Associate Director, Microbiology

PCI Pharma Services; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Flexible spending account

401(k) plan

Job summary

The Associate Director, Microbiology at PCI Pharma Services in San Diego leads the site microbiology organization, directing EM programs, sterile testing, and contamination control within a cGMP framework to meet FDA/EMA expectations. You will partner with Quality, Manufacturing, and Validation to drive continuous improvement and risk mitigation across the site.

The role emphasizes strategic leadership, staff development, and cross-functional collaboration, ensuring robust microbiology systems,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biology, Life Sciences, or a related scientific discipline required.
• Master's degree in Microbiology, Life Sciences, or related discipline preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant Microbiology experience within a cGMP pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CDMO, or related regulated environment.
• Minimum 4 years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the site Microbiology organization, including staffing, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Establish and execute short- and long-term Microbiology objectives aligned with site and business priorities.
• Oversee microbiology programs including Environmental Monitoring (EM), microbial testing, contamination control, aseptic practices, and investigations.
• Manage Contamination Control Strategy and Committee to identify and mitigate microbiological risks.
• Ensure microbiology systems and practices meet regulatory requirements (FDA, EMA, GMP, USP).
• Lead investigations involving environmental monitoring, sterility, bioburden, endotoxin, and related events.

Skills

Strategic leadership

GMP knowledge

Environmental Monitoring

Microbiology testing

Regulatory readiness

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology or Life Sciences

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Life changing therapies. Global impact. Bridge to thousands of biopharma companies and their patients.

We are PCI.

Our investment is in People who make an impact, drive progress and create a better tomorrow. Our strategy includes building teams across our global network to pioneer and shape the future of PCI.

The Associate Director, Microbiology provides strategic and technical leadership for the site Microbiology organization and is responsible for the development, implementation, and ongoing oversight of microbiology programs supporting cGMP manufacturing operations. This role leads the Microbiology team and ensures microbiological testing, environmental monitoring, contamination control, aseptic practices, and associated quality systems meet internal standards and applicable global regulatory requirements.

The Associate Director serves as a key Microbiology subject matter expert and strategic partner to Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Validation, and other site functions. The role is responsible for developing organizational capability, driving continuous improvement, supporting regulatory and client commitments, and maintaining a robust contamination control strategy across the site.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the site Microbiology organization, including staffing, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.

• Establish and execute short- and long-term Microbiology objectives aligned with site and business priorities.

• Oversee microbiology programs including Environmental Monitoring (EM), microbial testing, contamination control, aseptic practices, utilities monitoring, and microbiological investigations.

• Provide leadership for the site Contamination Control Strategy (CCS) and Contamination Control Committee, ensuring effective identification, assessment, and mitigation of microbiological risks.

• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Validation, and other functions to ensure robust contamination control and aseptic processing practices.

• Ensure microbiology systems, procedures, and practices remain aligned with cGMP, FDA, EMA, USP, and other applicable regulatory and industry requirements.

• Oversee development, implementation, and maintenance of microbiological methods, procedures, specifications, and testing programs.

• Provide technical oversight and critical review of microbiology data, trends, investigations, deviations, CAPAs, technical reports, and related quality records.

• Identify microbiological trends and emerging risks and lead appropriate corrective and preventive actions.

• Provide technical leadership for investigations involving environmental monitoring, microbial excursions, sterility, bioburden, endotoxin, media fills, and other microbiological events.

• Support validation and qualification activities for facilities, equipment, utilities, and microbiology processes.

• Represent Microbiology as a subject matter expert during internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, client audits, and technical discussions.

• Partner with clients on microbiology-related process development, technology transfer, testing, monitoring investigations, and quality requirements.

• Establish and maintain a culture of scientific rigor, compliance, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

• Develop and maintain appropriate departmental staffing, training, competency, budget, and capital plans.

• Ensure personnel are appropriately trained and qualified in microbiology testing, cGMP requirements, SOPs, safety, and aseptic practices.

• Build strong cross-functional partnerships and effectively communicate microbiological risks, trends, and recommendations to site leadership.

• Identify opportunities to improve microbiology processes, reduce operational variability, increase efficiency, and strengthen the site's overall contamination control program.

• Maintain transparent and effective communication with employees, site leadership, clients, and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Promote PCI's values and culture while developing a high-performing, engaged, and accountable Microbiology organization.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biology, Life Sciences, or a related scientific discipline required.

• Master's degree in Microbiology, Life Sciences, or related discipline preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of relevant Microbiology experience within a cGMP pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CDMO, or related regulated environment.

• Minimum 4 years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading microbiology programs supporting sterile or aseptic manufacturing operations.

• Strong working knowledge of GMP, USP, Environmental Monitoring, contamination control, aseptic processing, microbial testing, and microbiological investigations.

• Experience supporting regulatory inspections, client audits, and remediation activities preferred.

• Experience developing and implementing contamination control strategies and microbiology improvement programs preferred.

The hiring rate for this position is $150,000 - $170,000 plus eligibility for an annual performance bonus. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to specific and relevant experience, education, credentials, geography, and subject matter expertise. PCI offers full-time employees a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health insurance coverage (including dental and vision), a flexible spending account, and a 401(k) plan.

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Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

PCI Pharma Services is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We do not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or domestic or civil union status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, disability, military eligibility or veteran status, or any other protected status.

At PCI, Equity and Inclusion are at the core of our company's purpose: Together, delivering life-changing therapies. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace by holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards of understanding, fairness, respect, and equal opportunity - at every level. We envision a PCI community where everyone can belong and grow, and we strive to bring this vision to reality by continuously and intentionally assessing our people practices, policies and programs, marketing approach, and workplace culture.