Associate Director, GMP Operational Quality - Cell & Genetic Therapies

Vertex Pharmaceuticals; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking an Associate Director, GMP Operational Quality to oversee a Quality team, develop personnel, and ensure deliverables meet global regulatory requirements.

You will mentor staff, manage audits, collaborate with partners, drive CAPA investigations, and lead continuous improvements in GMP processes to support Vertex's manufacturing and regulatory goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific or allied health field.
• 8+ years of relevant work experience with 2+ years in management.
• Strong knowledge of cGMPs and global GMP requirements.
• Experience leading cross-functional quality teams.
• Experience with audits and regulatory inspections.

Responsibilities

• Provide quality oversight for GMP activities.
• Lead a Quality team and mentor staff.
• Manage vendor performance and Quality Agreements.
• Support regulatory inspections and submissions.
• Drive continuous improvement of processes.
• Lead CAPA, deviations, RCA investigations.

Skills

Leadership

Quality Assurance

cGMP

Project Management

Audit Readiness

Risk Management

Cross-functional

Vendor management

CAPA/RCA

Change Control

Education

Bachelor's degree in science

Tools

QDocs

Trackwise

Veeva

Job description

Job Description

General Summary:

The Associate Director, GMP Operational Quality is responsible for oversight of team activities, development of personnel and ensuring quality of deliverables within department purview. The incumbent has comprehensive knowledge of principles and application of quality assurance and compliance. The incumbent is responsible for development of group goals and projects ensuring alignment with corporate goals and compliance with all regulatory requirements, refining goals and projects when necessary. The incumbent not only coordinates group responsibilities to ensure timely delivery to support business, but mentors team members to provide individual development in addition to efficient and valuable service to project teams.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead a Quality team: primarily responsible for providing quality oversight and support to business activities within purview at Vertex
• Collaborate with internal and external business partners to resolve complex quality issues to ensure compliant solutions
• Oversee CMO/Vendor performance, establishment of Quality Agreements and adherence of Quality Agreement terms
• Enable team to achieve team goals/objectives and enable their individual career development
• Develop and maintain compliant quality processes to support GMP activities
• Oversee the QA support of Change Controls, GMP investigations and associated CAPAs.
• Track performance metrics and report to Sr Management; develops tactics to improve performance outcomes
• Participate in inspection readiness activities and lead Quality development discussions as necessary during regulatory site inspections.
• Support review of regulatory submissions, as applicable
• Lead continuous improvements of department processes, realizing efficiency gains, and ensuring team continues to meet expanding business needs with lean resources.
• Lead and follow up on any QLT action items assigned.
• Identify and communicate risks and assist with risk mitigation plans as necessary
• Supports internal audit or external audit programs; assists in preparation of audit responses
• Provide comprehensive knowledge support for partner and regulatory agency audits
• Assist management team in budgeting and scheduling
• Responsible for the following activities related to people management responsibilities:
• Talent Acquisition/ Recruiting/Interviewing/ Selection/Onboarding
• Performance Management (goals, monitoring, reviews);
• Monitoring /Supporting Employee Engagement and Retention;
• Succession Planning;
• Accomplishing staff results by communicating job expectations, planning, coaching, training and developing personal growth opportunities through IDPs.
• Accountable to provide oversight of day to day team operations
• Assists with workforce planning/resource modeling and to update through forecasting activities

Knowledge and Skills:

• In-depth and specialized knowledge of both the conceptual and practical application of cGMPs in a pharmaceutical setting; in-depth knowledge of global GMP requirements and managing quality in support GMP manufacturing
• Demonstrated success in building high-performing teams and skilled at managing team and individual development
• Strong management skills with the ability to lead and motivate a team in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high degree of quality, accuracy and timeliness
• Substantial background in managing complex projects/teams within stated objectives and timelines and with a strong understanding of the underlying business drivers; skilled at applying project management processes / tools to lead meetings, assist with project planning, and facilitate attainment of project objectives
• Ability to independently lead cross-functional teams and represent the interests, strategies and objectives of Quality unit
• Strong skills in mentoring staff and transferring technical knowledge to enable their capabilities and development
• Ability to communicate cross-functionally to a wide variety of audiences; exchanges complex concepts with the ability to influence leaders, customers, or vendors to adopt of a new point of view and/or to take action
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex quality matters and make decisions utilizing risk-based approach; identifies and leverages the appropriate expertise to implement solutions
• Substantial experience successfully leading event investigations, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and CAPA
• Extensive exposure with multiple regulatory agencies across applicable GxPs during inspections
• Substantial experience with electronic document management systems (e.g., QDocs, Trackwise, Veeva)

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific or allied health field (or equivalent degree)
• Typically requires 8+ years of work experience and 2 years of management experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience

At Vertex, we embrace continuous learning and encourage employees to stay informed on advances in AI, technology, automation, and industry trends. We s