Quality Assurance Manager

Job Description

Our External Supply Operations include 1,000 manufacturers worldwide and handle 3rd party manufacturers for strategic raw materials, drug substances, drug products and finished products.=== POSITION PURPOSE: ===Approve and maintain quality oversight with respect to supply of materials to Novartis, from global external suppliers of chemicals (strategic raw materials, Intermediates and Drug Substances) by working in Supply Relationship Teams. These materials are being supplied to >75 Novartis Technical Operation sites.To ensure appropriate quality oversight, assessment and mitigation of quality risks, that may potentially negatively impact the supply of purchased strategic ESO chemicals (regulatory starting materials, Intermediates and API s), and to ensure that all aspects of the relationship and management thereof, are in compliance with cGMP s, regulatory requirements, the Novartis Quality Manual and Pharma industry practices.YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:- Responsible for ensuring quality oversight for purchased API s and strategically important regulatory starting materials and chemical intermediates supplied into Novartis NTO sites worldwide.- Participates in and approves changes of supplier qualification and certification status for all external Suppliers, and maintain all associated quality systems e.g. maintain and update documents related to the supplier qualification and monitoring.- Participate in escalation of all potential quality issues as per the Novartis escalation policy to higher level management, especially to the QA Lead and ESO Global QA Head Chemicals & Anti-infectives, and initiating all actions as required. (483 s, Warning Letters, FDA Field Alert Reports, Notifications to the Drug Shortage Office etc).- Manage major and critical quality issues (Complaints, deviations, recalls, counterfeits, product tampering, stability failures and any regulatory non-compliance identified, as applicable) according to the Quality Agreement and the Novartis Quality Manual. Ensure investigations are accurately executed and all appropriate Corrective and Preventative actions are put in place in a timely manner.- Perform risk assessments in case of specific quality events at supplier, including collecting relevant data from NTO sites and other stakeholders, and approval of site specific risk assessments where required. Evaluates risks for product quality and patient safety and proposes market actions- Participates in High Risk Supplier evaluation process, and assures that actions originating from this process are executed and documented. Proactively communicates supplier status changes (incl. high risk suppliers) with NTO sites.- Provide direction and support to third parties and ensure that they are qualified, achieve a high level of competence and are motivated to carry out their duties to ensure that the materials produced meet the Novartis quality, efficacy and safety requirements.- Travel to external suppliers manufacturing sites during audits, continuous improvement activities or to resolve any issues. Responsible for preparing Quality Agreements and Quality Risk assessments for all External Suppliers within the responsibility of the team, and for maintaining of documentation in relevant IT systems.- Support remediation of any gaps identified in Quality Systems and ensure any issues are addressed. Provide the quality presence and in-put to Technical Meetings with the external suppliers and establish good working relationships with clear communication and defined actions and goals.- Request, review and process GMP documentation as defined by the Quality Agreement and Novartis SOPs. Manage the Quality Aspects of the relationship in accordance with the effective Quality Agreement. Perform the required periodic review and make recommendations for amendments to the agreement based on identified needs and issues.- Responsible for coordinating and ensuring that quality Auditing of external suppliers is carried out according to the Novartis Quality Manual - maintain an annual auditing program, participate in and/or lead audits, manage action plans and follow up on agreed upon CAPAs (QARP, FURP). Maintain and update documents related to the audits in the relevant systems.- Ensure that Change requests, either from the External Supplier or from Novartis, are raised in the Novartis Change Control system, and where applicable, are managed according to the Quality Agreement and Novartis SOPs from receipt, through to the implementation and closure.- Ensure that coordinated contact is maintained with other Functions within Novartis also dealing with External suppliers namely Purchasing, Legal, Supply Chain, Regulatory CMC, Drug Regulatory Affairs, Group Quality Operations (GOO), etc.- Support site readiness for regulatory inspections at External suppliers where appropriate, and support site remediation from inspections where required.- Ensure that support is provided to NTO sites in their preparation for Novartis or Health Authority general GMP inspections and PAI inspections.- Performing technical visits of suppliers, issue technical visit reports and perform follow-up.- Act as a person in plant (PIP) when necessary in some specific suppliers to ensure on site supervision of critical activities and to provide formal reports to Novartis regarding activities performed.INSIDE THE ORGANISATION- Implement and maintain local Quality Systems and Standard Operating Procedures defining all the processes for managing of External suppliers.- Ensure that the ESO QA Lead, Global QA Head and the Supplier Relationship Manager is kept informed of all critical and major issues which may have an adverse effect on the quality of the product at an External Supplier.- Together with the Supplier Relationship Manager provide direction, formulate strategies and make decisions which ensure the efficient operation of the External Supplier business as a whole.- Participate in the Business review of External suppliers. Participate in the Reporting on QA External Supplier activities - this is to include Risk Assessment, reporting and managing of defined KPIs- Ensure that coordinated contact is maintained with other functions within Novartis also dealing with External suppliers namely Purchasing, Legal, Supply Chain, Regulatory CMC, Drug Regulatory Affairs, Group Quality Operations (GQO), etc.- Support execution of the ESO Quality Plan. Participate in projects as defined and ensure that all aspects are implemented and followed up. Support the team in achieving targets defined in ESO Q-planPERSONAL DEVELOPMENT- Maintain current knowledge of local and international regulatory and legislative requirements and trends.Minimum requirements WHAT YOU LL BRING TO THE ROLE:- Bachelor or higher in Biochemistry, Chemistry or another related science. - Proven experience of 10+ yrs in the pharmaceutical industry, with direct experience with APIs. Experience in QA Operations, production, QC and/or other relevant operational areas, but must include minimally 5 years in QA, and 3 years of management and or project management experience. Detailed knowledge of cGMP requirements.- Strong understanding of regulatory requirements for commercial products- Proven track record with FDA, EMEA and other Health Authorities.- Strong understanding of risk assessment and risk management fundamentals/tools. Technical understanding of pharmaceutical I biological processes. COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION: Novartis embraces diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration, and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to learn more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network (https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network)Why consider Novartis 799 million. That s how many lives our products touch. And while we re proud of that fact, in this world of digital and technological transformation, we must also ask ourselves this: how can we continue to improve and extend even more people s lives We believe the answers are found when curious, courageous and collaborative people like you are brought together in an inspiring environment. Where you re given opportunities to explore the power of digital and data. Where you re empowered to risk failure by taking smart risks, and where you re surrounded by people who share your determination to tackle the world s toughest medical challenges. Imagine what you could do at Novartis!,

Keyskills :
site specificraw materialscontrol systemchange controlpatient safetyrisk managementrisk assessmentproduct qualityquality systemschange requestssite supervisionquality auditingsupply operations