QA RA Director Consulting Position

ProPharma; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ProPharma in Raleigh seeks an experienced leader in quality, regulatory, and GxP to guide GMP readiness for a biotech/pharma ecosystem, including instrument, software, and consumables. Lead QMS development, Part 11 adherence, vendor qualification, and cross-functional execution with a lean, scalable approach.

The role requires 10+ years in life sciences quality/regulatory, and a proven track record building quality systems from the ground up to support GMP projects and customer partnerships.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in quality, regulatory, or GxP leadership within life sciences.
• GMP (21 CFR 211), 21 CFR 11, ISO 9001, eQMS implementation.
• Built quality systems from the ground up for startups.
• Understands supplier technologies for GMP workflows.
• Led QA for GMP drug manufacturers and qualified vendor analytical assays.
• Vendor-side experience taking instruments from R&D to GMP-ready state.
• Uses a lean, right-sized approach; avoids overbuild.
• Experience with instrumentation, software, biological consumables, and hardware consumables.

Responsibilities

• Assess draft GMP platform roadmap, gaps, timelines, and risks.
• Recommend which platform to lead with and build a phased roadmap.
• Guide IQ/OQ/PQ documentation and design controls for integrated systems.
• Support QMS build-out across instruments, HW consumables, biological consumables, and software.
• Shape Organizational Quality Strategy and hiring plan for scaling function.

Skills

Quality leadership

Regulatory strategy

GxP compliance

Vendor qualification

Lean approach

IQ/OQ/PQ guidance

eQMS implementation

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

GMP frameworks

Job description

For the past 25 years, ProPharma has improved the health and wellness of patients by providing advice and expertise that empowers biotech, med device, and pharmaceutical organizations of all sizes to confidently advance scientific breakthroughs and introduce new therapies. ProPharma partners with its clients through an advise-build-operate model across the complete product lifecycle. With deep domain expertise in regulatory sciences, clinical research solutions, quality & compliance, pharmacovigilance, medical information, and R&D technology, ProPharma offers an end-to-end suite of fully customizable consulting solutions that de-risk and accelerate our partners’ most high-profile drug and device programs.

Our Biologics client builds instruments, software, hardware consumables, and biological consumables for functional cell-based assays. They have a lean team in need of an experienced strategic advisor to help build out and execute their GMP readiness plan so their first GMP-ready product can reach customers sooner and more efficiently.

GMP Platform roadmap

• Assess our draft 3-platform roadmap, gaps, timelines, and risks
• Recommend which platform to lead with
• Build a phased, gated roadmap with a defensible "launch line" for when it can credibly be sold for GMP use
• Guide (and where needed help execute) design controls, design FMEA, and an IQ/OQ/PQ strategy for a combined instrument, consumable, and software system
• (Possible) hand-on building of DQ/IQ/OQ/PQ documentation

21 CFR Part 11 roadmap

• Review & refine our existing Part 11 roadmap
• Advise as needed on Part 11 execution plans
• Provide critical input into decision of offline versus cloud-based analysis

QMS Build-out – Instruments, HW Consumables, Biological Consumables, Software

• Guide a lean QMS spanning all four product elements
• Address the quality manual, SOPs, document control, supplier qualification, COAs, and how to handle batch-to-batch consumable variability and single-source component risk
• Choose eQMS (or direct DIY eQMS)
• (Possible) hands-on implementation of QMS and its elements (e.g. drafting SOPs, etc)

Organizational Quality Strategy

• Help determine org strategy for scaling Quality & Regulatory function (identify key remaining gaps; map out which hires to make when; internal vs external support)
• (Possible) Customer-facing Quality & Regulatory leader
• Lending credibility to Quality & Regulatory strategy for customers considering investing in our platform prior to GMP-readiness
• Engage with customers to gather critical VoC inputs to GMP-readiness

Requirements

• 10+ years in quality, regulatory, or GxP leadership within life sciences
• GMP (21 CFR 211), 21 CFR 11, ISO 9001,eQMS implementation
• Has built quality systems from the ground up – ideally for startups
• Understands how drug manufacturers qualify and adopt supplier technologies for GMP workflows
• Led QA for GMP drug manufacturer, has qualified vendor analytical assays
• Vendor-side, taking scientific instruments from R&D into GMP-ready state for pharma/biotech customers.
• Uses right-sized approach (i.e. lean where appropriate; careful not to overbuild)
• Experience supporting products that combine instrumentation, software, biological consumables, and hardware consumables.

We celebrate our differences and strive to create a workplace where each person can be their authentic self. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Employees are encouraged to unleash their innovative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial spirits. With a holistic approach as an Equal Opportunity Employer, we provide a safe space where all employees feel empowered to succeed.

All applications to roles at ProPharma are personally reviewed by a member of our recruitment team. We do not rely on AI screening tools to support our hiring process. You will always receive an outcome to your application so that you have an answer from us - whether you're successful or not.

Whilst ProPharma supports remote working, we also recognise the value that comes from in person collaboration. As such, we encourage any new hires that are based within a reasonably short commute of one of our offices to work on a hybrid basis and spend some time working from that office location, as agreed with your manager. All applications will be treated on their own merit and candidates will not be at any advantage or disadvantage based on their proximity to an office.