Manager, Manufacturing Technology - Drug Product

Position Summary:

As part of the Manufacturing Technical Team (within TO CM&S), the Manager, Manufacturing Technical – Drug Product is accountable for the development, implementation, and oversight of the supply at Apellis’ Contract Manufacturing Organizations. Will assume the responsibility for deviation handling as a part of the Supplier Relationship Team (SRT) for Drug Product (DP). The individual will be responsible for assuring Drug Product conforms to regulatory and company standards and satisfies GMP regulations. The Manager, Manufacturing Technical – Drug Product will bring advanced skills in late-stage development and commercial phase technical processes, also supporting other functional areas.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Handling of manufacturing topics in late stage and commercial phase, such as batch release, deviations (technical deviation management) and change controls as a part of the Supplier Relationship Team for drug products.
• Plan and organize manufacturing schedules with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) ensuring consistent material availability for all manufacturing activities, including adequate planning for long lead time items.
• Review batch production records and written instructions to ensure cGMP compliance and maintain regulatory and quality compliance.
• Oversee production processes on-site with the CMOs and establish/review organized filing of CMO documentation.
• Monitor CMO performance and communicate findings, including risks and opportunities, to internal stakeholders and trigger corrective countermeasures.
• Assist in conducting CMO audits to assess and quantify their demonstrated manufacturing capabilities and capacities.
• Act as steward of processes and standards in the SRT (e.g. documentation of processes and capabilities, process enhancement) by proactively anticipating, evaluating, and resolving technical challenges within the area of expertise.
• Day-to-day manufacturing operations: batch record review, investigations, CAPAs.
• Make recommendations to QA by reviewing deviations, investigations, supplier risk assessments, mitigation plans and CAPAs.
• Use risk management, investigational techniques, root cause analysis and quality concepts in the identification and evaluation of compliance risks in concert with QA.
• Study and analyze process improvements to gain efficiency and increase productivity through ongoing routine process monitoring (e.g. CPP trending), and support continuous process verification.
• Review essential elements of scale-up and technology transfer leading to successful process validation and robust commercialization.
• Gather knowledge as the basis for the manufacturing control strategy, the approach for process qualification and continuous process improvements.
• Establish effective relationships with all development and manufacturing partners to provide oversight and coordinate with internal teams.
• Participate in the active writing and review of CMC modules for clinical and commercial regulatory submissions (NDA, IND, etc.).
• Participate in various cross-functional projects as needed and appropriate.

Education, Registration & Certification:

• College degree in life science or engineering or in a related area.

Experience:

• Work experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing with focus on technical and engineering topics or related areas.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical, technical, manufacturing and engineering processes along with insights in regulatory and quality areas.
• Experience in batch release, deviation handling and change controls.
• Proven track record of experience in late-stage clinical or commercial manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing with at least 2 years of experience in manufacturing technical related topics like major deviation handling, batch record review, change controls, regulatory, quality and others.
• Proficient technical computer skills, communication, comprehension, interpretation, problem-solving, team spirit, critical thinking and organization skills.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets. This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 20% travel expected. 

Benefits and Perks:

Apellis offers a great benefit package which includes: health insurance with full premium coverage, 401K with company match, paid time off (PTO), long- term disability insurance, life insurance and more!  Visit https://apellis.com/careers/ to learn more.

Company Background:

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company that combines courageous science and compassion to develop life-changing therapies for some of the most challenging diseases patients face. We ushered in the first new class of complement medicine in 15 years and now have two approved medicines targeting C3. These include the first and only therapy for geographic atrophy, a leading cause of blindness around the world. With nearly a dozen clinical and pre-clinical programs underway, we believe we have only begun to unlock the potential of targeting C3 across many serious diseases.

For more information, please visit http://apellis.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

 EEO Statement:

Apellis is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state and local fair employment practices laws. Apellis strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy), gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, marital status, AIDS/HIV status, smoker/nonsmoker, and occupational pneumoconiosis or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

For San Francisco postings: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.