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Amgen

Makes biotech medicines for serious illnesses

Quality Control Team Lead

Regulatory & Quality (Life Sciences)Posted on Nov 9
Full-timeHolly Springs, NC, USAIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • High school diploma or GED and 4 years of quality analytical testing experience, or an Associate’s degree and 2 years of quality analytical testing experience, or a Bachelor’s degree and 6 months of quality analytical testing experience, or a Master’s degree.
  • Experience working in a GMP pharmaceutical production facility with classified areas and applicable gowning requirements.
  • A degree in immunology, Biology, Biochemistry, or a related scientific field is preferred.
  • Experience with cell-based methods and ELISA, with strong data analysis skills.
  • Experience with equipment validation.
  • Strong knowledge of aseptic technique.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing and technical presentations.
  • Ability to work independently as a project owner, collaboratively on group tasks, and as a trainer.

Responsibilities

  • Perform testing and assist with managing the Quality Control Bioassay laboratory.
  • Assist with planning and execution of equipment installation and qualification within the Bioassay lab to support startup.
  • Operate QC bioassay analytical testing for biologic products, including ELISA and cell-based methods.
  • Lead transfer, qualification, and/or validation for complex biologic procedures.
  • Author, revise, and review documents and reports, including SOPs, safety assessments, methods, trend reports, qualification and validation summary reports, technical reports, and method assessments.
  • Assist with planning, scheduling, and execution of daily activities.
  • Work with external partners to ensure successful transfer, release, and stability testing.
  • Support Bioassay lab operations, including ordering supplies and maintaining equipment and lab spaces.
  • Participate in audits, initiatives, and projects that may be interdepartmental or global in scope.
  • Own, manage, and participate in deviations, CAPAs, and cross-functional investigations.
  • Train junior staff in bioassay techniques and assays.
  • Assist with general lab setup and 5S.
  • Support routine activities over weekends and Amgen holidays as needed.
  • Lead second-shift daily operations, including assigning work, setting priorities, and balancing testing workload.
  • Lead shift start and end handoffs with first shift, night shift, and the Senior Manager, covering testing status, open deviations, equipment status, and pending samples.
  • Serve as the first point of escalation on second shift for technical, quality, safety, and equipment issues, escalating to management as needed.
  • Ensure sample testing and release/stability timelines are met and flag at-risk timelines early.
  • Coordinate shift coverage and schedule changes, including weekend and holiday support.
  • Ensure second-shift work meets GMP, data integrity (ALCOA+), and documentation standards.
  • Review laboratory notebooks, assay data, and records for accuracy and completeness before release or handoff.
  • Lead or support initial deviation notification, containment, and investigation, and drive CAPA actions and effectiveness checks to timely closure.
  • Maintain second-shift laboratory areas in inspection-ready condition and guide inspection walkthroughs as needed.
  • Confirm staff are trained and qualified on assigned methods before performing them.
  • Serve as a primary trainer for new and junior staff, including onboarding, method training, and competency sign-off.
  • Maintain second-shift training matrices and identify skill gaps.
  • Provide feedback and coaching input to the Senior Manager on team member development needs.
  • Promote cross-training to build depth across assays on second shift.
  • Oversee daily equipment readiness, including calibration, preventive maintenance, and cleaning schedules.
  • Manage reagent, consumable, and critical supply inventory to prevent testing interruptions on second shift.
  • Support equipment qualification, installation, and startup in coordination with Engineering, Metrology, and vendors.
  • Drive laboratory organization and sustainment of 5S.
  • Identify and implement efficiencies, including automation opportunities, scheduling improvements, and reduction of repeat testing.
  • Support method transfers, qualification, and validation to ensure second shift can execute transferred methods.
  • Trend assay performance, including invalid runs, OOT/OOS, and system suitability failures, and raise recurring issues for investigation.
  • Report shift performance metrics, including on-time testing, right-first-time rate, deviation counts, and backlog, to the Senior Manager.
  • Partner with Manufacturing, QA, Supply Chain, and Metrology on cross-functional issues, and represent the Bioassay lab in second-shift tiered or daily huddles.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience working in a GMP pharmaceutical production facility with classified areas and applicable gowning requirements.
  • A degree in immunology, Biology, Biochemistry, or a related scientific field.
  • Experience with cell-based methods and ELISA, with strong data analysis skills.
  • Experience with equipment validation.
  • Strong knowledge of aseptic technique.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing and technical presentations.
  • Ability to work independently as a project owner, collaboratively on group tasks, and as a trainer.

About the Company

Amgen

Makes biotech medicines for serious illnesses

Amgen develops and makes biologic medicines, which are drugs built from proteins and antibodies grown in living cells, for serious conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and bone loss. Its anemia drug Epogen, approved in 1989, became one of the biotechnology industry's first blockbuster medicines. Amgen grows these drugs in large tanks called bioreactors, and its products include the cholesterol drug Repatha, the bone-building drug Evenity, and the severe asthma drug Tezspire. It earns money by selling these medicines, mostly through large drug wholesalers that supply hospitals and pharmacies. Amgen was founded in 1980 and is based in Thousand Oaks, California.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
IPO
Headquarters
Thousand Oaks, CA
Founded
1980

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