Senior Specialist, External Quality (12 month fixed term contract)

Position Summary:

The Senior Specialist for External Quality will be responsible, with management support, for providing oversight of quality activities associated with drug substance, drug product and manufacturing processes to contract manufacturing organizations including technology transfers within the External manufacturing realm. The Senior Specialist contributes and supports the completion of milestones associated with specific projects and supports ongoing quality assurance responsibilities in support of: Contract Manufacturing oversight and quality systems including Change Control, Deviations and CAPA's. Performs’ all responsibilities in accordance with company policies, procedures, and regulations.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Serving as Quality Assurance support and SME for Drug Substance, Drug Product and maintaining knowledge of industry standards and regulatory requirements to ensure all drug manufacturing, storage and shipping activities are compliant
• Providing oversight of GMP systems completed by CMO's and External Supply Chain function related to Drug Substance, Drug Product and Finished Product.
• Providing oversight to continuous quality system improvements and support implementing improvements at CMO's in compliance, Preventive Maintenance, Deviation Management and Change Control Programs as they impact Alexion
• Working closely to build relationships with contract manufacturers quality personnel
• Working closely with internal cross-functional impacted areas, such as External Plant Operations, CMO Management, CMC/Regulatory Affairs and Technical Services to resolve open issues in a timely manner resulting from record reviews and deviation events
• Reviewing contractor documents i.e., Batch records, deviations and change controls to ensure that they comply with Alexion procedures and meet Alexion standards
• Approving Alexion specific standard operating procedures and controlled documents issued by contract manufacturing organizations
• Supporting contract manufacturing organization audits, including pre-approval inspections
• Developing and issuing quality metrics pertaining to the process quality activities
• Reviewing and assessing deviations; includes performing risk assessments, participating in root cause analysis investigations, tracking, follow-up and reporting/trending
• Reviewing Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA); includes tracking, follow-up, and reporting/trending and evaluating CAPA for effectiveness
• Supporting Quality Assurance to guide various projects and technical meetings, as needed

Qualifications:

• Must have knowledge of industry best practice and current regulatory expectations concerning drug substance, drug product and finished product manufacturing.
• Minimum of 5 years' GMP related experience in biopharmaceutical / pharmaceutical or related industry
• Experience working with contract manufacturing organizations.
• Ability to provide project leadership and guide successful completion of Quality projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication and negotiating skills
• Risk assessment and risk management

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required.  Advanced degree a plus.

Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal skills are required, as is the ability to communicate well, both verbally and written.
• High level technical skills including quality risk management, auditing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.  Technical writing skills required.

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.