Validation Specialist III

Job Description

Validation Specialist III, Albuquerque, NM

Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives.

Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life‑saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers’ therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients’ lives.

• Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment)
• Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
• Career advancement opportunities
• Education reimbursement
• 401K program with matching contributions
• Learning platform
• And more!

The Validation Specialist III is a senior‑level professional responsible for leading the development, review, and execution of complex validation protocols supporting manufacturing, quality, and regulatory compliance. This role provides advanced technical expertise and strategic guidance on equipment, process, system, and computer system validations in accordance with cGMP, FDA regulations, and industry standards such as GAMP.

The Validation Specialist III leads cross‑functional validation projects, coordinates validation activities across multiple departments, and ensures seamless integration with production and quality timelines. This role authors and approves comprehensive validation master plans, protocols, and technical reports while driving continuous improvement initiatives to optimize validation processes.

Additionally, the Validation Specialist III mentors junior validation staff, supports regulatory inspections and audits, manages validation‑related investigations and deviations, and collaborates with external vendors and regulatory bodies. This position plays a key role in shaping validation strategies and ensuring organizational readiness for new product introductions and regulatory submissions.

• Lead development, execution, and review of complex validation protocols, including computer system validation, manufacturing equipment qualification, packaging equipment validation, and lyophilizer qualification.
• Author, maintain, and approve comprehensive validation master plans ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards such as FDA, cGMP, GAMP, and EU GMP Annex 11.
• Oversee and conduct validation testing activities, analyze data for accuracy, reliability, and compliance, and prepare detailed final reports with recommendations for adjustments or corrective actions.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration to coordinate and integrate validation activities with production and quality teams, ensuring projects meet timelines with minimal disruption.
• Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship on new equipment installations, system modifications, and validation best practices to junior and mid‑level validation staff.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on enhancing validation processes, procedures, and documentation standards.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and consultants to support validation projects and ensure adherence to quality and compliance standards.
• Support regulatory inspections and audits by preparing documentation, responding to inquiries, and addressing validation‑related observations.
• Develop and deliver technical training and support to personnel on validation methodologies, regulatory expectations, and quality standards.
• Participate in special projects and perform additional duties as assigned by management to support departmental goals and organizational objectives.
• Read/interpret SOPs to ensure compliance.
• Maintain up‑to‑date trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Physical Sciences, or a relevant field of study.
• Minimum of five (5) years validation‑related work experience.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, including FDA regulations, ISO 9000-3, PIC/S guidelines for cGMP, and GAMP 4 and 5 based on the GAMP V‑Model Framework, as well as EU GMP Annex 11 for computer systems compliance.