External Quality Lead (Senior Manager/Associate Director, commensurate with experience)

Reports to Director, Product Quality Lead. The External Quality Lead (EQL) provides tactical, day-to-day Quality oversight of external manufacturing partners (CMOs) within Menarini Stemline’s virtual operating model. In addition to managing commercial batch disposition, this role ensures quality oversight for all product phases (clinical to commercial) and is critical for compliance with cGMP regulations and Menarini Stemline’s quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Tech Transfer Execution: Collaborate closely with relevant organizations (e.g., R&D or CMO) during technology transfer to ensure CMOs achieve appropriate readiness for commercialization.
• Validation & Stability Handoff: Align with R&D and Quality Control on touchpoints for management of the stability Quality Control program. Review and approve process validation, analytical method transfer, and equipment qualification protocols/reports.
• Operational Oversight: Provide operational QA oversight for products manufactured at CMOs or Menarini manufacturing sites, ensuring full compliance to manufacture, test, and release commercial products. Ensure establishment, maintenance, and adherence to appropriate Quality Agreements.
• Batch Disposition: Lead the review and approval of Master Production Records (MPRs) and Executed Production Records (EPRs) for Drug Substance and Drug Product to drive final product disposition.
• Technical Deviation Management: Review and approve deviations, OOS/OOT results, and CAPAs generated by the CMO. Ensure robust root-cause analysis and implementation of effective preventive actions.
• Operational Change Control: Review and approve all CMO change controls to accommodate process scale-up. Ensure Operations teams generate appropriate Change Controls for process-related changes prior to execution.
• On-Site Oversight: Provide Quality oversight of GMP compliance at manufacturing, packaging, and testing facilities. Lead or support CMO audits and execute "Person-in-Plant" activities as required. Support creation and maintenance of procedural documentation.
• Manage and prioritize workload and projects to ensure effective and efficient completion of tasks, working independently.
• Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams, senior leadership, and CMO management.
• Act as a bridge between departmental teams and senior leadership, ensuring alignment with corporate goals.
• Work with Quality Operations management to support regulatory inspections (FDA, EMA, etc.).
• Travel to CMOs as needed (~25%).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a scientific discipline, or comparable experience.
• 6–8 years of experience in Quality Assurance, with at least 3 years supporting Sterile Manufacturing.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of pharmaceutical quality operations experience or quality oversight of a CMO.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP, FDA, and/or EU regulations and requirements.
• Experience working in a global capacity (e.g., interacting with international third parties).
• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups, technical and non-technical colleagues. Experience establishing and maintaining effective relationships with leaders and peers.
• Ability to lead and participate on teams with shared responsibility for outcomes and decision-making.
• Experience with cGMP computer system validation (CSV) and electronic data management.
• Prior experience working within SAP, Veeva, and/or Trackwise would be beneficial.

This position is classified as a corporate office role. In accordance with the New York employer convenience rule, Stemline will withhold New York state income taxes for all corporate office employees, regardless of work location.

Pay

Base Salary Range of $140,000–180,000.

Benefits

• Short- and Long-Term Incentive Programs.
• Fidelity 401(k) with company match.
• Anthem Premier PPO and HDHP insurance plans.
• Company-paid Basic Life & AD&D insurance.
• Pre-tax FSA/HSA programs.