Senior Manager, QC Microbiology

AbCellera Biologics Inc.; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 135,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in compensation

Annual bonus

RRSP contribution

Active Lifestyle Allowance

Health benefits

Professional development

Job summary

AbCellera Biologics Inc. in Vancouver, BC, seeks a Senior Manager, QC Microbiology to lead GMP QC‑Micro operations at our drug substance clinical manufacturing facility and to oversee external CMOs and CTLs.

This hands‑on leadership role focuses on contamination control, environmental monitoring, and microbiological investigations, providing mentoring and strategic direction across methods, utilities monitoring, and cross‑functional QA partnerships.

Qualifications

• 14+ years of hands-on QC microbiology experience in a regulated GMP setting.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or developing scientists or analysts.
• Experience working with external laboratories, CMOs, or other testing partners and providing scientific oversight.

Responsibilities

• Lead the QC Microbiology function with strategic and technical direction and develop a high-performing team.
• Shape microbiology strategy and capabilities to support development and manufacturing programs, including CCS and EMPQ.
• Oversee internal QC Microbiology operations: bioburden, endotoxin, microbial ID, growth promotion, EM, water testing, DET studies.
• Coordinate resources and activities across internal labs, development, manufacturing, and external testing partners.
• Mentor team members, foster technical excellence and sound scientific decision-making.

Skills

QC Microbiology

GMP Compliance

Environmental Monitoring

Team Leadership

Mentoring

External Collaboration

Microbiological Methods

Regulatory Knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology or life sciences

Job description

Each of us cares about someone who will need medicines. That’s why our vision is to repeatedly beat the odds to deliver breakthrough medicines to patients that need them. We pursue truth and scientific rigour and have the courage to work at the edge of the unknown.

We are looking for a highly skilled Senior Manager, QC Microbiology to lead GMP QC-Micro operations at our biological Drug Substance (DS) clinical manufacturing facility in Vancouver. You will also support our network of external Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), Contract Testing Labs (CTLs), and other collaborators. Taking ownership of the site’s Contamination Control Program, you will ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and industry best practices while serving as the go-to technical expert and mentor across microbial methods, environmental monitoring (EM) programs, utilities monitoring, and contamination investigations. If you're looking for a hands‑on leadership role where your microbiology and contamination control expertise directly supports the quality of therapies that reach patients, we'd love to hear from you.

How you might spend your days

• Leading the QC Microbiology function, providing strategic and technical direction while building, coaching, and developing a high‑performing QC Microbiology team
• Shaping the QC Microbiology strategy and capabilities needed to support AbCellera’s evolving development and manufacturing programs, including contamination control strategy (CCS), microbiological method strategy, environmental monitoring (EMPQ), utilities monitoring, raw materials, facility readiness, and risk‑based testing approaches
• Providing leadership and oversight of internal QC Microbiology operations, including bioburden, endotoxin, microbial identification, growth promotion, environmental monitoring, water testing, trending, and Disinfectant Efficacy Testing (DET) studies
• Setting priorities and coordinating QC Microbiology resources and activities across internal laboratory operations, development and manufacturing programs, and external testing
• Developing and mentoring QC Microbiology team members, fostering technical excellence, strong aseptic practices, ownership, collaboration, and sound scientific decision‑making
• Leading troubleshooting and investigations related to microbiological assays, deviations, OOS results, environmental monitoring excursions, and other microbiological events, ensuring scientifically sound and timely resolution
• Providing technical and strategic SME leadership for GMP cell banking, in‑process bulk adventitious agent testing, including mycoplasma and viral testing, and other microbiological assays
• Ensuring internal and external QC Microbiology data packages are accurate, scientifically sound, and compliant with GMP requirements and ALCOA++ data integrity principles
• Partnering cross‑functionally with QA, Analytical Development, Manufacturing Operations, CMC, and other stakeholders to define microbiology strategies, establish effective workflows, manage priorities, and support compliant execution across development and manufacturing programs
• Contributing to broader QC and CMC planning by identifying microbiology risks, capability needs, external testing requirements, and opportunities to strengthen the function as the team and pipeline grow

We’d love to hear from you if

• You have 14+ years of hands‑on QC microbiology experience in a regulated GMP setting, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology or a related life sciences field, and can provide strategic and technical leadership across microbial methods, environmental monitoring, utilities monitoring, contamination control, and microbiological investigations
• You have demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, or developing scientists or analysts
• You have experience working with external laboratories, CMOs, or other testing partners and can provide effective scientific oversight, build strong partnerships, and hold external organizations accountable for quality and delivery
• You can translate program and regulatory needs into practical microbiology strategies, testing approaches, priorities, and capabilities
• You can balance leadership and strategic thinking with hands‑on technical engagement and are comfortable stepping in to support troubleshooting, investigations, and complex microbiological decisions when needed
• You are comfortable setting priorities and balancing internal laboratory needs, program deliverables, and external partner activities in a dynamic environment
• You communicate clearly, influence effectively across functions and team, and bring calm, structured decision‑making to complex or time‑sensitive situations
• You thrive in a growing team where priorities evolve and leaders need to combine strategy, people leadership, scientific expertise, and practical execution

What we offer

AbCellera’s hiring range for this role is CAD $135,000 - $170,000 annually, commensurate with your education and job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, annual bonus dependent on team and company performance, and a 6% (non‑match) RRSP contribution.

You will have a CAD $1,500 annual Active Lifestyle Allowance, annual vacation, professional development opportunities, and comprehensive health benefits. Scientific and technical mentorship is a priority. And you’ll find we prioritize teams and social groups to build community and connections across AbCellera.

About AbCellera

Creating medicines is the most important work we can do.

We are a clinical‑stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody‑based medicines in the areas of endocrinology, women’s health, immunology, and oncology. We have built a platform for advancing antibody drug programs from target to clinic, and we are using it to build our internal pipeline.

Today, our pipeline includes two drug candidates in clinical development, two preclinical development candidates (DCs) in Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities, and more than 20 active discovery programs across multiple modalities and indications.

We believe that when tenacious people share a vision and work together, they can truly have a positive impact. That’s why we hire for character and intelligence, not just for CVs or experience.

We look for people with drive and energy. People we trust. People who need to know their days are being well spent. That their work really matters. In the end, our success will be measured by the impact of our medicines.