Head of Upstream Processing; USP

We are seeking an experienced and hands‑on Head of Upstream Processing (USP) to lead upstream development activities for recombinant protein production in a dynamic biotech environment.

• Lead and develop the USP team (scientists and technicians)
• Maintain a high level of training and scientific expertise within the team
• Mentor and support staff and actively support employee development
• Allocate and prioritize work within the team in alignment with the Head of Operations
• Provide scientific leadership in molecular biology, cell culture, and antibody expression
• Drive upstream process development for recombinant antibodies and complex antibody formats with excellent knowledge of cloning strategy, sequence design and DNA synthesis
• Establish scalable and robust USP workflows suitable for tech transfer and manufacturing
• Support business activities by proposing and reviewing USP‑specific components in customer quotations when required
• Continuously assess state‑of‑the‑art technologies and scientific developments
• Promote scientific excellence by identifying and initiating suitable development projects
• Ensure scientific standards, documentation quality, and compliance with internal procedures
• Define USP process steps, associated SOPs, and work instructions together with the team
• Lead the prevention and resolution of quality defects in production within the area of USP
• Ensure proper functionality, maintenance, and qualification status of equipment within USP
• Manage cross‑functional projects and coordinate activities across departments
• Collaborate closely with DSP and project management teams

• MSc or PhD in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, or a related field
• Several years of industry experience in upstream processing of biologics, ideally antibodies
• Strong expertise in antibody formats and recombinant protein expression
• Deep knowledge of molecular biology techniques and mammalian cell culture systems
• Proven leadership experience managing scientific teams
• Hands‑on, pragmatic, and solution‑oriented mindset
• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• Experience in small biotech or startup environments is highly desirable
• Fluency in English and/or German

evitria is specialized in CHO‑based transient expression of antibodies (including bispecifics and fusion proteins). With a track record of more than 140,000 successful antibody production runs for our clients, we offer fast and reliable project execution at high quality standards.