Senior Manager, GMP Auditor

The RFT Group; Leinster; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The RFT Group is seeking a Senior Manager, GMP Auditor to lead the external audit program and provide quality oversight across the supplier network in Ireland. The role requires QP input and independent audit leadership across CROs, CMOs, and logistics partners, supporting EU/US regulatory expectations.

In this hybrid Ireland-based position, you will lead audits, manage supplier qualification, and drive continuous improvement within a fast-paced biopharmaceutical environment.

Qualifications

• BSc in a relevant scientific discipline is required.
• 8+ years in pharmaceutical manufacturing with GMP audit experience.
• Ability to lead GMP audits independently and communicate outcomes clearly.
• Strong knowledge of EU and US GMP frameworks and their application.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Govern external audit programme and GMP oversight of CROs, CMOs, suppliers, and logistics under EU/US requirements.
• Provide GMP and QP input to supplier qualification and regulatory activities; support inspections.
• Lead risk-based GMP audits across external partners; manage 10+ audits yearly across US/EU.
• Maintain audit records and supplier status in the QMS (e.g., TrackWise); ensure closure of actions.
• Coordinate pre-audit readiness meetings and cross-functional alignment with internal stakeholders.
• Provide QP oversight and regulatory judgement for external manufacturing activities.
• Evaluate GMP compliance at external sites and ensure alignment with Annex 16 principles.
• Support regulatory inspections and regulator interactions with subject-matter expertise.

Skills

GMP audits

Quality systems knowledge

Risk assessment

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder communication

Independent judgment

Travel willingness

Education

BSc in a relevant scientific discipline

Tools

TrackWise

QMS systems

Job description

Senior Manager, GMP Auditor (QP highly desirable)

Our client is a highly successful, and ambitious global biopharmaceutical company with a strong commercial portfolio and product development pipeline. They now wish to hire a Lead GMP Quality Auditor within their global team.

The permanent position can be hybrid role, open to various locations within Ireland. This hire must be live and work in Ireland, full-time.

The Senior Manager, GMP Auditor is responsible for providing independent GMP audit leadership and quality oversight of the company’s external manufacturing and supplier network, supporting clinical and commercial products across sterile and non‑sterile operations.

Responsibilities for Senior Manager, GMP Auditor

• The role is accountable for the governance, execution, and ongoing management of the external audit programme and for maintaining effective GMP oversight of CROs, Contract Laboratories, suppliers, vendors, and logistics providers, in accordance with EU and US regulatory requirements. The role operates with a high degree of autonomy, integrity, and objectivity, maintaining appropriate independence from operational and commercial pressures.
• The role provides expert GMP and Qualified Person input to supplier qualification, quality risk management, and regulatory compliance activities, and supports inspection readiness and regulatory authority interactions related to external operations. The position operates with a high degree of professional independence and judgement, consistent with HPRA and EU GMP expectations for a Senior GMP Quality Auditor. Quality Auditor Certification and Qualified Person are highly desirable.
• Provide independent, risk‑based leadership of GMP audits across external suppliers and contract partners supporting clinical and commercial products, including sterile and non‑sterile operations. Audits are performed to EU and US regulatory requirements and support ongoing compliance of the external manufacturing and supply network. The role is accountable for delivery of a robust external audit programme, typically involving 10+ audits per year mainly across US and EU locations.
• The scope of audit oversight of CMO/CDMOs (API manufacturers and suppliers, Drug Product manufacturers, Packagers, Storage and Warehousing), Contract Laboratories, Raw material and component suppliers, Transport and third-party logistic providers, and External partners), who are audited based on the GMP impact and scope of activities performed.
• Provide ongoing GMP quality oversight and governance of external manufacturing and supply partners throughout the supplier lifecycle, ensuring sustained compliance with EU and US regulatory requirements, etc.
• In addition to leading GMP audits, maintain responsibility for supplier quality management activities, including maintenance of audit and supplier records within the QMS (e.g. TrackWise). Ensure that audit outcomes, supplier compliance status, commitments, and corrective actions are appropriately documented, risk‑assessed, and tracked to timely and effective closure.
• Manage supplier qualification and re‑qualification activities, including oversight of audit and supplier re‑qualification schedules, ensuring that CMOs, CDMOs, and suppliers remain suitable for their intended scope of use based on risk, audit outcomes, and regulatory expectations.
• Coordinate and support internal stakeholder engagement related to supplier oversight activities, including organisation and documentation of pre‑audit readiness meetings, ensuring cross‑functional alignment, audit preparedness, and effective communication of audit scope, expectations, and outcomes.
• Providing independent QP oversight and regulatory judgement in support of external manufacturing and supplier activities.
• Provide QP assessment and evaluation of GMP compliance at external sites, including review of audit outcomes, third‑party audit reports, supplier risk assessments, and quality system effectiveness, ensuring alignment with EU GMP requirements and the principles of Annex 16.
• Maintain current knowledge of EU and US GMP legislation, HPRA and EMA expectations, and relevant regulatory guidance, and apply this knowledge to audit strategy, supplier oversight, and Qualified Person assessments.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, and authority interactions related to external sites, suppliers, and products, including inspection preparation, provision of subject‑matter expertise during inspections, and input to regulatory responses and commitments where required.
• Contribute to the effective operation and continuous improvement of the QMS through involvement in quality activities relevant to external supplier oversight and auditing.
• Exercise independent professional judgement in the assessment of GMP compliance, supplier suitability, audit outcomes, and quality risk decisions associated with external manufacturing and supply partners.
• Ensure GMP audit oversight includes assessment of controlled substance handling and compliance at external CMOs/CDMOs and suppliers.

Requirements for Senior Manager, GMP Auditor

• BSc in a relevant scientific discipline required.
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of pharmaceutical quality systems, manufacturing and analytical operations, with a deep understanding of EU and US GMP regulatory frameworks and their application to external manufacturing and supplier networks.
• 8+ years’ experience in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, including at least 4 years’ experience conducting or leading GMP quality audits of CMOs, CDMOs, and/or suppliers.
• Proven ability to lead GMP audits independently, apply risk‑based judgement, and communicate audit outcomes, expectations, and compliance risks clearly and effectively to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Strong professional judgement, integrity, and independence, with the ability to assess complex quality and compliance issues and elevate risks appropriately.
• Team player with quality‑focus, with the ability to collaborate effectively across quality, technical, regulatory, and operational functions.
• Highly detail‑oriented, with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities across a complex external supplier network.
• Experienced working in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment, with a proactive approach to continuous improvement and regulatory readiness.
• Frequent travel expected.

For further details please contact Larry on [phone] / [e-mail]

The RFT Group, BioPharmaceutical Division specialise exclusively in the recruitment of scientists, engineers and executives for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. www.rftgroup.ie