Cellular Therapy Scientist - Transplant Laboratory, Full-Time, Days

The salary range for this position is $34.50 - $46.58 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Benefits:

• $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year ($5,700 part-time)
• $10,000 Student Loan Repayment ($5,000 part-time)
• $1,000 Professional Development per year ($500 part-time)
• $250 Wellbeing Fund per year ($125 for part-time)
• Matching 401(k)
• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Annual Employee Salary Increase and Incentive Bonus
• Paid time off and Holiday pay

Description

The Cellular Therapy Scientist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The incumbent will perform process development, assay development and validations under supervision of the laboratory Director as well as manufacture cellular therapy products for treatments of patients on clinical trials and standard of care plans.

Responsibilities:

Technical:

• Responsible for manufacturing of autologous and allogeneic cell and gene therapy products according to standard operating procedures, and specific guidance for clinical trials/commercial products, using aseptic technique
• Performs cell and gene therapy product manufacturing under GXP (GLP, GTP, GMP, GDP) guidelines and protocols to ensure the quality of cellular therapy products and regulatory compliance
• Performs various quality control testing of cellular therapy products and components with immunological and cell biological techniques required for the quality of cellular therapy products
• Performs cellular therapy product infusion preparation and product transport under established procedures
• Accurately document processing records, generate and review processing reports and charts
• Assist in inspections and audits to ensure compliance with regulations from Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies
• Required to wear pager to respond promptly to emergency calls and for critical equipment failure.
• Performs cell and gene therapy manufacturing process development, assay development, optimization, validation, and verification for cellular therapy investigational new drug applications
• Ability to troubleshoot issues in process and assay development, analyze results and compile reports.
• Performs technology transfer from lab bench to clinical manufacturing
• Performs preventative maintenance on facility and instruments/equipment in a timely fashion according to defined procedures and schedule
• Assists in equipment installation/operation/performance qualifications (IQ/OQ/PQ)
• Verifies reagents and supplies meet defined acceptability criteria upon receipt and prior to use; take action to ensure unacceptable items are removed from use; ensures that sufficient reagents and supplies necessary for manufacturing are available
• Performs and records all necessary quality control (QC) required for product manufacture, evaluate QC results and take necessary corrective actions according to established protocol
• Writes or assist in writing standard operating procedures
• Reviews results for completeness, correctness, and consistency
• Participate in training and competency assessment. Keep up with current knowledge of cellular therapy product manufacturing and analytical techniques and industry practices

Universal responsibilities:

• Ensures quality of operations:
  • Follows written standard operating procedures (SOP)
  • Operates instruments/equipment according to protocol
  • Uses computers according to established protocol; follows downtime procedures as required
  • Performs required quality system responsibilities
  • Participates in the training of new employees, fellows and students
  • Attends at least one personal development session per year
  • Performs other duties as assigned, or as needed, to ensure continued quality operations
• Ensures safety of operations:
  • Follows all required safety procedures, uses personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate for tasks performed, and assumes a proactive role in laboratory safety
  • Maintains clean and organized work area
• Provides service excellence:
  • Answers telephone when needed, using NM telephone etiquette
  • Maintains patient confidentiality including protected health information (PHI)
  • Assists patients, visitors and other contacts whenever need occurs

Qualifications

Required :

• Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Chemistry, Biology, immunology, Molecular Biology and other related field.
• Minimum of 1~2 years of relevant laboratory experience including training in a technical specialty.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or higher in Chemistry, Biology, immunology, Molecular Biology and other related field.
• Working Experience in a cellular therapy laboratory or in clinical hematology or blood bank setting preferred. Bone marrow and/or stem cell processing, blood banking, hematology, cell culture and apheresis.
• Experience with processing of either mammalian cells for upstream and downstream processing of viral vectors, or primary tissue and human blood for the isolation and expansion of immune cell populations (e.g. T-cells, NK cells, T-regs, monocytes, dendritic cells, etc.) and also characterization assays for cells and proteins (flow cytometry, ELISA, functional assays, etc.).

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.