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Associate Director, Process Validation and Risk Management

San Carlos, California, United States

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance. 
 
WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:
 
*RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
 
*AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
 
*LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
 
*MODEL EXCELLENCE:  The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

The Associate Director, Process Validation and Risk Management will lead and facilitate commercial process validation and risk management activities across Vaxcyte’s end-to-end manufacturing processes. This role focuses on technical strategy, execution, and cross-functional coordination to support commercial readiness, regulatory compliance, and lifecycle management.

The incumbent will provide leadership to ensure the organization is equipped to effectively design, execute, and communicate process validation and risk management strategies to internal stakeholders, external partners, and regulatory agencies.

This position will report to the Sr. Director of Process Validation within the Global MSAT organization and will collaborate on overall validation strategy, with primary responsibility for process validation execution and risk management frameworks supporting commercial manufacturing.

Essential Functions:

Process Validation Leadership

  • Provide strategic and scientific leadership for process validation (PPQ, CPV, lifecycle validation) across commercial programs.
  • Lead and facilitate execution of validation strategies to support technology transfer, site readiness, and product launch.
  • Ensure alignment of validation activities with regulatory expectations and lifecycle management plans.

Risk Management

  • Develop and implement risk management frameworks, tools, and processes in collaboration with Quality.
  • Lead cross-functional risk assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate operational, technical, and regulatory risks.
  • Monitor and communicate risk trends and key risk indicators to stakeholders.

Commercialization & Lifecycle Support

  • Support commercial manufacturing operations by ensuring processes remain in a validated and controlled state.
  • Contribute to lifecycle management activities, including process improvements and continued process verification.

Cross-functional Interface

  • Collaborate with Regulatory, CMC, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Engineering to support commercialization and supply continuity.
  • Partner with internal teams and external CMOs to ensure alignment on validation and risk strategies.

Technical Oversight

  • Provide guidance for validation of processes, systems, facilities, and methods within the commercial organization.
  • Support deviation investigations, ensuring timely resolution and sustained compliance.

Regulatory

  • Contribute to authoring and reviewing regulatory filings and responses to health authorities.
  • Effectively communicate the scientific and commercial rationale for validation and risk management strategies.

Process Validation & Comparability

  • Provide leadership for execution of process validation and comparability activities, ensuring data integrity and compliance.

Raw Material & Network Support

  • Provide guidance on raw material qualification strategies to ensure supply reliability.
  • Support validation activities across internal and external manufacturing networks.

Communication & Leadership

  • Communicate process validation performance and risk insights to key stakeholders.
  • Build strong working relationships and influence across a matrixed organization.
  • Contribute as a key member of the Global MSAT organization to enable successful commercialization.
  • Travel - 10-30% domestic and international travel required.  

Requirements: 

  • Degree(s) in Chemical or Biochemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related discipline with a minimum of 9+ years of relevant experience for Ph.D., 11+ years for M.S./M.A., or 14+ years for B.S./B.A.
  • Strong experience in biologics/vaccine manufacturing, including:
    • Process validation (PPQ/CPV)
    • MSAT, technical operations, or late-stage development
  • Technology transfer and commercialization
  • Experience in quality risk management (ICH Q9) and regulatory expectations
  • Demonstrated leadership in matrixed or cross-functional team environments
  • Ability to apply deep technical knowledge to develop strategies and drive execution
  • Strong problem-solving, organizational, and strategic planning skills
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
  • Ability to analyze data and align stakeholders with organizational strategy
  • Innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to drive continuous improvement
  • An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry. 

Reports to: Senior Director, Process Validation

Location: San Carlos, CA or North Carolina 

Compensation:
The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.

Salary Range: $174,000 – $203,000 (SF Bay Area). Salary ranges for non-California locations may vary.

 

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

 

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