MSAT Senior Scientist

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

The MSAT Senior Scientist is a critical individual contributor responsible for driving complex technical initiatives that support the Lonza site in Durham, NC. This role leads a variety of high-impact projects—including technology transfers, process validations, corrective and preventive action (CAPA) implementation, process optimization, and in-depth technical investigations. The Senior Scientist works cross-functionally to foster strong partnerships with Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, Tissue Acquisition, and Supply Chain teams. They serve as a subject matter expert (SME) in at least one key area: primary cell isolation, primary cell culture, technology transfer, or process optimization and validation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Accountable for project results, including planning and monitoring projects from initiation through completion using statistical tools to perform data mining, analyzing data, preparing reports, and generating presentations.

• Lead complex technical investigations and author technical protocols and reports often by leading multidisciplinary teams in a matrix structure to improve quality throughout the site.

• Perform process troubleshooting and optimization for manufacturing and quality.

• Finds opportunities for process improvement such as reducing process variability, streamlining manufacturing processes, growing efficiency, and evaluating and implementing new technologies.

• Responsible for tasks associated with tech transfers, process validation, process improvements, and quality/deviation/customer inquiry investigations.

• Manages operational excellence tasks to ensure site metrics are achieved.

• Manages Change Controls, Deviations/CAPAs following Lonza’s SOPs and Quality Systems tools.

• Establishes credibility and positive relationships with the key stakeholders and functional groups.

• Trains manufacturing technicians and quality analysts as needed.

• Follows all training and policy guidelines established for the facility.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Quality Responsibility:

• Maintenance of quality systems for the business by ensuring all team members align with processes, procedures, and instructions for all activities in which the team participates.

Safety Responsibility:

• Is knowledgeable and aligns with all pertinent safety policies, rules, and regulations.  Ensures that all team members align with safety rules and regulations.

Key Requirements:

• 7+ years’ experience with animal/human primary cell isolations and/or cell culture experience.

• Proficient in various cell biology techniques including flow cytometry, ICC, PCR, etc.

• Proficient in using data analysis tools such as JMP, Minitab or Statistica.

• Experience in Tech Transfers and aseptic processing.

• Compliance minded with excellent technical writing skills.

• Excellent communication skills, able to professionally converse about highly technical concepts.

• Proven ability to perform root cause analysis, FMEA, and develop corrective and preventive actions to reduce likelihood of recurrence.

• Able to independently monitor, analyze, and report on problem record trends for the functional areas to reduce non-conformances.

• Able to translate opportunities into workable solutions.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills coupled with the ability to work both independently and in a team environment

• Demonstrates strong business awareness.

• Leadership: ability to lead and influence team and collaborators

• Hands-on demeanor to get things done and ability to take calculated risks.

• Strong customer focus: dedicated to providing high-quality products and services that meet all expectations with solid follow-up skills and high attention to detail.

• Must possess excellent writing and PC skills with a knowledge base in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Project.

Working Conditions:

• This role involves office work as well as work in manufacturing and laboratory settings. When working in manufacturing and laboratory settings, individuals are required to wear appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) such as lab coats, gowns, booties, hair nets, gloves, masks, and safety glasses.

• Working conditions can include heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs.), repetitive motion (vialing with Wheaton and Eppendorf, pipetting, processing tissue), excessive noise (from HEPA filters in ceiling and hoods all day), and chemical hazards including acids, bases, trypan blue, DMSO, formalin, etc. Work is done in an office setting with use of a personal computer or in meetings held in a conference room.

• Occasional travel is required. Some non-standard work hours e.g. evening or weekend work will be required, up to 10% travel to customer or Lonza sites.

We recognize that attracting, developing and retaining the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company.  As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract the best candidates.  As required by law in this state, the quoted salary range for this on-site position is $95,000.00 – $151,000.00. We use broad salary ranges that reflect the competitive market for similar jobs, provide sufficient opportunity for growth as you gain experience and expand responsibilities; while also allowing for differentiation on performance based on the breadth of our ranges, most new hires will start at the company between the lower and the middle part of the applicable range. We tailor our offers within the range based on job-related factors, including organizational needs, internal equity, market data, geographic area and the selected candidate’s experience, education, industry knowledge, location, technical and/or communication skills and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. This range is only inclusive of base salary, and base pay is just one component of Lonza’s total compensation package for employees. Full-time employees are eligible to receive a performance-related bonus, as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental coverage, 401k plan, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off (PTO), and more.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.

Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.