Manufacturing Supervisor, Upstream
About The Position
The Manufacturing Supervisor, Upstream will lead and develop a team supporting startup of a large-scale cell culture facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The upstream area includes an inoculum lab, two seed reactor trains with four reactors each, four 20,000-liter production reactors, a harvest suite, media preparation, and parts preparation. The team works a 2-2-3, 12-hour shift schedule. During the project phase through Q3 2025, the supervisor will support commissioning and qualification, operational readiness, team onboarding, materials management, document review and approval, and training preparation for the first GMP batches. Starting in the operations phase in Q3 2025, the supervisor will provide on-the-floor leadership for a shift team of up to 7–10 manufacturing associates, coordinate manufacturing schedules, and support safe, compliant operations and continuous improvement.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED and 8 years of experience in a similar role in large pharma/biotech operations or projects.
- Experience in manufacturing biological products and familiarity with GMP/GLP requirements.
- Previous experience leading, supervising, or managing others.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences and 4 or more years of experience in a similar role in large pharma/biotech operations or projects.
- Associate degree in Life Sciences and 6 or more years of experience in a similar role in large pharma/biotech operations or projects.
- Military experience of equivalence.
Responsibilities
- Support commissioning and qualification activities during the project phase.
- Lead and support the team in operational readiness tasks, including document review and approval, onboarding, and materials management.
- Build and execute a team training plan in preparation for the first GMP batches.
- Mentor and develop team members.
- Administer applicable company policies, including travel and expense, time reporting, and time off policies.
- Collaborate and coordinate with cross-functional support groups on startup activities.
- Provide on-the-floor leadership for a shift team of up to 7–10 manufacturing associates.
- Coordinate manufacturing schedule execution through daily shift assignments, lead daily huddles, and manage escalations.
- Foster an inclusive, people-first culture through regular communication and development-focused one-on-ones.
- Maintain a safe and cGMP-compliant environment by ensuring direct reports have current training, conducting gemba walks, and promoting a safety and quality mindset.
- Support manufacturing investigations and continuous improvement projects.
- Coordinate with other functional areas on activities requiring access to manufacturing spaces and equipment, including maintenance and calibration.
- Administer policies affecting manufacturing employees, including time reporting, time off, shift policies, and inclement weather policies.
Benefits
- Relocation assistance available
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
High school or GED
