Bio Manufacturing Operator

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

$2,500 sign-on bonus eligible! 

Why Work at Elwood?

The Elanco Elwood, Kansas facility was acquired from Kindred Biosciences in 2021 and has since undergone a major $150M state-of-the-art expansion, quadrupling our monoclonal antibody (mAb) manufacturing capacity to deliver breakthrough, first-in-class pet therapeutics like Trutect™ and Befrena™. Working at our commercial-scale biologics facility in Elwood presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge animal health innovation: Monoclonal antibodies are an innovative type of biologic medicine that target specific pathways to treat serious companion animal conditions, from infectious diseases to chronic dermatological and autoimmune disorders. Joining our team gives you the opportunity to be on the forefront of veterinary biotechnology, work with advanced single-use bioreactor and automated purification systems, and directly impact the lives of millions of pets and their families.

Shifts: This role offers 12-hour rotating shift schedules for both Day Shift (5:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and Night Shift (5:00 PM to 5:00 AM), including every other weekend. Further details about the specific 12-hour shift schedule and shift preferences will be discussed during the interview process.

Shift Differential Pay Perks: Please note that night shifts receive a shift differential, weekend work will have a 4% premium on days, and for nights you will have a 10% shift premium during the week and 14% on weekends.

We have opportunities across both Upstream and Downstream manufacturing suites:

• Upstream Focus (Cell Culture & Inoculation): If you are naturally experimental, curious about living biological systems, and enjoy observing dynamic cell growth, media formulation, and sterile bioreactor operations, upstream processing could be the ideal path for you.
• Downstream Focus (Purification & Filtration): If you are detail-oriented, analytical, and enjoy data calculations, chemical separations, chromatography, and precision filtration mechanics, downstream processing might be the perfect fit for you.

Your Role:

An operator is responsible for performing and documenting all tasks and activities associated with biologics manufacturing at the Elwood, Kansas monoclonal antibody (mAb) manufacturing facility.

• Upstream Processing: Prepare, sterilize, inoculate, and monitor single-use bioreactors and seed-train vessels; execute sterile media/feed preparation and aseptic sampling for cell count and viability.
• Downstream Processing: Set up, operate, and sanitize automated chromatography skids, depth filtration, viral filtration/inactivation, and Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF/UFDF) systems for mAb isolation and purification.
• Core Operations: Execute and monitor core mAb manufacturing processes (media/buffer prep, upstream/downstream processing, formulation, fill/finish, secondary packaging).
• Maintain cGMP compliance in a regulated environment (USDA/FDA/EMA).
• Follow SOPs and batch records precisely for equipment operation, processing, and daily tasks with strict Good Documentation Practices (GDP).
• Perform aseptic manipulations and maintain a sterile, classified cleanroom environment.
• Support equipment preparation, maintenance, and process improvements, while interfacing with QC for sampling and environmental monitoring.

What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Education: High School Diploma / GED.
• Proficient in basic computer skills (Windows/Microsoft Office) and communication (written & verbal).
• Demonstrates teamwork, initiative, strong work ethics, and a positive attitude.
• Must be able to wear appropriate gowning and personal protective equipment (PPE) in production and manufacturing support areas.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• Associate or Bachelor's degree in a biomanufacturing related discipline (eg. biology, chemistry, engineering, etc.).
• Experience in a regulated, commercial GMP biomanufacturing environment (relevant experience may include media and buffer preparation, cell culture, fermentation, aseptic processing, chromatography, TFF, final formulation, and fill/finish).
• Understanding of USDA, FDA, and EU GMP regulatory standards for veterinary biologics.
• Good mechanical aptitude.

Additional Information:

Location: Elwood, KS (Onsite).

Elanco Benefits and Perks:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:

• 8-week parental leave
• 9 Employee Resource Groups
• Annual bonus offering
• Up to 6% 401K matching

Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. Elanco does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B, F-1/OPT or TN status) for this employment position. 

#LI-HL #LI-Onsite

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.