Senior QA Specialist, External Manufacturing, US

Bavarian Nordic; Durham (NC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Bavarian Nordic is seeking a Senior QA Specialist to oversee external manufacturing in the US, focusing on aseptic fill-finish operations, regulatory alignment, and continuous quality improvement. You will collaborate with CMOs and internal teams to ensure GMP compliance and product quality across global vaccine production.

The role emphasizes oversight of sterile manufacturing, QA systems, and risk management, with travel to US or international sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of Quality Assurance experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing.
• 5+ years with aseptic processing and sterile manufacturing environments.
• Experience overseeing CMOs/CDMOs and managing deviations/CAPAs.
• Willingness to travel to US or international sites.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring CMOs maintain the highest levels of Quality standards conforming to cGMP and in conjunction with BN QAA.
• Support the Bavarian Nordic QPs to enable the release of the highest quality vaccines.
• Managing and resolving complex quality-related issues relating to aseptic operations including vial filling and labelling and secondary packing operations.
• Promoting a strong quality culture and driving continuous improvement initiatives across areas.
• Representing QA External Manufacturing in global and cross-organizational forums within Bavarian Nordic.
• Lead or participate in internal and external GMP audits and monitor quality metrics with manufacturing partners.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Aseptic processing

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, or related discipline

Job description

Protecting our tomorrow Job Title: Senior QA Specialist, External Manufacturing

US Location: Remote, East Coast Preferred

Department: Quality Assurance

Reports To: Head of External QA & Global EHS

Salary Range: $120k - $155k

Position Overview

Do you want to be part of a collaborative and supportive QA team and play a key role in ensuring the quality and safety of vaccines supplied to patients worldwide? At Bavarian Nordic, our vaccines make a real difference. We are seeking an experienced Senior QA Specialist to support in the ongoing oversight of a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) operating under aseptic manufacturing conditions. This role is critical to ensuring compliance, product quality, and operational excellence across sterile fill-finish operations, including vial filling, labeling, and packaging activities. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in aseptic GMP manufacturing environments, strong knowledge of sterile operations, and hands-on experience managing quality oversight of external manufacturing partners. As our new QA Specialist, you will take on a broad and impactful role, working directly with our affiliated CMOS and closely with stakeholders across the organization to ensure high quality standards within External Manufacturing production.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring CMOs maintain the highest levels of Quality standards conforming to cGMP and in conjunction with BN QAA
• Support the Bavarian Nordic QPs to enable the release of the highest quality vaccines
• Managing and resolving complex quality-related issues relating to aseptic operations including vial filling and labelling and secondary packing operations
• Promoting a strong quality culture and driving continuous improvement initiatives across areas
• Representing QA External Manufacturing in global and cross-organizational forums within Bavarian Nordic
• In addition, you will contribute to a range of related QA activities: Review and approve GMP documentation including: Batch records Deviations CAPAs Change controls Validation protocols and reports Ensure compliance with FDA, EU GMP, ICH, and applicable US regulatory requirements Participate in risk assessments and investigations related to sterile manufacturing operations Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, and Technical Operations teams Support technology transfers and process validation activities at external manufacturing sites Lead or participate in internal and external GMP audits Monitor quality metrics and drive continuous improvement initiatives with manufacturing partners Serve as the primary QA liaison between the client and the CMO

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, or related discipline
• 10+ years of Quality Assurance experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing
• 5+ years of strong experience with aseptic processing and sterile manufacturing environments is required
• Demonstrated experience overseeing CMOs/CDMOs is a must
• In-depth understanding of: FDA cGMP regulations EU GMP Annex 1 Sterile fill-finish operations Validation and contamination control strategies Experience reviewing batch documentation and managing deviations/CAPAs Excellent communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills Ability to travel periodically to manufacturing sites within the US or internationally as needed

About the Team and Department

You will join a competent and supportive QA External Manufacturing team, reporting directly to the Head of QA for External Manufacturing. The team currently consists of eight colleagues. The group is a mix of experienced QA professionals with DBS UDP and FDP experience, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous development. You will also become part of wider External department, comprising approximately 40 employees across sites in Kvistgaard, Denmark, and Munich, Germany. The department is characterized by close cross-site collaboration, a strong quality mindset, and a shared commitment to delivering safe and compliant products to patients.

Why Join Us

Join a passionate, mission-driven global biotech committed to protecting lives. At Bavarian Nordic, you’ll find a collaborative culture, flexible work environment, and opportunities for ongoing professional development and growth. Bavarian Nordic is a global vaccine company with a mission to improve health and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a preferred supplier of mpox and smallpox vaccines to governments to enhance public health preparedness and have a leading portfolio of travel vaccines. We are headquartered in Denmark and have manufacturing, research, and sales offices across Europe and North America.

Bavarian Nordic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

#LI-MA1

Join Bavarian Nordic a fully integrated vaccine company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of life-savings vaccines Our values – our Bavarian Nordic DNA, as we like to call it – are what guide our actions every day. We act as persistent pioneers, embrace change, value being boosted by the team, and believe in protecting lives every day. If that is also a part of your DNA, we invite you to join us in Bavarian Nordic!

Bavarian Nordic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information visit www.bavarian-nordic.com