Director, Process Development Downstream
Avid Bioservices
Summary
The Director, Process Development Downstream provides technical and people leadership for downstream process development activities supporting biologic products from early development through scale-up, technology transfer, and manufacturing implementation. This role leads approximately five scientists and engineers who develop robust, scalable purification processes for biologic and recombinant protein products expressed in mammalian cell systems. The Director establishes technical strategy, ensures the quality and timely execution of development programs, and proactively addresses risks that may affect process performance, manufacturability, or project delivery. Working closely with clients and cross-functional partners, the role translates process knowledge into successful manufacturing outcomes and advances continuous improvement and emerging downstream capabilities.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop approximately five scientists and engineers responsible for downstream process development and client program delivery.
- Direct the development and optimization of purification processes for biologics and recombinant proteins, emphasizing robustness, scalability, product quality, and manufacturability.
- Provide technical oversight for chromatography, depth filtration, tangential flow filtration, viral inactivation, virus filtration, process characterization, scale-up, and technology transfer activities.
- Lead the transfer of downstream process knowledge from clients and internal development teams to Manufacturing and supporting functions.
- Ensure successful scale-up and provide technical support for engineering, clinical, validation, and commercial manufacturing activities, as applicable.
- Serve as a senior technical representative in client meetings, project reviews, technical presentations, proposal development, project scoping, and technical due diligence.
- Identify technical gaps and development risks, then establish and execute scientifically sound mitigation strategies.
- Review and approve technical protocols, reports, development plans, and transfer packages within delegated authority.
- Partner with Manufacturing, MSAT, Analytical Development, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Supply Chain, Business Development, and Project Management to coordinate execution and resolve technical or operational issues.
- Establish team priorities, resource plans, objectives, and operating practices that support program commitments, quality expectations, safety requirements, and business needs.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance process quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and technical consistency.
- Evaluate new and emerging downstream technologies and recommend capabilities that support the organization's technical strategy.
- Support budget planning, equipment and technology investments, workforce planning, recruiting, and performance management.
- Provide clear and timely technical and operational updates to senior leadership, including program status, emerging risks, and recommended actions.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in biopharmaceutical process development, including significant experience developing downstream purification processes for biologic products.
- At least 5 years of experience leading technical teams, people, or complex downstream process development programs.
- Demonstrated experience with downstream unit operations such as chromatography, depth filtration, tangential flow filtration, viral inactivation, and virus filtration.
- Demonstrated experience with process scale-up and technology transfer into a GMP manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of phase-appropriate process development, process characterization, data integrity, GMP expectations, and applicable regulatory principles.
- Experience reviewing and authoring technical protocols, reports, development plans, transfer documents, and client-facing technical materials.
- Ability to communicate complex technical information effectively to clients, technical teams, cross-functional stakeholders, and senior leaders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ph.D. in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.
- Experience in a biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).
- Experience supporting monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, or other mammalian-cell-derived biologics through clinical or commercial development.
- Experience with process characterization, validation readiness, viral clearance strategy, and regulatory filing support.
- Experience evaluating or implementing new downstream processing technologies, automation, or platform approaches.
Requirements
- Master's degree in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in biopharmaceutical process development, including significant experience developing downstream purification processes for biologic products.
- At least 5 years of experience leading technical teams, people, or complex downstream process development programs.
- Demonstrated experience with downstream unit operations such as chromatography, depth filtration, tangential flow filtration, viral inactivation, and virus filtration.
- Demonstrated experience with process scale-up and technology transfer into a GMP manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of phase-appropriate process development, process characterization, data integrity, GMP expectations, and applicable regulatory principles.
- Experience reviewing and authoring technical protocols, reports, development plans, transfer documents, and client-facing technical materials.
- Ability to communicate complex technical information effectively to clients, technical teams, cross-functional stakeholders, and senior leaders.
- Ph.D. in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.
- Experience in a biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).
- Experience supporting monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, or other mammalian-cell-derived biologics through clinical or commercial development.
- Experience with process characterization, validation readiness, viral clearance strategy, and regulatory filing support.
- Experience evaluating or implementing new downstream processing technologies, automation, or platform approaches.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off
- Performance-based bonuses
Company overview
Avid Bioservices is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in biologics derived from mammalian cell culture systems. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Tustin, California, the company has over 30 years of experience in biologics manufacturing. Avid provides comprehensive process development, CGMP clinical and commercial manufacturing services for the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. Their expertise spans from early-stage process development to full-scale commercial manufacturing, including cell line development, upstream and downstream optimization, analytical methods development, and regulatory submissions support. The company has produced more than 250 commercial batches and has five commercial products marketed in over 90 countries. With state-of-the-art facilities and a flawless quality track record maintained for over a decade, Avid Bioservices focuses on transforming the CDMO experience through personalized processes, unrivaled expertise, and exceptional quality standards. The company was recently acquired by GHO Capital Partners and Ampersand Capital Partners in a $1.1 billion transaction, positioning it for continued growth in the biologics manufacturing sector.