Principal Scientist Vaccine Drug Substance Development Upstream/Cell Culture – Vaccines

Reference No. R2775844

Position Title: Principal Scientist Vaccine Drug Substance Development Upstream/Cell Culture – Vaccines

Department: Global Drug Substance Bioprocess Dev

Location: Toronto, ON

About the Job

The role will report to the Global Head Vaccine Drug Substance Development and work closely with Unit Heads and Scientists from Vaccine Drug Substance Development group based in Toronto and Marcy l’étoile to accelerate the R&D portfolio.

Provide expertise to Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development teams : work transversally with around 60 collaborators including unit heads, scientists and technologists → Upstream : Cell & Viral & Molecular Biology & Cell line development.

Ensure mastery and improvement of our mammalian cell platforms (CHO, Vero): from seeds/banks to upstream stages including molecular engineering

Ensure mastery and improvement of the Insect cells (SF)/baculoviruses platform

Contribute broadly across Drug Substance teams and with partners, influence strategy, apply depth of expertise to drive mammalian cells and insect cells process development in alignment with future New Vaccine needs &/or Industrial product strategy

This role must balance a 'proximity' to lab activities (including doing some lab work) with some strategic elements

The role will drive small scale activities up to larger scale/ pilot scale (200 L scale)

Support project plan definitions and provide scientific expertise to projects.

Collaborate with other groups or sites in transfer of information and technologies from or to Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development.

Closely collaborate with Global experts from VCDS Global development, from Global MSAT, from Global Immunology and from Global Antigen groups. 

The incumbent also act as Scientific leader, VITA subdomain leader and/or GABIE expert.

This role must balance a 'proximity' to lab activities (including doing some lab work) with some strategic elements.

We are an innovative global healthcare company that helps the world stay ahead of infectious diseases by delivering more than 500 million vaccine doses a year. Across different countries, our talented teams are exploring new technologies to protect people and promote healthy communities. We chase the miracles of science every single day, pursuing progress to make a real impact on millions of patients around the world.

Main Responsibilities:

Provide expertise to Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development

• Ensure mastery and improvement of mammalian and insects cell lines

• Lead implementation of insect cells/baculo “Seeds” and “Upstream” technical activities at Toronto site.

• Drive the development of next generation of insect cells process platform.

• Assist with current and future goals of Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development team.

• Contribute to plans to maintain, improve, and develop new competencies and assess resources (including personnel, facilities and equipment) necessary to meet current and future goals of the Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development team: Upstream & Downstream.

• Contribute to Improve competencies according to the plan through training, collaboration with external sources of competencies (Universities, Biotech companies, contract manufacturers, etc.), externalization and subcontracting.

• Monitor technical skills of the team and propose or lead trainings for continuous improvement of skills/competencies of the teams.

• Ensure mastery and improvement of Vero cell platform.

Support project plan definitions and provide scientific expertise and guidance to projects.

• Leverage expertise and strong global network to lead definition & realization of CMC platform advancements in multiple expression systems:: from preMCB/preMSL manufacturing, culture/fermentation and purification (Drug substance).

• Share and align with Vaccine Drug Substance Development group based in Toronto or in Macy L’etoile.

• Align priorities, timelines and way of working with Global Vaccine Development experts.

• Collaborate productively with all the VCDS organization and in particular with Global Vaccine Development experts and with GMP teams to implement NV processes and succeed in GMP batches manufacturing.

• Lead problem solving through own expertise or other internal or external experts.

• Contribute to ensure that teams is adhering to current regulatory practices and cGMP guidelines.

• Contribute to ensure that teams are adhering to safety and compliance with Good Research practices, local and Global SHE/biosafety regulations.

​Feed and conduct expertise and innovation within Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development

• Drive innovation within Global Vaccine Drug Substance. Development by proposing product, equipment’s and technologies assessment within projects or VITA.

• Lead internal or external scientific forums like FUDIT = Forum Upstream Downstream Innovation Technology.

• Provide specific expertise like eukaryotic cells, viruses, molecular biology, cell line development, cell engineering, media development, new expression systems, automation….

• Ensure implementation of state of the art and automated/high throughput technologies for molecular biology and seeds manufacturing (research grade).

• Drive internal and external scientific visibility of the team.

• Lead or contribute to technologies survey.

• Participate to external technology opportunities: subcontracting, due diligence.

Collaborate with other groups or sites in transfer of information, materials and technology from or to Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development

• Contribute to ensure the successful transfer of processes, techniques, information and systems from Global Vaccine Drug Substance Development to VCDS GMP.  

• Support technology transfer and provide resources, as appropriate.

• Lead and promote team members to actively contribute to VITA networks or GABIE initiatives.

• Collaborate closely and routinely with MSAT colleagues to ensure alignment on current and future ways of working for our key expression systems in particular insect cells/baculoviruses.

About You

Key Requirements:

• PhD or MD/PhD, Engineer with 10+ years of experience developing multi-disciplinary vaccine development programs.

• Experience in drug substance development and industrialization strongly required -> CMC background is a must

• Understanding of complex R&D landscapes globally, ability to identify cutting-edge technologies and new directions, strong academic and biotech/pharma scientific networks.

• Background and expertise: must have experience and expertise with mammalian cells (CHO and/or Vero) and/or insect cells/baculoviruses. Must demonstrate HANDS ON experience.

• Good oral communication, management, and interpersonal skills.

• Fluent in English.

Why Choose Us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs