QC Manager, Microbiology

Bavarian Nordic; Kvistgård; On-site; DKK 800,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Bavarian Nordic seeks a QC Manager to lead and develop a microbiology-focused team, ensuring reliable daily operations and strong quality oversight in a busy lab environment.

You will oversee seven-day operations, translate priorities into direction, and drive engagement and continuous improvement across QC and manufacturing in a global vaccine company.

Qualifications

• A relevant scientific degree and experience from a GMP-regulated pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment, preferably within QC microbiology.
• An understanding of microbiological testing and its role in supporting manufacturing and product quality.
• Leadership experience from QC, a laboratory or a similar operational area, is an advantage, together with the ability to coach others and build engagement.
• A solid understanding of cGMP, data integrity and Quality Management Systems, and confidence working with LIMS or other digital laboratory tools.
• A structured approach to prioritization and continuous improvement, with clear communication and strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop your team. Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback and coach employees in their professional development.
• Ensure reliable daily operations. Maintain an overview of workload, sample flow and operational risks.
• Maintain quality and improve processes. Ensure activities comply with cGMP and the Bavarian Nordic Quality Management System.
• Collaborate across QC and manufacturing. Work closely with stakeholders to align testing priorities with manufacturing needs.

Skills

Leadership

QC microbiology

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Scientific degree

Tools

LIMS

Job description

Do you enjoy developing people and creating structure in a busy microbiology environment?

Join Bavarian Nordic as a QC Manager and help your team deliver reliable analyses that support the production and supply of vaccines that protect lives.

Your team and leadership environment

The Microbiology area consists of eight laboratory technicians and seven scientists organised across two teams. The area performs analytical testing of raw materials, intermediates, finished products, environmental samples and other manufacturing-related samples. Methods include bioburden, TOC, endotoxin, identification using MALDI-TOF and sterility testing.

The laboratory operates seven days a week during daytime hours because certain analyses are time critical. The teams work in a shift rotation covering weekends and public holidays.

You will join a QC department of approximately 90 employees across six teams. Our Core Leadership Team of Senior Managers works closely with First-Line Managers, the Operational Excellence Partner and a Quality Integrator to develop people and processes and maintain strong quality oversight.

QC is undergoing significant change as we support increased production demands, improve efficiency and reduce lead times. As a first-line manager, you will translate changing priorities into clear direction while maintaining employee engagement, well-being and a strong quality mindset.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead and develop your team. Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback and coach employees in their professional development. Build competencies and a supportive working environment where people feel confident raising concerns and take responsibility for quality.
• Ensure reliable daily operations. Maintain an overview of workload, sample flow and operational risks. Coordinate priorities and resources to support time-critical analyses and continuity across the laboratory’s seven-day operation.
• Maintain quality and improve processes. Ensure activities comply with cGMP and the Bavarian Nordic Quality Management System. Promote data integrity and inspection readiness and improve processes across the sample lifecycle through accurate documentation and reliable sample flow.
• Collaborate across QC and manufacturing. Work closely with stakeholders to align testing priorities with manufacturing needs. Use data and digital tools to improve transparency, address bottlenecks and reduce lead times while maintaining quality.

Your profile

You combine an understanding of microbiological quality control with a practical, people-focused leadership approach. You remain clear and approachable when priorities change and can balance timely delivery with compliance and employee well-being.

• A relevant scientific degree and experience from a GMP-regulated pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment, preferably within QC microbiology.
• An understanding of microbiological testing and its role in supporting manufacturing and product quality.
• Leadership experience from QC, a laboratory or a similar operational area, is an advantage, together with the ability to coach others and build engagement.
• A solid understanding of cGMP, data integrity and Quality Management Systems, and confidence working with LIMS or other digital laboratory tools.
• A structured approach to prioritization and continuous improvement, with clear communication and strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Why join Bavarian Nordic

You will lead a team whose work supports the quality of vaccines supplied to people around the world. The role offers the opportunity to strengthen daily operations, develop employees and influence how Microbiology collaborates with the wider organisation.

You will be part of a leadership team that values collaboration, coaching and building strong competencies. As QC evolves, you can contribute to continuous improvement, digitalisation and Operational Excellence while developing professionally in an international vaccine company.

For us, it is all about improving and saving lives

Improving and saving lives through innovative vaccines is at the heart of what we do at Bavarian Nordic. We are a fully integrated vaccine company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of life‑saving vaccines, and the largest pure‑play vaccine company in the world.

Bavarian Nordic is a global vaccine company with a mission to improve health and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a preferred supplier of mpox and smallpox vaccines to governments to enhance public health preparedness and have a leading portfolio of travel vaccines. We are headquartered in Denmark and have manufacturing, research, and sales offices across Europe and North America.

Bavarian Nordic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

For more information, visit www.bavarian-nordic.com