and perform safety inspections together with site safety representatives.
· Implement commissioning safety measures including signage, barricading, safety checklists, and hazardous-media assessments.
· Plan and coordinate media supply, temporary connections, spare parts, consumables, and dummy materials together with operating engineers and workshops.
· Coordinate commissioning and qualification activities across all trades, supporting interface alignment with operators, users, and engineering.
· Track and document defect resolution (punch list) throughout commissioning.
· Review and technically approve commissioning, OQ, and installation/as-built documentation.
· Support progress reporting to the project manager and commissioning lead.
· Prepare and execute Mechanical Completion (MC) inspections, including documentation and handover.
· Arrange acceptance of supplier activities by the client, including scheduling and protocol preparation.
· Prepare handover packages for the client, including outstanding punch lists and change requests.
· Support compilation and submission of technical documentation for project archiving.
Candidate Requirements:
- Must hold an EU passport or Permanent German Residency
(Work visas, sponsorships, or temporary permits do not meet this requirement.)
- Proven experience as a Commissioning Manager on a pharmaceutical or GMP manufacturing site
(Biotech, fill-finish, API, OSD, or other GMP facility experience acceptable.)
- Strong knowledge of commissioning procedures, documentation, GMP, and validation practices
- Ability to manage contractors, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams
- Fluent in German
- Ability to work onsite full-time in Germany
Contract Details
Location: Onsite in Bavaria, Germany.
Duration: 12 months with possible extension depending on project needs.
Rate: Competitive freelance daily rate based on experience and qualifications.