Manager, Pre-Clinical Vector Manufacturing

Opportunity for Secondment to Ask Bio


We're pleased to share an exciting secondment opportunity at Ask Bio.

This role is available for a time period to be determined by leadership at both Bayer and Ask Bio. While most assignments range from one to two years, the exact duration will be based on business needs and mutual agreement.

This secondment offers a unique chance to broaden your experience, expand your knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to Ask Bio's mission: to advance gene therapy and change the lives of patients around the world.

If you're interested in exploring this opportunity, we encourage you to:

• Speak with your direct manager to discuss your interest and alignment with your development goals.
• Apply directly using the link provided in the posting.

We look forward to seeing how our colleagues continue to grow and make an impact across the Bayer-Ask Bio partnership.

Our vision: Pioneering science to create transformative molecular medicines.

Our mission: Lead innovative science and drive clinical outcomes to transform people's lives.

Our principles:

• Advance innovative science by pushing boundaries.
• Bring transformative therapeutics to patients in need.
• Provide an environment for employees to reach their fullest potential.

Our values:

• Be a Pioneer. We are not afraid of the impossible and to innovate to make gene therapies accessible to those in need.
• Cultivate Collaboration. Strive to be the best teammate, actively listen, openly communicate, and embrace diverse points of view.
• Embrace Responsibility. We are humbled by the enormity of our mission. We hold a relentless commitment to advance science and clinical outcomes for our patients, families, and caregivers.
• Raise the Bar. Continuously drive improvements and efficiencies. Seek and provide constructive feedback. Have a bias for learning and action.
• Act with Uncompromising Integrity. Be honest, transparent, and committed to doing what's right in every situation. Make clear commitments and follow through.

The Manager, Upstream Pre-Clinical Manufacturing oversees the production of research and GLP-grade recombinant Adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors. Reporting to the Director of Pre-Clinical Manufacturing, this role guides cross-functional teams in the successful delivery of vectors supporting early-stage gene therapy programs-from proof-of-concept through GLP-tox material supply.

The Manager translates functional strategies into actionable operational processes, optimizing resource allocation to meet aggressive timelines while ensuring high-quality data generation for capsid technology and therapeutic portfolios. Additionally, this role establishes department-wide procedures to enhance efficiency and ensures the seamless execution of both small and large-scale manufacturing campaigns.

This position is on-site in RTP,NC.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage upstream manufacturing activities, determining resource requirements and scheduling to meet preclinical program timelines. Partner with management to forecast manufacturing strategies and timelines that support early-stage development through GLP-tox material supply.
• Lead risk-based process characterization and improvement initiatives to optimize product yield and scalability. Oversee the successful transfer of new processes into vector manufacturing, performing risk assessments and identifying mitigations during transfer of new technologies.
• Mentor and manage a technical team of manufacturing personnel, fostering a culture of technical excellence and accountability. Provide expertise in upstream operations (cell culture, WAVE, and stirred-tank bioreactors) and provide hands-on instruction or execution of manufacturing activities, as required.
• Oversee the issuance, review, and approval of all manufacturing documentation, including batch records, investigations, protocols, reports, and SOPs. Ensure high standards of data integrity are maintained through organized electronic laboratory notebooks and rigorous report review.
• Identify areas for process improvement, lead root cause analysis for manufacturing failures, and oversee the implementation of corrective actions. Develop and manage operational initiatives to improve business processes and department-wide efficiency.
• Ensure the laboratory is maintained in efficient working order by coordinating equipment maintenance/calibration, raw material inventory, and overseeing the strategic planning of supplies in partnership with lab operations and supply chain personnel.
• Track and evaluate manufacturing metrics and analytical results to determine potential sources of process variability and drive process updates to improve operational consistency.
• Act as a key technical contact for cross-functional stakeholders, preparing internally reviewed reports and delivering technical presentations to internal and external leadership.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in Science or Engineering discipline (Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biology, Chemistry,…