Vice President, Process Development

BlueRock Therapeutics; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineered cell therapy company is seeking a Vice President, Process Development in Toronto. This role involves overseeing process development, leading a team of scientists, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will have a PhD and extensive experience in cell therapies, showcasing strong leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in advanced therapeutic modalities including cell therapies.
• Hands-on experience in development of cell therapies, including pluripotent stem cells.

Responsibilities

• Lead process development team to optimize and troubleshoot manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to ensure understanding of manufacturing requirements.
• Author and review CMC sections of regulatory submissions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Organizational Skills

Education

PhD in Biological Engineering

Job description

Who is BlueRock? BlueRock Therapeutics, a wholly-owned and independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, is a leading engineered cell therapy company using its unique cell+gene platform to direct cellular differentiation and genetically engineer cells to create a new generation of cellular medicines that address large patient populations suffering from neurological, cardiovascular, and immunology diseases.

The convergence of cell biology and genetic engineering is creating fundamental new ways to impact disease. Founded in 2016 to capitalize on these technological breakthroughs, we are advancing our novel cell+gene platform to develop, manufacture, and deliver an entirely new generation of authentic and engineered cell therapies across three therapeutic areas: neurology, cardiology, and immunology.

What Are We Doing? Our foundational science harnesses the ability to create and then direct the differentiation of universal pluripotent stem cells into authentic, functional cells that can be used as allogeneic cellular therapies to treat a broad array of diseases. We can also further engineer these cells, enabling them to produce enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins for additional therapeutic benefit.

We are passionate about delivering on the promise of cellular and gene therapy, shaping the future of cellular medicine, and delivering new therapies to millions of patients with treatment options. We are seeking individuals who are collaborative, thrive in a fun and dynamic culture, and are steadfast in the commitment to advance cutting-edge cellular therapies to impact patients’ lives.

BlueRock Therapeutics is seeking a Vice President, Process Development based out of our Toronto, ON Canada facility, reporting to the Senior Vice President of Process & Analytical Development. This global leadership role will oversee the process development function with a presence in multiple locations. As the department works closely with Research, Non-clinical, Analytical, Quality, and GMP Operational teams, this role will ensure cross-functional alignment while owning technical outcomes.

This leader will lead a sizeable team of scientists and engineers to develop phase-appropriate manufacturing processes inclusive of in-process controls and novel platforms, that meet both quality compliance standards and regulatory requirements. In addition, this role will influence and provide technical guidance around topics including but not restricted to: process characterization, process robustness, process control strategy, organizational structure, and root cause investigations.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a talented and self-motivated leader to contribute to bringing cutting-edge cellular therapies to patients while building a sustainable organization.

Responsibilities :

1. Lead the process development team to develop, optimize, scale-up and troubleshoot the manufacturing processes for authentic and engineered cellular products.
2. Thought leader in the Process & Analytical Development organization and the Tech Ops extended leadership team, working in partnership with other leaders to develop and administer the operating plans and budgets contributing to the achievement of corporate goals.
3. Lead the identification, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies.
4. Provide strong technical oversight, scientific leadership, and career development expertise to a diverse team of process development team members.
5. Strategize and collaborate cross-functionally with senior leaders to ensure a thorough understanding of the requirements for the manufacture of iPSCs and derivatives in a cGMP compliant manner.
6. Author and / or review CMC sections of IND / INDa / BLA and respond to regulatory inquiries.
7. Work closely with the SVP, Process & Analytical Development to establish and cultivate shared team values and continuously evolve the technical strategy in response to changing demands.

Minimum Qualifications :

• Advanced (PhD) degree in biological engineering, chemical engineering, biological sciences, or similar with 12+ relevant years’ experience in industry with focus on advanced therapeutic modalities including cell therapies.
• Proven cross functional leadership capabilities with seasoned experience in people management, organizational design, and technical oversight.
• Exceptional communication skills, engaging effectively at all levels of the company and externally to partners and vendors.
• Hands-on experience in the development of cell therapies, ideally includes pluripotent stem cells and differentiation thereof, bioprocess development for cell banks, Drug Substance, and / or Drug Product.
• Proven ability to strategize, prepare, and execute on complex projects and programs in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to extend these across a team and implement efficient operational processes.
• Experience in supervising and guiding employees and working collaboratively in a matrix environment is essential.