Senior Operator-Fill/Finish

Elanco in; Fort Dodge (IA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Elanco, a global leader in animal health, seeks a Senior Operator-Fill/Finish at its Fort Dodge site to support biologics manufacturing under cGMP. You will operate and troubleshoot production equipment, handle aseptic processes, document activities, and drive Lean improvements daily.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s in Microbiology or related field (or equivalent), experience with fermentation/centrifuges, and ability to follow batch records with basic computer skills.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s in Microbiology or related field; OR Associate’s with 2+ years; OR HS diploma with 4+ years of experience.
• Experience: basic knowledge of manufacturing operations and biological production processes; familiarity with fermentation, centrifuges, and concentration units.
• Skills: read, interpret and follow batch records; basic computer skills (Word, Excel, electronic management systems, ERP).

Responsibilities

• Perform aseptic biological production activities per batch records, cGMP, safety, and site procedures.
• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot production equipment and ensure release for use.
• Oversee production processes, cleaning, environmental monitoring, and in-process quality checks.

Skills

Batch records

Manufacturing ops

Biological production

ERP systems

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology

Associate's Degree + 2 years experience

High School Diploma + 4 years experience

Job description

Senior Operator-Fill/Finish (Project Management)

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you'll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals' lives better makes life better – join our team today!

As a Technician, Bio/Pharm Production, you will support biological manufacturing operations at our Fort Dodge site to safely produce vaccines that meet product specifications and current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards. In this role, you'll be responsible for operating and troubleshooting production equipment, supporting aseptic production processes, completing required documentation, and incorporating continuous improvement practices such as LEAN into daily operations.

Your Responsibilities:

• Perform aseptic biological production activities, including weighing, measuring, calculations, sampling, and verifications in accordance with batch production records (BPRs), cGMP requirements, safety standards, and site procedures.
• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot production equipment, including biological processing equipment, and ensure equipment, instruments, and materials are released and available for use.
• Oversee production processes, cleaning, environmental monitoring, and in-process batch quality checks while maintaining required safety and quality practices.
• Complete and maintain accurate production documentation, SOPs, deviation reports, electronic inventory transactions, and assigned training requirements.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to improve workplace practices and production processes, including integration of LEAN initiatives.

What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology or a related field; OR Associate's Degree plus 2 years of experience; OR High School Diploma plus 4 years of experience.
• Experience: Basic knowledge of manufacturing operations and biological production processes, including familiarity with biological equipment such as fermentation, centrifuges, and concentration units.
• Skills: Ability to read, interpret, and follow batch records, quality and safety requirements; basic computer skills including Word, Excel, electronic management systems, and applicable ERP systems.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):

• Basic understanding of biological organisms and biological production equipment.
• Experience working within cGMP-regulated manufacturing and following applicable USDA, OSHA, and site requirements.
• Ability to work with limited supervision and independently perform routine production activities.
• Strong quality orientation, analytical thinking, communication, and technical competence.
• Commitment to continuous learning and identifying opportunities to improve production processes and workplace efficiency.

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.