What are the responsibilities and job description for the UPSTREAM MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATE I-III position at Planet Pharma?
Upstream Manufacturing Associate I-III
Location: Pennington, New Jersey
Category: Manufacturing
Salary: Apply for details
Country: United States
Employment: Contract
Worksite: On-Site
Apply For This Position
Job Description
Pay range: 24-38/hr
The Upstream Manufacturing Associate III (Lead) provides technical leadership and operational coordination for upstream manufacturing activities within a cGMP environment. This role is responsible for leading batch execution, troubleshooting complex process issues, coordinating cross-functional teams, supporting manufacturing readiness, and driving operational excellence initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Leadership
Education & Experience
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is our policy not to discriminate against any applicant or employee, and we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful work environment across all locations in which we operate. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our mission and enhance our ability to serve clients globally. If you have a disability or require any reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please inform your recruiter or contact us(opens in new tab) directly so that we can explore the appropriate arrangements.
Fraud Alert
Candidate safety is a top priority at Planet Pharma. The industry has seen an increase in people falsely representing themselves as recruiters to gather personal information from job seekers. For your safety, do not provide sensitive data to anyone you have not spoken with thoroughly, never provide banking information during the application process and always double check the email address of the Recruiter to ensure it’s from an official Planet Pharma domain (@planet-pharma.com, @planet-pharma.co.uk, and @ppgadvisorypartners.com) and not a domain with an alternative extension like .net, .org or .jobs.
The Planet Group of Companies is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Location: Pennington, New Jersey
Category: Manufacturing
Salary: Apply for details
Country: United States
Employment: Contract
Worksite: On-Site
Apply For This Position
Job Description
Pay range: 24-38/hr
- depending on experience
The Upstream Manufacturing Associate III (Lead) provides technical leadership and operational coordination for upstream manufacturing activities within a cGMP environment. This role is responsible for leading batch execution, troubleshooting complex process issues, coordinating cross-functional teams, supporting manufacturing readiness, and driving operational excellence initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Leadership
- Lead daily upstream manufacturing operations and provide shop-floor technical support.
- Coordinate execution of production campaigns and manufacturing schedules.
- Ensure manufacturing readiness for batch execution.
- Serve as the primary technical resource during manufacturing operations.
- Lead cell culture activities including vial thaw, seed train expansion, fed-batch and perfusion bioreactor operations.
- Oversee harvest and filtration operations.
- Monitor critical process parameters and implement corrective actions when required.
- Troubleshoot process and equipment issues to ensure uninterrupted operations.
- Perform and review manufacturing support testing utilizing:
- Cedex Cell Analyzer
- Blood Gas Analyzer (BGA)
- Osmometer
- Other process monitoring equipment
- Lead preparation and revision of:
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Master Batch Records (MBRs)
- Manufacturing forms and templates
- Support deviation investigations, CAPAs, and change controls.
- Ensure ongoing inspection readiness and GMP compliance.
- Participate directly in regulatory and client audits.
- Coordinate activities between Manufacturing, QA, QC, MSAT, Warehouse, Facilities, and Supply Chain teams.
- Support process validation, technology transfer, and commercial manufacturing initiatives.
- Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence projects.
- Train, mentor, and develop Associate I and Associate II personnel.
- Provide technical coaching and floor-based leadership.
- Support qualification and onboarding programs.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline with 0-2 years of relevant experience.
- High School Diploma/GED with 4 years of relevant biopharmaceutical manufacturing experience may be considered.
- Basic understanding of biological manufacturing and cell culture processes.
- Ability to follow detailed instructions and procedures.
- Strong attention to detail and documentation practices.
- Effective communication and teamwork skills.
- Knowledge of cGMP requirements is preferred.
- Experience with:
- Cell culture operations
- Shake flask cultivation
- Bioreactor systems
- Buffer and media preparation
- Single-use technologies
- Aseptic processing
- Ability to stand for extended periods.
- Ability to bend, reach, and lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work in cleanroom environments while wearing required PPE.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. It is our policy not to discriminate against any applicant or employee, and we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful work environment across all locations in which we operate. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our mission and enhance our ability to serve clients globally. If you have a disability or require any reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please inform your recruiter or contact us(opens in new tab) directly so that we can explore the appropriate arrangements.
Fraud Alert
Candidate safety is a top priority at Planet Pharma. The industry has seen an increase in people falsely representing themselves as recruiters to gather personal information from job seekers. For your safety, do not provide sensitive data to anyone you have not spoken with thoroughly, never provide banking information during the application process and always double check the email address of the Recruiter to ensure it’s from an official Planet Pharma domain (@planet-pharma.com, @planet-pharma.co.uk, and @ppgadvisorypartners.com) and not a domain with an alternative extension like .net, .org or .jobs.
The Planet Group of Companies is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.