Process Development & Efficacy; PDE Manager

Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

Penn has been named one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023 by Forbes.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
:
Process Development & Efficacy (PDE) Manager

Job Profile Title
:
Technical Operations Manager - Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility

Job Description Summary
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The Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility (CVPF) and Center for Advanced Cellular Therapies (CACT) of the University of Pennsylvania manufacture advanced cell and gene therapy products in support of pioneering investigational new drug (IND) protocols, with all products undergoing rigorous quality testing prior to release. The vision of the CVPF is to produce high-quality, innovative therapies that advance the field and improve patient lives.

Building on Penn’s legacy of breakthrough immunotherapy approvals, this role plays a critical part in advancing novel technologies, automation strategies, and efficient processes to maintain Penn’s leadership in the field.

Job Description
:
The Process Development & Efficacy (PDE) Manager serves as a bridge between process development and manufacturing operations within the CVPF Manufacturing group. The role provides leadership and expertise in process improvement and innovation, technology transfer and scaling up, automation, troubleshooting, and advanced training to ensure alignment with CVPF’s projects and manufacturing priorities. The PDE Manager will manage projects that target the transition of research concepts into robust, compliant, and scalable GMP operations while participating in GMP manufacturing operations.

The PDE Manager drives continuous improvement, process optimization, and transparent communication of project scope, milestones, and deliverables across CVPF. The role will also require accurate, complex-level documentation for internal and regulatory reporting following Good Documentation Practices. Demonstrated expertise as an operator and knowledge on GMP cell processing equipment, laboratory techniques, and manufacturing processes required. Strong critical thinking skills are essential to ensure data is accurate, logical, and consistent with institutional and regulatory reporting requirements.

The PDE Manager, with minimal direction, is expected to resolve problems that occur in the cleanroom, oversee cell processing activity, provide strategic directions for the implementation of novel processing methods and new trials, implement contingency plans for unexpected processing events, and lead new trial initiation activity; collaborate in the design of processing methods and validation of new equipment and manufacturing processes to support tech transfer into the cell processing facility.

Efficient time management and the ability to multitask to complete activities for multiple clinical studies at a given time are essential. This position requires great communication skills to manage internal and external collaborations with vendors and regulatory personnel to assure…