Clinical Product Quality Lead

This is what you will do

The Clinical Quality Product Lead (CPQL) is responsible for stewardship of clinical product quality from candidate selection through to commercial approval.  As the Quality representative on the CMC Team, the CPQL supports clinical product scale ups, accelerations, integrations and partnerships in collaboration with cross functional stakeholders including CMC, Analytical Sciences, Product Technical Leads and Regulatory Affairs. 

The CPQL builds strategies to ensure compliant on time release of first in human (FIH) product, acting as the product quality Subject Matter Expert (SME) for cross functional GMP quality deliverables.  Following FIH trials, the CPQL oversees the quality activities (ex. scale up) and supports early and late-stage clinical programs.  

You will be responsible for

• Provides quality oversight for several clinical products (including small molecule, VHH antibody, mAb, oligo, peptides and genomics) across various presentations (ex. vial, prefilled syringe, autoinjector, tablet, capsule) from pre-clinical up to commercial launch.
• Acts as Quality advocate and single point of contact for CMC program strategy teams to ensure a consistent quality approach and deliverable completion for GMP manufacturing, testing, release, and regulatory filings.
• Proactively manages clinical product quality risks ensuring they are assessed, mitigated, and communicated to Senior Management.
• Serves as Quality Assurance support and SME for clinical manufacturing, maintaining knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements to ensure all drug manufacturing, testing, storage and shipping activities are compliant and appropriate to product phase.
• Chairs Quality Subteam to ensure Operations Quality, External Quality and QP are aligned on timelines, aware of risks and prepared for oversight of product quality post launch (product release and clinical supply timelines, quality systems).
• Establishes the release strategy for new products in partnership with QPs and Quality Operations.
• Reviews and assesses significant product related deviations, including risk assessments, root cause analysis, investigation, and reporting.
• Facilitates change controls impacting clinical products.
• Supports CMO selection, onboarding, audits and inspections, as well as management and negotiation of quality agreements.
• Quality SME for regulatory submissions, including IMPD & IND, and responses to regulatory agencies.
• Responsible for supply chain maps and product specification file summary documents.
• Supports integration of acquired assets via business development.

You will need to have:

• 5 years+ experience in GMP Quality Assurance in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, including Phase I, II and III product development.
• Experience with review of market applications, INDs, supplements, and similar regulatory documentation.
• Experience working with contract manufacturing and laboratory organisations.
• Understanding of phase appropriate cGMP, pharmaceutical drug product development and manufacturing.
• Knowledge of quality systems, including product release (Annex 16) and quality control.
• Successful candidates will demonstrate learning agility and a growth mindset.
• Ability to make decisions, solve problems, and manage ambiguity.
• Ability to collaborate, negotiate, influence and lead in a matrix organisation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

We would prefer for you to have:

Prior experience with combination products.

• Prior experience with genomic medicines.
• BSc. degree in biological / chemical sciences, or a related pharmaceutical sciences.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.