Smith & Nephew

Senior Quality Control Analyst & Investigator

Smith & Nephew$85K — $110K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8-10 years of experience in Quality Control within pharma or biotech
  • Proven ability to conduct and document QC lab investigations
  • Expertise in root cause analysis tools like 5 Whys and Fishbone
  • In-depth knowledge of FDA OOS guidance and cGMP standards
  • Solid technical background in analytical chemistry and instrumentation
  • Experience in developing and implementing CAPAs
  • Strong communication and teamwork capabilities

Responsibilities

  • Lead comprehensive QC lab investigations for OOS, OOT, and deviations
  • Determine true root cause using data-driven, scientific methods
  • Ensure compliance with FDA guidance and cGMPs for sterile environments
  • Develop detailed and defensible investigation reports
  • Collaborate with teams to gather and evaluate data and methods
  • Create effective CAPAs to address root causes and prevent recurrence
  • Develop scientifically justified retest and resample plans

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead and shape laboratory investigation practices
  • Involvement in a high-stakes, regulatory environment
  • Collaborative work with cross-functional teams
  • Scope for professional growth through SME roles
  • Exposure to FDA regulatory processes and compliance trainings
Full Job Description
Senior Quality Control (QC) Analyst & QC Investigator

The Senior QC Analyst & QC Investigator is an experienced, highly skilled individual contributor responsible for leading and executing thorough, compliant laboratory investigations within the Quality Control organization. This role requires deep expertise in identifying true root causes, preventing recurrence through effective CAPA development, and ensuring that all laboratory investigations meet FDA expectations for operations within a sterile drug product manufacturing environment.

The Senior QC Analyst will collaborate closely with chemists, laboratory staff, and cross functional partners to ensure that investigations are completed accurately, efficiently, and on time. This individual will also ensure investigation integrity by preventing "testing into compliance" and by developing sound, scientifically justified retest strategies when appropriate.

What will you be doing?

Laboratory Investigations
  • Lead and conduct comprehensive QC laboratory investigations for OOS, OOT, deviations, atypical results, and invalidations.
  • Apply deep investigative rigor to determine true root cause, using data-driven, scientifically sound methodologies.
  • Ensure all investigations comply with FDA guidance, cGMPs, and expectations for sterile drug-product manufacturing environments.
  • Develop and document robust investigation reports that are accurate, concise, and fully defensible during internal or regulatory audits.
  • Partner with chemists and laboratory teams to gather data, evaluate analytical methods, and review sample preparation and execution details.

CAPA Management
  • Develop effective, preventive, and verifiable CAPAs that address identified root causes and prevent recurrence in the QC laboratory.
  • Facilitate implementation and effectiveness checks of CAPAs across QC operations.
  • Ensure CAPA actions are scientifically justified, feasible, sustainable, and compliant with regulatory expectations.

Compliance & Regulatory Alignment
  • Maintain strong working knowledge of FDA Guidance for Industry related to Out-of-Specification (OOS) results, investigations, and sterile manufacturing environments.
  • Ensure all investigative actions and documentation align with regulatory expectations and withstand regulatory scrutiny.
  • Prevent testing into compliance by ensuring investigative integrity and scientifically justified decision-making.
  • Support audit readiness and provide SME support during regulatory inspections as needed.

Retest and Resample Strategy
  • Develop compliant, scientifically defensible retest, resample, or reanalysis plans when justified by the investigation.
  • Work with analytical teams to ensure retest plans are executed properly and results are understood within proper regulatory context.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with QC Chemists, Supervisors, QA, Operations, and other teams to ensure timely completion of investigations.
  • Provide coaching and guidance to QC analysts on investigative expectations and best practices.

Serve as an SME for laboratory investigation processes, root-cause analysis tools, and documentation standards.

What will you need to be successful?

Required
  • 8-10 years of extensive experience in Quality Control within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
  • Strong experience conducting and documenting QC laboratory investigations.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify true root cause using tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone, Fault Tree Analysis, and data trending.
  • Deep knowledge of FDA OOS guidance, cGMP for laboratory controls, and requirements for sterile drug product manufacturing.
  • Strong technical understanding of analytical chemistry, method execution, laboratory instrumentation, and data review.
  • Experience developing effective CAPAs and driving implementation.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams.

Preferred
  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline.
  • Experience supporting regulatory inspections and acting as an SME.
  • Experience in sterile manufacturing environments and aseptic processing quality expectations.


Core Competencies
  • Investigative Rigor & Scientific Judgment
  • Regulatory and Compliance Excellence
  • Collaboration & Teamwork
  • Analytical/Technical Problem Solving
  • Documentation Quality
  • Decision Making with Integrity


U.S. Sponsorship or H1B transfer is not available for this role

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology company headquartered in London, England. The company designs, manufactures, and sells medical devices and products for orthopedic reconstruction, sports medicine, and trauma. Smith & Nephew operates in more than 100 countries and employs over 17,500 people worldwide. The company was founded in 1856 by Thomas James Smith and his nephew, Horatio Nelson Smith, and has grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Smith & Nephew's products include joint replacement systems, wound care products, and surgical instruments. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Learn more about Smith & Nephew
Size
17,500 employees
Market Cap
$11.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$448 million
5 Year Trend
+2.2%
Revenue
$4.5 billion

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