R&D and Vaccine Production Scientist

Role Summary

The R&D and Vaccine Production Manager, AquaTactics is responsible to manage and lead R&D studies and manufacturing activities within Bimeda’s vaccine manufacturing site for fish vaccines for US and Canada based clients. This exciting role is a critical leadership position in support to AquaTactics’ success in bringing to market autogenous and licensed vaccines manufactured in Texas.

Responsibilities

Production

▪ Lead the production of bacterin and viral cultures for aquaculture vaccines

▪ Maintain accurate production and vaccine batching records

▪ Schedule production from internal/external input (clients, sales, vets etc.)

▪ Establish production procedures to meet QA/QC requirements; protocols, standard operating procedures

▪ Work with vendors to provide cost effective and timely supply availability

▪ Manage timely shipments to clients with customer service team

▪ Liaise with other vaccine production sites in US and overseas for both aquaculture and non-aquaculture vaccines production to ensure knowledge is shared throughout the group

R&D

▪ Lead R&D activities relevant to vaccine development at San Angelo site

▪ Work closely with other team members on R&D projects at other manufacturing sites

▪ Develop production of plasmid vaccines

▪ Develop new bacterial and viral cell cultures for autogenous vaccine production and new licensed vaccines

▪ Continue to improve vaccines production efficiencies

▪ Evaluate new vaccine technologies that might be licensed for aquaculture vaccines

▪ Complete required testing for development of new USDA licensed vaccines

▪ General laboratory upkeep

▪ Assist with liaising with aquaculture diagnosticians and veterinarians as needed

▪ Assist and help field personnel with occasional sample collection and submission.

▪ Purchasing of lab supplies, equipment and materials used for production and research as needed.

▪ Participate and present at various fish health conferences

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Competencies Required for the Role

EXECUTION/ACCOUNTABILITY – A willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. Accountability is when an individual or a department experiences consequences for their performance or actions.

RESULTS ORIENTATION – The ability to focus on the desired result of one’s own department’s work, setting challenging goals, focusing on the goals, and meeting or exceeding them.

ANALYTICAL THINKING/PROBLEM SOLVING - is the ability to identify the information needed to clarify a situation, seek that information from various sources and then tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach. Ability to identify and separate the key components of problems and situations. Ability to interpret information from a range of sources to spot patterns and trends in information and to deduce cause and effect from this. ▪ THOROUGHNESS/DETAIL ORIENTED – Ensuring that one’s own and others’ work ad information are complete and accurate; carefully preparing for meetings and presentations following up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.

INITIATIVE - Identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or before the situation requires it

Qualifications

Essential:

▪ Bachelor's degree in microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, or virology

▪ Experience in growing organisms in a lab environment

▪ Ability to develop skills in microbiology and virology and fish diagnostics

▪ Experience working within laboratory and manufacturing environments within a regulated industry

▪ Self-starter with high energy level, ability to multi-task and willingness to learn

▪ Plans and prioritizes work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals

▪ Personable and able to interact and socialize amongst different cultures and levels in an organization

▪ Strong verbal, presentation and writing skills in English required

▪ Ability to attract and develop talent, and build effective teams

▪ Excellent computer skills in Microsoft Office.

Desired:

▪ Experience in commercial plasmid production

▪ Experience relating to bacterial and virial culture experience

▪ Knowledge of fish health diagnostics

▪ Advanced graduate in microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, or virology (or veterinary degree an asset)

▪ Basic statistical knowledge for clinical trials