Senior Process Development Scientist

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About Us

The King's College London Gene Therapy Vector Facility (GTVF) provides comprehensive GMP-grade viral vector manufacturing services. This includes Lentiviral Vector (LV), Retroviral Vector (RV) and Adeno-Associated Viral Vector (AAV) production for early-phase clinical trials, alongside substantial programmes in process innovation, knowledge transfer and training to address critical skills shortages.

In partnership with the Network of Innovation Hubs, our vision is to ensure that the UK capitalises on its outstanding academic medical research to deliver novel gene therapies to patients, providing transformative treatments for currently intractable conditions, and generating a vibrant economic landscape.

The GTVF is run by a large, industry-leading team of >50 people who have extensive experience in delivering end-to-end viral vector manufacture for both academic and commercial clients, with a focus on early-stage clinical trials.

About the role

The Senior Process Development Scientist for the Gene Therapy Vector Facility (GTVF) is responsible for the Development and Optimization of a platform process for Viral Vectors. The post holder will work closely with colleagues in MSAT, Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, to ensure manufacturing processes are evaluated and optimised to allow efficient operation and delivery of products for client projects. The successful candidate will be leading projects/ programme of work under the direction of Head of Process Development / Technical Director. The post holder will be responsible for technical evaluation of client proposals, proposing targeted lab work to optimise processes prior to manufacture, supporting risk assessments, biological safety evaluation and identifying and implementing improvements in manufacturing processes to improve manufacturing capabilities.

This is a full time post and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. B.Sc/M.Sc/Ph.D degree in a Biochemical Engineering or Life science discipline.
2. Experience of working in commercial companies within process development at Pharma/Biotech/Contract Manufacturing organisation (CMO) sectors.
3. Significant experience of working with a range of downstream purification techniques including Depth filtration, Affinity and Ion Exchange Chromatography, Tangential Flow Filtration and Sterile Filtration.
4. Experience gained in process development of viral vector purification demonstrating optimisation of processes by delivering improvements in yield, quality and reproducibility.
5. Experience of running analytical techniques to analyse and quantify viral vector titres and quality and working with cell culture techniques.
6. Experience in using chromatography equipment and software. Design and execution of experiments using DOE software under the direction of a head of department or technical director and their implementation in Process Development.
7. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and comfortable working independently and building professional networks. High level of work organization, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement and flexibility in approach and attitude.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of successfully development of Viral Vector purification processes.
2. Application of DoE to process development
3. Familiarity with QbD principle to develop quality target product profile (QTPP).
4. Understanding of and familiarity with regulatory guidance governing cell-based and biopharmaceutical development

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click "Apply Now". This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ' How we Recruit ' pages.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.