Senior Scientist, Cell Culture Operations, Vaccines

Why Patients Need You

Pfizer’s purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer’s purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best in class medicines to patients around the world.

What You Will Achieve

As a Senior Scientist, you will be at the center of our operations and you’ll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. You will be a member of our growing Cell Culture area of the High-throughput Clinical Immunoassays and Diagnostics (HCID) group within VRD. The incumbent will be responsible for oversight of the cell and reagent supply required for regulated assay throughput, including of the preparation of relevant regulated documents. The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert on cell culture operations and interact with colleagues in cross-functional teams. This will include, but not limited to, devising plans to ensure an adequate cell supply for assays, resource forecasting, scheduling and prioritization of requests from various vaccine programs, adequate reagent supply, troubleshooting/investigations/trending, monitoring cell performance, and attending and participating in various (sub)teams, automation of the cell culture processes. The incumbent will lead investigations for process problems and troubleshooting, and conceives/promotes novel experimental approaches to cell culture automated operations. This position reports to the head of cell culture. The position also involves performing other tasks as assigned, related to HCID functional bioassays. All of the above includes practicing laboratory safety at all times and efforts toward cGMP compliance. The incumbent must have excellent writing skills, as writing standard operating procedures and reports are an essential component of this position. As an integral member of this dynamic team, the incumbent must have a strong, positive work ethic and be highly collaborative with the other group members.

How You Will Achieve It

• Strategizes and oversees the day-to-day manual and robotic cell culture operations, including leading a cell culture subteam, supporting early and late phases of vaccine clinical development studies.
• Subject matter expert for cell culture, robotic operations, flow cytometry.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of new technologies to improve cell culture processes. Designs and manages cell culture experimental processes and qualification / bridging studies, in consultation with the head of cell culture, as appropriate. Collaborates with Assay Development colleagues in these endeavors, as appropriate.
• Authors, reviews and/or oversees the preparation of regulated and unregulated cell culture documents and technical reports, equipment qualification and SOPs.
• Acts as a liaison with Assay Development and Research groups to plan and to coordinate cell culture support.
• Provides scientific and organizational leadership through strong interpersonal skills.
• Identifies and leads investigations for process problems and suggests/evaluates resolutions and improvements.
• With limited or no guidance from the supervisor, the incumbent performs complex tasks and discusses conclusions on the results obtained at group and project meetings, as needed.
• Manages and oversees the training of junior colleagues on new and established technologies.
• Proposes and promotes the implementation of novel/innovative experimental approaches for new or existing cell culture projects, if appropriate, in consultation with the supervisor.
• Forecasts timelines and cell culture resources to support vaccine programs, and communicates these to relevant internal and external teams, as appropriate.
• Where applicable, performs job responsibilities in compliance with cGMP/GLP and all other regulatory agency requirements. Satisfactorily complete all cGMP/GLP and safety training in conformance with Departmental requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must-Have

• PhD with 0-3 years or or MS with 10+ years relevant experience (cell culture, immunology, cell biology, microbiology, or virology)
• Expertise and hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture, flow cytometry/FACS, immunofluorescence, and cell culture techniques
• Ability to manage time and be organized to handle changes in a projectdirection or performing unexpected urgent assignment
• Ensure that the methodologies are compliant with GLP and regulatory standards
• Proficiency in the use of word processing, Excel, PowerPoint and relevant scientific software
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to perform complex data analysis

Nice-to-Have

• Knowledge of cell culture automation
• Hands-on experience of cell banking and characterization

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work primarily performed in the laboratory and at individual’s desk using a computer.
• Lifting not more than 8-10 pounds required. Walking to various laboratories/ biosuites.
• This position requires the ability to stand and reach inside the hardware environment of various laboratory robotic equipment, and lift and transport robotic components to and from the laboratory bench.

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

This position requires occasional weekend work to meet critical timelines.

OTHER JOB DETAILS

Eligible for Relocation Package

Eligible for Employee Referral Bonus

#LI-PFE

Pfizer requires all U.S. new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment. As required by applicable law, Pfizer will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.