Aspen has a proud heritage dating back more than 160 years and is committed to sustaining life and promoting healthcare through increasing access to its high quality affordable medicines and products. Aspen has a market capitalisation of approximately US$10 billion, is the largest pharmaceutical company listed on the JSE Limited (share code: APN) and rank...
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Overview
- Manage and coordinate lab preparation and QC activities
- Manage and coordinate sampling and testing of external environment
- Provide analytical, maintenance and QC lab support
- Ensure continuous compliance of lab with GMP standards
- Ensure that products are produced, tested and stored according to the required SOP’s and documentation
- Performance management of direct reports
Skills Required
Background/experience
- National Diploma in Chemistry or Microbiology with 5 years’ related experience
- Laboratory and Good Laboratory Practice experience
- Minimum of 1 -2 Years Supervisory experience
Specific job skills
- Advanced understanding of pharmaceutical testing methods
- Knowledge of value chain and MCC principles
- Understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing and corrective action programs
- Pharmaceutical standards and compliance requirements
- Ability to interpret and implement policies, processes and objectives
Competencies
- Interrogate Information
- Managing Performance
- Planning and Organising
- Customer Awareness
Requirements
Responsibilities
Planning and Section Management
- Provide input into operational planning of section, and prioritisation of objectives
- Provide input into, interpret and execute policies and procedures
- Provide input into and manage budgets and resource requirements for section
- Provide section staff with day-to-day direction and tasks
QC Lab Testing
- Manage and monitor compliance of QC lab testing activities to GMP, quality standards, and product specifications
- Manage and coordinate lab preparation activities according to SOPs (samples, working area(s), PPE and lab equipment)
- Prepare and implement maintenance and calibration schedules and records
- Ensure set priorities and targets are achieved, identifying constraints and solutions
- Investigate and report Out of Specifications (OOS)
- Enforce Good Lab Practice
- Proficient in Empower, Lab-X and LabSolutions usage
- Manage AMDV / AMT protocols, execution and review of AMDV / AMT outcomes
- Manage all OOS investigations and conclusions, and report to management
Environmental Management
- Manage and coordinate sampling and testing of external environment, according to SOPS and sampling plan/ schedule
- Aspen fully subscribes to the principles of Employment Equity and will make decisions in line with this ethos.
Lab Quality Reviews & Training
- Validate batch documentation approvals
- Review and approve corrections in batch documentation
- Identify and coordinate training of staff on SOPs
- Compilation of biannual trend report
- Proficient in SAP, LIMS, SLIMS, Veeva Docs, Process Compliance
Deviations Investigations
- Manage and coordinate deviation investigations and reporting
- Coordinate and initiate risk/ impact assessments and plans to address quality deficiencies
- Manage implementation of operational changes to SOPs and processes
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Provide input to QC for improvement of risk-based compliance systems
- Monitor implementation and correct own and/or team compliance with legislation, policies and procedures;
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Description
Overview
- Management oversight of the testing and control of starting materials, consumables, components, intermediaries, bulk and finished products in accordance with Quality procedures, standards, specifications to meet planned requirements
- Develop, manage, monitor and approve Standard Operating Procedures, Methods of Analysis, specifications, protocols and reports in compliance with latest regulations
- Ensure appropriate method validations are performed and up to date
- Long term strategic planning for unit
- Manage, guide and monitor QC Laboratory activities through Team Leaders
- Staff management of direct reports and entire department (KPIs, performance reviews, disciplinary actions and other IR responsibilities)
- Risk identification and solution
- Approve all training to be implemented in the laboratory and ensure unit staff’s training are appropriately trained (initial training as well as re-training and qualification)
Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Unit Management
- Interpret, implement and coordinate systems, processes, policies and procedures in the unit
- Provide technical and operational input into systems, procedures and policies that impact in-process control activities in value stream operations
- Perform human capital functions to ensure optimal management of unit and reporting sections
- Manage collaboration and coordination between reporting units
- Responsible to lead projects directly related to the value stream laboratories (Chemistry and Microbiology)
- Liaise, interact and provide technical guidance to QA and Production Managers
- Propose changes / improvements to processes, systems, tools and techniques
- Lead L2 and attend L3 meetings
- Make decisions regarding exceptions to policy and procedures
- Identify gaps in current policies and procedures
Financial Planning, Financial Management and Resource Management
- Develop and monitor the functional plan / budget (OPEX and CAPEX) of the value stream laboratories (Chemistry and Microbiology)
- Ensue availability and optimal allocation of resources within unit
People Management and Development
- Implement Human Capital Policies
- Identify training needs and monitor training compliance
- Participate in training, coaching and development of team members
- Develop and implement performance contracts and succession plans
- Manage conflict, disciplinary and safety issues
- Assist with recruitment
Release Starting Materials, Packaging Materials, Consumables, Intermediate, Bulk and Finished Products
- Lot release and/or rejection of starting materials, packaging materials, consumables, components, intermediate, bulk and finished goods
- Approve compliance of QC laboratory preparation and testing activities to GMP, quality standards and product specifications
- Ensure all testing is carried out as agreed / scheduled
Ensure laboratory outputs meet the agreed standard
- Approve Specifications, Sampling Instructions, Test Methods, other QC Procedure and Validation Documents
- Review and approve the documents to comply with technical, GMP and Data Integrity requirements
Analytical Method Validation and Analytical Method Transfer
- Take the lead and ensue the relevant value stream laboratory AMT activities are executed
- Manage the method transfer activities against deadlines to ensure effective and accurate compilation of raw material and finished product specifications
- Provide scientific and technical expertise and manage communication with Analytical Method Transfer partners
- Manage method validation and transfer activities against deadlines
Stability Management
- Ensure stability testing is conducted as per plan.
- Report on Stability storage capacity
- Oversee data management of relevant stability trials
- Manage the review and approval of stability results and OOS’s
Governance, Risk, Compliance to QMS and keep unit compliant to cGMP guidelines
- Ensure unit’s activities comply with current operating guidelines and policies for the organisation and function
- Monitor and correct compliance with legislation, policies and procedures to impact on the effectiveness of QC activities
- Ensue that appropriate validations are completed as per validation requirements and schedule
- Initiate and set targets and review GMP, quality and training needs
- Ensure staff are trained on SOPs
- Request special investigations, assess outcome of these and initiate the appropriate actions to minimise risk/ instill preventative measurements
- Ensure OOS reported and corrective/preventative actions initiated Packaging Testing
Requirements
Skills Required
Background/experience
- Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma in Chemistry, Microbiology or related fields
- Honours or Master’s degree advantageous
- 5–8+ years’ experience in a pharmaceutical QC laboratory, including
- 3–5+ years’ experience in a management role
Specific job skills
- Advanced understanding of pharmaceutical testing methods
- Understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing and corrective action programs
- Pharmaceutical standards and compliance requirements
- Ability to interpret and implement policies, processes and objectives
Competencies
- Innovative Thinking
- Interrogating Information
- Offering Insights
- Managing Performance
- Networking