Manager, Quality Assurance-GMP Operations

Heron Therapeutics develops cutting-edge medicine to meet unmet patient needs and solve big problems by applying our innovative science and technologies with well-known pharmacology. With therapeutic areas in Oncology and Acute Care, our goal is to offer alternatives so patients can be opioid-free post-surgery. With additional products and indications on their way, we are excited to be growing and adding to our amazing team.

Our entrepreneurial culture gives everyone the chance to be heard with easy access to decision-makers like other smaller companies, along with some of the sophistication and benefits of larger organizations. We developed the Heron Ways of Working to implement training and practices that breathe life into our values and embed them into our daily experience such as open collaboration across teams, self-responsibility & accountability, communication strategies & techniques, and the mindset of always assuming positive intent!

The Manager, Quality Assurance-GMP Operations performs a variety of Quality Assurance operations activities to support commercial and clinical drug products and ensure compliance with applicable US regulatory requirements and Heron procedures. She/he is responsible for the review of executed batch records and final lot disposition ensuring product lots meet specifications as well as providing Quality Assurance and compliance oversight to GMP contract service providers for manufacturing and analytical testing operations for APIs, excipients, and sterile injectables. Strong collaboration with the cross-functional representatives on Heron Product Teams to ensure overall compliance of drug products and on-going assessment of service providers is essential. Responsibilities include identification and evaluation of compliance issues, providing recommendations, and leading compliant resolution of issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage interactions with GMP contract service providers and provide GMP guidance and support to Heron Therapeutics Manufacturing, Quality Control, and other departments to resolve quality issues independently.
• Review and approve master batch records, labels, and other production documents, as needed, for contract manufacturing organization excipients, drug product, drug/device combination product, and clinical labeling operations for compliance ensuring product quality standards are met, and compliant to Heron procedures.
• Review and approve change request to ensure the proposed changes are clearly described, justified, and validated or verified as completed per the pre-approved change request.
• Review executed batch records and QC release data to determine final lot disposition decision by evaluating accuracy and completeness of lot file documents to facilitate timely batch dispositions.
• Review and approve of QC stability and test method protocols and reports.
• Lead, review, and approve deviations, investigations, CAPAs, and change records, including providing QA guidance on investigation, CAPA, and change plans.
• Lead GMP investigations for proper closure and identification of corrective actions.
• Review of executed production records and QC testing results to determine QA disposition decisions (API, excipients, drug product, drug/device combination final products, training kits, and clinical labeling batches).
• Organize/Archive executed batch record documentation, manufacturing records, analytical data documentation, labeling and packaging records.
• Manage GMP QA SOPs, including facilitate periodic review, recommend enhancements, and ensure alignment across GMP QA.
• Review data for and/or sections of regulatory submissions.
• Provide annual product quality review data collection and analysis
• Communicate/collaborate with Heron Therapeutics Subject Matter Experts and contract manufacturing organizations on quality related issues supporting Heron QA.
• Maintain and evaluate quality metrics. Generate reports as applicable to support management and functional reviews.
• Provides assistance in inspection readiness. Assist in compliance audits as required.
• Participate in intradepartmental and interdepartmental project teams as required.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum BA/BS in Chemistry, Life Sciences (Biology, Pharmacology, etc.), or Chemical Engineering with 5+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical GMP environment required.
• Demonstrated understanding of cGMPs and ability to practically apply them internally and with CMOs.
• Proven understanding of Quality principles, industry practices, and standards (21 CFR, ISO, GxP, ICH, etc.) with demonstrated ability to apply these to GxP operations internally and CMOs.
• Experience with commercial drug product operations including injectable parenterals, finished goods production, API and excipient manufacturing, and analytical testing.
• Experience with QA oversight of contract service providers is desired.
• Independent decision making with a high degree of initiative.
• Strong oral and written communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence others, facilitate team interactions, partner with key stakeholders and lead complex QA projects.
• Innovative thinker with demonstrated ability to reconcile more complex issues independently.
• Motivated self-starter; detail, records, and results-oriented.
• Well organized and efficient with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Innovative thinker and problem solver with integrity.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time to supplier sites.

The above description is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned; it is not intended to be all inclusive or limit the duties of the position.

Heron is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer: Minority/Female/Disability/Veterans/Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.