Director, Quality Assurance Qualified Person

Summary

Join Acadia Pharmaceuticals as the Director, Quality Assurance, Qualified Person and ensure all medicinal products meet GMP standards and regulatory requirements. You will be responsible for batch release, implementing QMS practices, managing regulatory inspections, and ensuring supplier quality. This role requires frequent travel to CMO/CSP sites and Acadia's European offices. The successful candidate will have a relevant university degree, QP certification in the EU, and proven experience as a QP with non-sterile medicinal products. Proficiency in English and German is required. Additional responsibilities include providing guidance on new product introductions and technical transfers, reviewing quality agreements, and assessing change controls and deviations.

Requirements

• Relevant university degree in a Life Science discipline (i.e., Pharmacy / Chemistry / Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Technology / Pharmaceutical Management) as well as eligibility to practice as a certified Qualified Person (QP) in the EU
• Proven experience working as a QP with non-sterile medicinal products for solid and liquid oral administration is expected
• Experience managing regulatory inspections with the EU and EC Health Authorities is required
• Proven ability to manage supplier quality issues and meetings with a multi-discipline group of attendees
• Proficient in the English and German Language, spoken and written
• As mentioned above, travel will be required to fulfil the responsibilities of a Qualified Person and certification of CMO/CSP sites both inside and outside of the EU. Additional travel to our Netherlands and Swiss offices is also required on a periodic basis and as required to fulfil the responsibilities of a Qualified Person

Responsibilities

• Batch release/Certification of all medicinal product for the EU and UK market produced at CMO sites ensuring compliance with appropriate GMP standards and Market Authorization
• Implement and support QMS practices, systems, and procedures to ensure that batch certification is completed in acceptable timetables and in total compliance with EU, EC and other applicable regulations
• Point of contact and hosting of inspection(s) undertaken by regulatory agencies of medicinal products in conjunction with the Acadia GmbH Quality Assurance team
• Ensure processes and procedures are in place and appropriate for the Acadia GmbH EU Quality Management System
• Ensure, maintain and perform qualification for the suppliers of Acadia GmbH materials in compliance with the audit program for the applicable medicinal products, excipients, and components. Perform audits when applicable
• Provide guidance and technical assistance for new product introduction and technical transfer of medicinal products to ensure the Product File is maintained and in compliance with EU GMP expectations
• Participates in the review and ensures conformance to Quality Agreements with Contract Manufacturing Organizations and Contract Service Providers for outsourced operations
• Assessing the change controls, OOS, and deviations that occur during the batch production and quality control to ensure products meets requirements set forth in the market authorization
• Assess the product quality and management reviews, as well as define actions and post–registration activities, such as ongoing stability studies,  product quality reviews (PQRs), complaints, report of adverse events, and recalls, all of which may influence the product and it’s production process
• Oversight and coordination with Responsible Person for GDP responsibilities
• Other duties assigned as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in the Dutch and French languages is highly desired
• A working knowledge and practical experience with Veeva Quality Docs and QMS systems
• Background in Swissmedic and/or MHRA inspections
• Experience managing regulatory inspections with regulators outside of Europe
• Knowledge of Swiss and UK regulations in relation to importation of product into and out of the EU
• Background in aseptically produced sterile, medical device, and drug-device combination products. Background in small molecules, peptides and oligonucleotides