KBI: US - Manufacturing Associate I

KBI Biopharma, Inc.; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

KBI Biopharma, Inc. in Durham, NC is looking for a Manufacturing Associate I/II to perform production activities in a cGMP environment. Responsibilities include executing tasks per SOPs and ensuring compliance with quality standards.

The ideal candidate should have a scientific degree or relevant GMP experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment. This role may require long shifts in clean room conditions.

Qualifications

• Manufacturing Associate I: Bachelor's degree and 0-2 years of GMP experience, or high school diploma with 3-5 years of experience.
• Manufacturing Associate II: Bachelor's degree and 2-5 years of GMP experience, or high school diploma with 4-6 years of experience.
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules and operating instructions.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture cell culture products according to batch records and compliance standards.
• Perform cleanroom operations adhering to aseptic processing controls.
• Document manufacturing procedures in compliance with Good Documentation Practices.

Skills

Basic knowledge of cell culture

Experience in single-use platform technology

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Ability to focus in a fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related scientific or engineering discipline

High school diploma with relevant GMP experience

Job description

Overview

Job Description 7AM-7PM / 2*2*3 Manufacturing Schedule The Manufacturing Associate I/II will perform Upstream or Downstream production activities for early and late-phase Cell Culture programs in a GMP environment. Responsibilities include executing tasks per SOPs, batch records, and GMP/GDP/GLP standards, ensuring compliance and accuracy. The role involves various unit operations such as media/buffer preparation, bioreactor operations, aseptic techniques, chromatography, ultrafiltration, and drug substance filling. Candidates must maintain process ownership, facility upkeep, and thorough documentation review to ensure compliance. The ideal candidate should have a basic understanding of cell culture, fermentation, or purification unit operations, with preference given to those experienced in single-use platform technology. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. The role requires an energetic, motivated, and dynamic individual who is highly organized and capable of maintaining efficiency and a positive demeanor in a fast-paced, multitasking environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manufacture cell culture products according to manufacturing batch records while ensuring compliance with quality standards, company policies, and current regulations.
• Perform cleanroom operations, adhering to aseptic processing controls, including gowning and cleaning procedures.
• Document manufacturing procedures (e.g., SRs, EPRs, BRs) in compliance with Good Documentation Practices (GDP) at the time of execution.
• Ensure proper issuance and accountability of items used in manufacturing records (SR, EPR, BR).
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in daily tasks and responsibilities.
• Maintain and uphold 5S standards in the manufacturing environment.
• Operate and perform maintenance on equipment per applicable Standard Operating Procedures.

Minimum Requirements

• Manufacturing Associate I: Bachelor's degree in a related scientific or engineering discipline with 0-2 years of GMP manufacturing experience; OR high school diploma with 3-5 years of related GMP manufacturing experience.
• Manufacturing Associate II: Bachelor's degree in a related scientific or engineering discipline with 2-5 years of GMP manufacturing experience; OR high school diploma with 4-6 years of related GMP manufacturing experience.
• Basic knowledge of cell culture, fermentation, or purification unit operations is preferred.
• Experience in single-use platform technology is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Energetic, motivated and dynamic individual.
• Must be organized and able to focus in a fast-paced, multi-tasked environment and maintain operational efficiency and positive demeanor.
• Fluent in English language (reading and writing).
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, batch and production records.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees of organization.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret graphs.

Physical Demands

Standing and sitting for long periods of time may be required at times. Lifting, pushing, and pulling may be required for stocking and movement of equipment. The use of ladder may be required when setting up bioreactors.

Working Conditions

The job requires working 12‑hour shifts which may include working overnight. The job requires working within a cGMP manufacturing biotechnology facility which requires clean room operations. Clean room operations require donning clean room attire when entering clean room areas and maintaining good personal hygiene. While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly utilizes equipment and materials which include mechanical hazards, chemical hazards, electricity hazards, and tripping and falling hazards. The noise level in the environment is moderate to high.

Equal Opportunity

KBI Biopharma, Inc. is an EEO/AA employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. Therefore, all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, are strongly encouraged to apply.