<< back to careers Tara Meulenbroek - HR Manager, Portsmouth, USA Mario Schnyder - Head of HR LSI, Visp; Switzerland Dominik Werner - Head of Corporate Communications, Basel, Switzerland Tara Meulenbroek - HR Manager, Portsmouth, USA 1. What is your current role at Lonza? Manage all human resource activities such as employment, employee relations, performance evaluations and compliance in order to attract, retain and reward employees. Liaise with senior management for strategic direction of the Portsmouth site. 2. Why do you like working at Lonza? Lonza provides a collaborative, fast-paced, team environment where you truly feel that everyone is pulling for the same end goal. 3. What are some perks about working at Lonza? In the US we have generous benefits including a 401k plan which offers immediate vesting on a 100% match on employee contribution up to 6% and an additional 1% company contribution. Our medical and dental benefits are comprehensive and affordable. We have an onsite cafeteria with great food at a subsidized price as well as a free gym onsite for employees to use which balances both ends of the spectrum! 4. What makes Lonza unique? We are a contract manufacturer therefore we aren’t afforded to have profit margins in keeping with “big pharma.” We encourage efficiency and elimination of waste and such efficiencies are publicized and rewarded. Our employees are exposed to a wide variety of responsibilities unlike people who may hold similar titles at larger companies. Our employees are challenged daily and excel in this dynamic of environment. 5. Please tell me about an amazing experience you have had at Lonza. I have the pleasure of working in a few of our locations which has helped me to broaden my horizons. Prior to my promotion in Portsmouth to my current role I was an acting HR Manager at our Hopkinton site for the first 4 months in 2010. I thoroughly enjoyed the career development opportunity while witnessing how another Lonza site operates. I met many wonderful people during my assignment in Hopkinton and value the experience. I was also afforded the opportunity to spend a month helping institute HR policies and procedures at Lonza’s Singapore Tuas facility in 2007. I grew both professionally and personally during this assignment and am very appreciative of the opportunity. 6. What do you like doing in your free time? Spending time with my husband, walking my two dogs Riley and Fritz and equestrian jumping. 7. What did you do prior to joining Lonza? I worked in different industries but always in the HR function. Mario Schnyder - Head of HR LSI, Visp, Switzerland 1. What is your current role at Lonza? I am working as Head of Human Resources (HR) Switzerland in the sector Life Science Ingredients. We support and accompany employees and supervisors in all HR questions beginning at the entry ending at the leaving of the person. Parallel we ensure HR processes in the background. 2. Why do you like working at Lonza? I appreciate the culture in the company as well as the fact that Lonza considers human beings as a success factor. I now that in this working environment I get chances to develop and there are modern workplaces available. 3. What are some perks about working at Lonza (specific regional benefits)? The conditions of the employment contract as well as the social benefits are clearly over the legal requirements. I appreciate the company’s cafeteria and the different activities organised for employees. 4. What makes Lonza unique? I think the employees make a difference and Lonza can act very fast and there is a high dynamic of how to deal with changes and challenges. 5. What does your job give to you? I get the possibility to stamp the development of the company and I can be an entrepreneur. 6. What did you do prior to joining Lonza? Lonza is my fist employer. I am working here since 22 years. I started as an Apprentice to become Chemistry and Pharmaceutical technologist. After this time in manufacturing I changed to the Research & Development department where I was working in different functions. In 2003 I changed to Human Resources (HR) and since 2007 I am leading HR Switzerland in the sector Life Science Ingredients. Dominik Werner - Head of Corporate Communications, Basel, Switzerland 1. What is your current role at Lonza and what are your daily challenges? I am the Head of Corporate Communications. Lonza is an exciting and dynamic company with a clear strategy and great prospects. In the communications department one has the chance to accompany this dynamic development very closely and to develop a deep understanding of the drivers behind and the challenges ahead. Keeping the balance between ongoing projects or tasks, the daily business and the unpredictable inflow of urgent matters is a daily challenge. 2. What is the difference between working at Lonza or elsewhere? The official Lonza values of trust and entrepreneurship are truly lived in this company. Lonza offers a working environment where your ideas are welcome and your initiatives and efforts are recognized. In addition, the hierarchy is extremely flat: It’s not about top or bottom, but about doing a good job together in a constructive atmosphere. 3. Which development possibilities does Lonza offer to you? Being part of the Talent Management Process, Lonza offers great opportunities to develop my skills and therefore my chances to advance in my professional career. Lonza provides the instruments and the opportunities to make new experiences. 4. Which was your most amazing experience? Our CEO Stefan Borgas telling me on my second day with Lonza that he is not Mr. Borgas, but simply Stefan. << back to careers