Team Lead Cell Therapy Manufacturing

We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet. Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

Department Description

As Team Lead Cell Therapy Manufacturing you’ll be joining a newly formed team in which people of all backgrounds and experiences are respected, and where working together, focused on saving lives, by finding a cure for cancer, is a daily activity. You’ll be reporting to the Senior Manager Manufacturing. Our goal is to fundamentally change the way people think about cancer treatment by pushing the boundaries of what is possible with cell therapy — using genetically modified immune cells to target tumors. CAR T-cell therapy is an individualized, one-time treatment with curative intent. It uses the power of a patient's own immune system (their white blood cells) to fight certain types of blood cancer.

If you have the ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment and feel that the moment has come for you to be part of such an exciting journey towards eliminating the burden of chronic cancer care, don’t miss out on this opportunity to join us and discover your sense of purpose.

Your Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly effective Team Lead Manufacturing to be responsible for supervising a team of around 10 to 15 cell culture manufacturing specialists in a commercial pharmaceutical environment. Responsibilities, among others, will be:

• Supervise the on-the-floor operations of our commercial cell therapy manufacturing facility in a cGMP environment
• Build a team, provide necessary training and ongoing coaching, discipline and recognition of direct staff, including performing annual performance reviews
• Generate SOPs, MPRs, and SPRs for equipment and procedures used in routine biologics manufacture
• Execute production and resource schedule against operational plan
• Ensure performance of all process steps specific to the phase or stage of operation
• Process monitoring, including manipulation of databases, documents and/or spreadsheets to support business reporting requirements
• Review of completed manufacturing documentation per compliance standards and established timelines
• Investigate and resolve problems, identifying root cause, and proposing process improvements through clear communication to senior management
• Interact with outside vendors and senior management
• Participate in multi-functional project teams, as necessary
• Take corrective action to bring about required changes using change control procedures
• Other duties as assigned

Your Profile

• Bachelor degree in biology or related field (or equivalent experience required), Minimum 2 years of experience supervising staff
• Able to build and lead a team as well as train entry-level personnel
• Previous cell culture experience is a nice to have but experience in other highly regulated manufacturing environments is also an option
• Knowledgeable of the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) or similar regulated environment
• Sufficient understanding of process, systems and equipment to troubleshoot problems and provide solutions to senior management
• Sufficient knowledge of electronic quality systems
• Preferably experience with continuous improvement
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills are essential in this collaborative work environment
• High energy level and a positive outlook coupled with the requisite “can do” attitude and a willingness to do what it takes to achieve personal and organizational goals and overcome obstacles
• Ability to adapt in a constantly evolving environment

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work off-shift and irregular hours as required
• Because you will work with blood products, Kite strongly recommends a vaccination against hepatitis B. Either you have already been vaccinated, or are willing to get vaccinated

What we offer you as your future employer

• Meaningful work where employees in all areas contribute to our mission of finding a cure for cancer
• To be part of an innovative organization with a very inclusive and diverse working environment
• Very competitive and performance-based remuneration
• Paid vacation leave
• Very good pension contribution plan
• Health and Welfare Benefits
• Commuting support
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Employee recognition and anniversary award

Kite, A Gilead Company

At Kite, we are at the forefront of immunotherapy and engineered T cell therapy. We are helping change the paradigm of cancer treatment and we are revolutionizing individually tailored treatments. That means a fast moving and constantly changing environment, where we make discoveries every day – discoveries that include our own capabilities and our individual potential. We’re currently seeking to recruit highly motivated talents for different positions, to join us and be part of our exciting journey in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies and their translation to the treatment of patients with cancer.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

It is the policy of Gilead Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively "Gilead" or the "Company") to recruit select and employ the most qualified persons available for positions throughout the Company. Except if otherwise provided by applicable law, all employment actions relating to issues such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, returns from layoffs, company-sponsored training, education assistance, social and recreational programs are administered on a non-discriminatory basis (i.e. without regard to protected characteristics or prohibited grounds, which may include an individual’s gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, veteran status, and age, unless such protection is prohibited by federal, state, municipal, provincial, local or other applicable laws). Gilead also prohibits discrimination based on any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

Change The World With Us

Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal – curing cancer. Every day, we aim to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work. We are creating Kite together, with the recognition that the best teams are built by the best people. We maintain an attitude of curiosity, and creativity with each challenge as we develop a new market for cancer therapies. We appreciate and respect one another, and most importantly, we don’t take success for granted. While we’ve come a long way to make what others viewed as impossible, possible, we know one thing is certain. Today is just the beginning.