QA Project Leader (Microbiology Sterility Assurance)

Fresenius Kabi USA • Melrose Park, IL

5d • $90,000 - $110,000

About The Position

This role serves as a project leader within Quality Assurance, focusing on microbiology and sterility assurance in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. The position involves managing compliance topics, continuous improvement programs, and projects aimed at enhancing quality systems, GMP compliance, and operational efficiency. Key responsibilities include overseeing investigations, implementing corrective actions, and analyzing quality data to drive improvements in areas such as deviation reduction, batch right the first time, and cycle time reduction. The role also involves participating in regulatory inspections and presenting progress reports to senior management.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in science with a minimum of 3+ years of progressive challenging QA/QC experience in a pharmaceutical or related regulatory industry.
• Advanced training or experience in cGMP and preferably GLP, legal, and ISO requirements.
• The successful candidate must be able to effectively speak, read, write, and understand English to perform the essential functions of the position, including independently understanding policies, procedures, training materials, and workplace communications written in English due to our heavily regulated work environment.

Nice To Haves

• Technical experience in microbiology and aseptic processing in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment
• Experienced in creating and managing Contamination Control Strategies.
• Experienced in authoring and reviewing SOPs, work instructions, and risk assessments (e.g. FMEA)
• Familiar with Aseptic Process Simulations (Media Fills)
• Familiar with aseptic drug product manufacturing including isolator technology
• Capable of leading cross-functional meetings and providing technical leadership from a microbiology / sterility assurance perspective

Responsibilities

• Serve as a change agent performing project management duties (PMO).
• Manage projects independently while focusing on providing the most impact by coordinating and overseeing projects led by various QA and operations team.
• Perform PMO duties by tracking progress, ensuring project plans have clear deliverables, deadlines, and responsibilities.
• Provide progress reports, assist in removing barriers, and escalate issues when additional support is needed.
• Manage projects that primarily focus on compliance or continuous improvement / simplification category.
• Key areas of impact in the plant are deviation reduction, improvements in batch right the first time (BRFT) and batch release cycle time (also known as CRT).
• Additional areas of impact include reduction of full and partial rejects, yield improvement, complaint reduction, deviation reduction, and CAPAs project management.
• Perform analysis on quality and manufacturing indicating data and recommend actions for compliance and process improvements.
• Consolidate quality metrics and reporting in collaboration with respective QA reporting heads.
• Perform review of root-cause analysis and other problem solving activities to identify effective corrective and preventative actions and appropriate effectiveness measures.
• Participate in regulatory / FDA inspections and audits by providing information and/or acting as scribe. Expediting / obtaining information required by the inspectors / auditors.
• Prepares and presents progress reports for senior management.
• Identify and resolve emerging issues that may impact project or corporate goals.
• Recognize potential threats to project success and elevate issues to senior management.
• Develop and implement contingency plans.
• All employees are responsible for ensuring the compliance to company documents, programs, and activities related to the health, safety, environment, energy, and quality management systems, as per their roles and responsibilities.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company contributions
• paid vacation, holiday and personal days
• employee assistance program
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage
• life insurance
• disability
• 401K with company contribution
• wellness program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior