Director, Materials Science

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

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The Director, Materials Science will oversee the management of all raw materials, buffers, reagents, media, and single-use systems (SUS) for BMS commercial CAR T-cell therapies. This leadership role will manage a team of engineers and will be responsible for the technical oversight of key materials suppliers throughout the product lifecycle.

• Lead the raw materials and SUS team, providing strategic direction for supplier management, deviation investigations, change notifications, and troubleshooting related to materials used in drug product manufacturing.
• Provide leadership for Material Review Committee (MRC), driving the material risk management strategy.
• Develop and implement technical strategies for critical materials.
• Collaborate with supplier quality and technical development teams to establish a robust supplier oversight program.
• Build strong, effective working relationships with technical counterparts at key suppliers.
• Ensure the team provides technical oversight for critical product contact equipment for CAR T drug product operations.

 Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supplier Management & Oversight: Lead the selection and evaluation of critical raw material suppliers, assessing their technical capabilities against our cell therapy manufacturing requirements. Develop and implement risk-based strategies for supplier oversight, including conducting technical diligence and audits.
• Quality & Issue Resolution: Provide technical support for network-wide raw material issues impacting quality and supply. Facilitate risk assessments, develop mitigation plans, and ensure timely resolution of deviations and technical issues to maintain a reliable supply chain.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and execute strategies for raw material lifecycle changes and supply chain robustness. This includes creating master plans for all critical materials and leading projects for qualifying new or alternate sourcing options.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with Manufacturing, Process Development, Analytical R&D, Quality Operations, and MSAT to ensure comprehensive raw material oversight. Participate in relevant internal and joint governance meetings.
• Regulatory & Documentation: Author and review sections of regulatory dossiers, briefing books, and communications to health authorities concerning raw material controls. Prepare responses for information requests from regulatory bodies.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor team members, providing guidance on deviations, change control, regulatory and project support for raw materials and single-use systems (SUS).

Qualifications:

• PhD in Biological Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline with 10 years development / manufacturing technologies experience, or BS/MS with 15 or more years development / manufacturing technologies for biologics, or vaccines. A combination of related experiences/degrees may also be acceptable.  A minimum of 2 years raw material experience is required (single use systems and/or media/ buffer/ reagents).
• Experience with Quality Management System (example: Deviation, CAPA, Change Management). Excellent problem-solving skills, including issue resolution, root cause investigations and CAPAs. Knowledge of GMP manufacturing practices and documentation requirements.
• Ability to assess risk and develop contingency plans for process risks. Ability to effectively work in cross functional teams, meet deadlines, and prioritize responsibilities.
• Detail oriented with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal an