Assoc Director, Quality Control

We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal – curing cancer. Every single day, we seek to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work. Join us in our mission!

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join us as an Associate Director, to lead Quality Control Analytical Tech Services group, reporting to the Senior Director, Quality Control in Frederick, MD. In this role, you will lead a group and work closely with the Senior Director and other Associate Directors on supporting commercial operations in CAR-T technology.

You will work on complex projects involving qPCR/ddPCR, Flow cytometry and cell-based bioassays and lead efforts in automation development for analytical assays. You will have cross-functional interaction with personnel from other groups such as Quality Assurance, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, Material Management (MM) and Corporate teams.

Position Responsibilities (include but not limited to):

• Provide technical support, process trending and procedural updates

• Lead method validation and method transfers support continuous improvement, to support method/product/invalid trending, and to investigate laboratory/assay related findings.

• Lead and support method development, validations, and transfers

• Support laboratory investigations, deviations, CAPAs, change control as needed

• Assist in investigation, identify root cause for critical deviations and determine CAPA for QC as needed

• Establish data analytics to serve as metrics for monitoring trends in methods, products, and invalids

• Support incoming tech transfers from AD/PD as needed

• Author technical reports and protocols in support of cGMP activities

• Supervise, train, and mentor junior staff

• Create and/or revise procedures, SOPs, and test methods as needed

• Support equipment and software lifecyle process

• LIMS development and integration

• Provide technical expertise for AD/PD, QA, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain as needed

• Support and participate inspection readiness plans and participate during compliance audits (internal and external) and regulatory inspections.

• Follow technology changes, recommends new technologies, advises on technology purchases and implementation if appropriate.

• Additional duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Advanced scientific degree (i.e. MD, PharmD, PhD) and 2+ years’ experience in biologics/cell-gene therapy in QC Analytical, Analytical Development environment OR

• Master’s Degree and 8+ years’ experience in biologics/cell-gene therapy in QC Analytical, Analytical Development environment OR

• Bachelor’s Degree and 10+ years’ experience in biologics/cell-gene therapy in QC Analytical, Analytical Development envir