Associate Director, Program Quality Management

About the role

The Associate Director (AD), Program Quality Management is responsible for building and sustaining the quality relationship with partners through transparent and trusting communications, working with Program Management and site SLTs to provide unprecedented delivery. This role is accountable for the quality aspects of customer programs from initial discussions through end of program review/close.

Responsibilities

• Partners with customers to agree the quality standards/governance/responsibilities for programs, documents and approves Quality Agreements and Statements of Work (SOW) and/or change orders, as necessary.
• Manages key product specific documentation, such as process control strategy, product specification and sample plan approvals ensuring the right quality at the right time and aligns the Quality Agreement/SOWs.
• Led, plans, and executes programs in alignment with Quality Agreements.
• Acts as Quality point of contact for the Program Management team.
• Ensures timely and effective communication between the program client and site quality teams, stakeholders, and applicable functions as necessary with appropriate attendance at site tier/customer project/ customer steering meetings.
• Designs strong risk identification and management processes to highlight risk to programs, allowing solutions to be implemented without affecting the ability to deliver.
• Drives decisions and recommendations with SLT and/or global quality.
• Leads and coordinates client audits in partnership with the PQS team members providing strategic quality support.
• Leads Quality Management Review for customer programs ensuring a focus on continuous improvement, identifying trends and risks and agreeing actions with the customer/site.
• Ensures delivery of product specification files, annual product reviews, product quality management review and end of campaign reviews.
• Shares learnings through the organization and across programs.
• Pairs with the Key Account Manager (KAM) organization to ensure regular feedback and input into relevant customer meetings.
• Organizes, leads, and facilitates Quality project teams (internal and external) and determines meeting cadence for each program.
• Provides a standard agenda and meeting summaries such as discussion points, decisions, action-risk log.
• Implements a project team meeting cadence which enables appropriate internal discussions and client engagement/communication.
• Sets up and manages product-specific stability studies and oversees the program-specific reference material, ensuring requalification’s performed and material available for product testing if applicable.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering or related science degree and 11+ years’ experience; OR, Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering or related science degree with 9+ years of experience; OR, D. in in Life Sciences, Engineering or related science degree with 7+ years of experience.
• Experience in customer relationship management or alliance management.
• Experience in quality assurance in a GMP environment.
• Experience in developing and implementing regulatory strategies.
• Experience managing projects, programs, or portfolios.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Collaborative attitude with the willingness to work with global peers and cross-functional teams toward company and department goals.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to effectively present information to others.
• Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills; problem solving & conflict resolution skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to maintaining the quality standards.
• Strong understanding of regulatory affairs in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder interactions.
• Proactive approach to regulatory intelligence and compliance.
• Commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments while meeting timelines in a GMP environment.
• Ability to coach, lead, and develop individual contributors.
• Must be flexible to support 24/7 manufacturing facility.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to discern audible cues.
• Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time for up to 60 minutes.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time for up to 120 minutes.
• Ability to conduct work that includes moving objects up to 10 pounds.