Senior Scientist – Product Sustainability, Quality, & Logistics

Senior Scientist – Product Sustainability, Quality, & Logistics

Zoetis Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Product Sustainability, Quality & Logistics in Kalamazoo, MI is seeking a talented, experienced individual to provide logistic oversight at the Senior Scientist level.  Zoetis is a global animal health company dedicated to supporting customers and their businesses. Building on 60 years of experience, we deliver quality medicines, biopharmaceuticals, and vaccines, complemented by diagnostic products and genetic tests and supported by a range of services. We are working every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant.  Zoetis discovers, develops, and manufactures a diverse portfolio of animal health medicines, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines designed to meet the real-world needs of veterinarians and the livestock farmers and companion animal owners they support.  We are currently seeking to fill new positions to support our growing research portfolio. 

Position Summary

Seeking a talented and motivated Senior Scientist to bridge logistics operations and foundational knowledge of animal health product development. This role will focus on managing the logistics of biological samples (Large Molecules and Biospecimens) and non-biologics (Small Molecules) while supporting the execution of research and development processes. This role is critical to the smooth operation of the laboratory, ensuring that projects and studies can be conducted without delays due a lack of inventory visibility or material shortages. Mentor a team of scientists, supporting cross-functional project teams, and serving as the primary point of contact for key internal and external partners.  The successful candidate will work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to ensure the efficient and compliant handling of biological and non-biological samples throughout the drug development lifecycle, from early research to late-stage development.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in animal health by combining scientific expertise with logistical precision.

Team Development:  Guide team structure, scheduling, and strategic planning to align with evolving needs.  Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to scientists and logistics engineers, fostering their professional growth and technical development.  Lead by example to cultivate a culture of continuous learning, scientific curiosity, and operational excellence within the team.  Identify individual strengths and development areas, offering constructive feedback and creating opportunities for skills advancement through coaching, training, and stretch assignments.

Sample Management:  Oversee the transportation, integration, storage, and distribution of biological and non-biological samples while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and quality control measures.  Develop and execute strategies to optimize sample flow within the biobank and across laboratory operations, ensuring sample availability and accessibility for laboratory studies and projects, while ensuring partners are proficient in using inventory databases to locate, access, and request these samples.

Quality and Data Management:  Adhere to and optimize Job Aids and protocols that outline Small Molecule, Large Molecule, and Biospecimen processing procedures. Maintain sample integrity through rigorous quality control procedures and manage inventory systems to track sample conditions, locations, and all associated metadata.  Ensure accurate documentation and data entry in Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and other databases.

Project Collaboration:  Partner with cross-functional teams, including research scientists, clinical trial operations, and external vendors, to develop logistical plans. Work closely within our supply chain process to ensure timely provisioning of necessary materials prior to study or project execution. Apply foundational knowledge of animal health product development and research processes to support project execution and logistical needs.

Qualifications:

• BS degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with a minimum of 10 years industry experience.
• MS degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with a minimum of 7 years industry experience.
• Ability and comfort with learning/using lab automation, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and online Inventory databases (BioRails).
• Experience in logistics or supply chain management, preferably within a laboratory setting.
• Demonstrated experience in people management, team leadership, and partner relationship development.
• Capable