Validation & Calibration Specialist

Real; Boxmeer; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Real is seeking a Senior Validation & Calibration Specialist to join the Operational Services team in Boxmeer, Netherlands, on-site. The role requires coordinating and executing GMP validation, qualification, and calibration activities in a manufacturing setting, reporting findings, and driving improvements.

You will collaborate with engineering, operations, quality, suppliers, and process owners, ensuring robust documentation and readiness for audits and inspections.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Technology, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry or GMP-regulated environments.
• Proven experience with validation, qualification, and calibration processes.
• Strong knowledge of GMP regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience writing and reviewing technical documentation and reports.
• Fluent Dutch and English; Dutch language proficiency is required.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and maintain validation, qualification, and calibration protocols.
• Prepare and review technical reports, documentation, and annual plans.
• Coordinate and execute validation and calibration activities in accordance with GMP requirements.
• Review qualification documentation and technical packages.
• Perform data analysis and maintain records within quality and CMMS systems.
• Act as SME for validation, qualification, and calibration topics.
• Support deviation investigations and change control activities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, engineering teams, and external suppliers.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and procedural enhancements.
• Support internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, safety, quality, and environmental standards.

Skills

Validation & Calibration

GMP

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Audits & inspections

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Life Sciences/Pharmaceutical Technology

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Senior Validation & Calibration Specialist

Start: ASAP

Duration: 12 months (with intent to extend)

Location: Boxmeer, Netherlands (100% On-site)

Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)

Sector: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing / GMP / Validation / Calibration / Engineering

About the Role

A leading pharmaceutical organization is looking for an experienced Senior Validation & Calibration Specialist to join its Operational Services team. In this position, you will be responsible for coordinating, executing, reviewing, and reporting validation, qualification, and calibration activities within a GMP-regulated manufacturing environment.

You will act as a technical expert and work closely with engineering, operations, quality, suppliers, and process owners. In addition to technical activities, you will play a key role in compliance, documentation, process improvement, and supporting audits and inspections.

This is not a junior-level position. The successful candidate should be able to quickly operate independently and make an immediate contribution to the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and maintain validation, qualification, and calibration protocols.
• Prepare and review technical reports, documentation, and annual plans.
• Coordinate and execute validation and calibration activities in accordance with GMP requirements.
• Review qualification documentation and technical packages.
• Perform data analysis and maintain records within quality and CMMS systems.
• Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for validation, qualification, and calibration-related topics.
• Support deviation investigations and change control activities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, engineering teams, and external suppliers.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and procedural enhancements.
• Support internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, safety, quality, and environmental standards.

Who We Are Looking For

You are an experienced validation professional who thrives in a pharmaceutical GMP environment. You have strong technical and documentation skills, work accurately, and can independently manage complex technical activities. In addition, you are comfortable interacting with a wide range of stakeholders and supporting business-critical operations.

Must-Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Technology, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry or another GMP-regulated environment.
• Proven experience with validation, qualification, and calibration processes.
• Strong knowledge of GMP regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience writing and reviewing technical documentation and reports.
• Good command of both Dutch and English.
• Fluent Dutch is mandatory due to Dutch-language SOPs, work instructions, and reporting requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of projects and technical topics.

Preferred

• Experience with autoclaves and sterilization processes.
• Experience with temperature mapping and thermal validation activities.
• Knowledge of process equipment qualification.
• Experience with deviation investigations and change control processes.
• Familiarity with CMMS systems.
• Previous experience serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME).
• Experience supporting audits and regulatory inspections.
• Experience within large pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.