Alcon

Manufacturing Quality Assurance Specialist

Alcon • $89K — $166K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related field.
  • 5+ years in a regulated GMP manufacturing environment.
  • Strong knowledge of CFR, FDA, and EU regulations.
  • Experience with FDA and EU inspections and audits.
  • Hands-on experience with quality procedures and SOPs.
  • Proven ability to manage deviations and corrective actions.
  • Strong analytical skills for data interpretation and trend analysis.

Responsibilities

  • Provide quality oversight through shop floor presence and real-time support.
  • Review and approve batch records for compliance in production.
  • Collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure GMP-aligned processes.
  • Support various manufacturing operations including aseptic filling.
  • Lead investigations into deviations and ensure effective remediation.
  • Review data integrity and electronic records for regulatory compliance.
  • Assist in internal and external audits and regulatory readiness.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, life, and disability benefits.
  • 401(k) plan with company contributions and matching.
  • Generous time off package including vacation and personal days.
  • Performance-based cash incentives and potential equity awards.
Full Job Description

Band

Level 3

Job Description Summary

As a Manufacturing Quality Assurance Specialist at Novartis, you will be a hands-on partner to manufacturing teams, ensuring every stage of production meets the highest standards of quality, compliance, and scientific rigor. From shop floor presence to final product release, your expertise will directly influence patient safety and product integrity while helping drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced, purpose-driven manufacturing environment.


 

Job Description

Location:

  • This position will be located in Durham, NC and will be an onsite role.
  • Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

Shift:

  • This will be a third shift role working 11:00 pm - 7:30 am, Monday - Friday

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide proactive quality oversight through shop floor presence, walkthroughs, and real-time manufacturing support.
  • Review and approve master and executed batch records to ensure compliant clinical and commercial production.
  • Partner with manufacturing teams to ensure consistent, compliant processes aligned with GMP requirements.
  • Support media, buffer, cell expansion, upstream, downstream, and aseptic filling manufacturing operations.
  • Lead deviation and corrective action investigations, ensuring thorough root cause analysis and effective remediation.
  • Review alarms, data integrity, and electronic records to confirm accuracy and regulatory compliance.
  • Support internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory readiness activities.
  • Provide quality expertise in manufacturing batch record design, review, and continuous improvement.
  • Analyze quality metrics, identify trends, and communicate actionable insights to management.
  • Lead or contribute to continuous improvement and quality system enhancement projects.

Essential Requirements:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
  • Minimum of five years of experience working in a regulated GMP manufacturing environment.
  • Strong working knowledge and application of CFR, FDA, and EU regulatory requirements.
  • Proven experience supporting or participating in FDA and EU regulatory inspections and audits.
  • Hands-on experience reviewing, authoring, and approving quality procedures and standard operating documents.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage deviations, investigations, and corrective and preventive actions to closure.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and recommend compliant paths forward.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.

Desirable Requirements:

  • Experience supporting viral gene therapies or orphan disease manufacturing programs.
  • Experience leading or coordinating internal quality audits and inspection readiness activities.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $43.08 and $80.00 per hour.


The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.


Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.


US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.


#LI-Onsite


 

Salary Range

$89,600.00 - $166,400.00


 

Skills Desired

Collaboration, Communication, Data Integrity, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Internal Quality Auditing, Managing Ambiguity, Operational Excellence, Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Compliance, Quality Control (QC), Quality Management Systems (QMS), Regulatory Compliance, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Statistical Process Control (SPC)

About Alcon

Alcon is a global medical company specializing in eye care products and services. The company's products include surgical equipment, contact lenses, and eye drops. Alcon was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. The company operates in over 70 countries and has over 20,000 employees. In 2019, Alcon became an independent publicly traded company after being spun off from Novartis.
Learn more about Alcon
Size
24,389 employees
Market Cap
$33.3 billion
Industry
Founded
1945
NASDAQ

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