Associate Director, QC Microbiology

Lonza - Portsmouth, NH

Full-time - Senior

Portsmouth, NH

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Associate Director of Quality Control Microbiology at Lonza AG will lead a world-class QC Microbiology Operations team, driving the success of the Large Scale Allogenic manufacturing QC laboratory. This role involves coordinating cGMP activities, implementing quality initiatives, and collaborating with various functions to ensure compliance and performance in quality control processes.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate cGMP activities in customer-dedicated areas, ensuring detailed execution and compliance.
• Implement central initiatives to promote quality awareness and cGMP compliance.
• Collaborate with leaders across functions to drive quality performance and alignment.
• Lead the QC laboratory, supporting monitoring of raw materials, clean rooms, utilities, microbiological identifications, in-process and final product samples, and related investigations.
• Lead the technical team through method qualification of microbial assays and equipment, troubleshooting, investigations, and technical oversight.
• Deploy resources for facility and utility commissioning and modifications.
• Define and continuously improve the site's environmental monitoring program to eliminate contaminations.
• Collaborate closely with the Site Sterility Assurance Lead and global collaborators to improve microbial methods and contamination control programs.
• Collaborate with Global Engineering during the construction phase of QC labs to develop design, instrument requirements, and workflows.
• Assign resources and priorities, ensure adequate training, mentor and develop staff, evaluate performance, and support overflow tasks across Quality Control.
• Participate in strategic decision making as a member of the Senior Quality organization to uphold outstanding quality standards for the Portsmouth - LSA site.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or equivalent experience in Microbiology, Biology, or a related field.
• Validated experience in Quality Control Microbiology within a cGMP environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to efficiently implement central initiatives.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of microbiological methods, contamination control, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Experience handling QC laboratories and leading technical teams.
• Ability to resolve priorities, deploy resources effectively, and achieve outstanding results.

Benefits

• Opportunity to lead a dynamic team in a global life sciences company.
• Engagement in meaningful work that positively impacts millions of people.
• Career ownership and development opportunities.