Title: Lead-MSAT (Validation)
Detailed Job Description:
- Lead MS&T activities supporting commercial manufacturing, technology transfer, and site readiness.
- Act as the technical bridge between R&D, Technology Transfer, Production, Quality, and Engineering.
- Prepare, review, approve, archive, retrieve, and distribute validation documents.
- Ensure compliance with GMP documentation and data integrity requirements.
- Maintain validation master plans and validation schedules.
- Ensure robust scientific understanding and control of manufacturing processes across the product lifecycle.
- Support in writing the URS (user requirement specifications) for Project activities, ensuring all assets has URSs before entering the Purchasing Cycle
- Follow-up with procurement and CAPEX manager
- Support in preparation the technical evaluation of quotations from different vendors
- Co-ordinate with procurement, MS&T, QA in RAK site for any similar equipment procurement
- Lead and execute the validation lifecycle using the V‑Model approach (URS, FAT, SAT, IQ, OQ, PQ, re‑qualification).
- Ensure all critical utilities (PW, WFI, HVAC, compressed gases, nitrogen) remain in a validated state.
- Ensure cleanroom qualification activities comply with ISO‑14644 requirements.
- Review and approve validation protocols, reports, and risk assessments.
- Lead or support investigations related to process deviations, OOS, OOT, and atypical results.
- Perform root cause analysis using scientific and statistical tools.
- Propose technically sound CAPAs and process improvements.
- Support batch disposition decisions from a technical perspective.
- Partner in FAT, SAT, DQ, IQ, OQ, PQ for equipment, CSV, systems (Water, utilities, HVAC, electricity, Thermal mapping).
- Lead process validation activities for new and existing products.
- Execute and oversee cleaning validation, sterilization validation, and transport validation.
- Lead aseptic process simulation (media fills) and gowning qualification programs.
- Support visual inspection qualification activities where applicable.
Core Competency:
- In terms of competency, you are highly result-oriented with an intense sense of accountability & ownership.
- High compliance adherence, having strong diligence, initiative-taking, and flexibility.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.
- Must be able to manage tasks, plan workload effectively, prioritize, and easily adapt to changing situations.
- Contribute to EHS activities, audits, and continual improvement initiatives.
Qualification/Functional Knowledge:
- Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related scientific discipline
(master’s degree in pharmacy / engineering is an advantage) - Minimum 6–10 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing within GMP‑regulated environments, with extensive hands‑on experience in qualification and validation activities
- Strong and practical knowledge of:
- cGMP, SFDA, WHO, EU GMP, and ICH guidelines
- Qualification and validation lifecycle using the V‑Model approach
- GMP documentation practices and regulatory inspection expectations
- Proven experience in validation of:
- Manufacturing equipment and production lines
- Critical utilities (PW, WFI, HVAC, compressed gases, nitrogen)
- Cleanrooms in compliance with ISO 14644
- Sterile and non‑sterile manufacturing facilities
- Hands‑on experience in:
- Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), Performance Qualification (PQ)
- Re‑qualification and periodic review programs
- FAT and SAT execution and documentation
- Strong experience in:
- Process validation, cleaning validation, sterilization validation, and aseptic process simulation (media fills)
- Gowning qualification, visual inspection qualification, and transport validation
- Practical knowledge of calibration systems, including rationale, acceptance criteria, frequency setting, and outsourced calibration management
- Solid experience in Computerized System Validation (CSV):
- Validation of manufacturing, utilities, QC, and validation systems
- Compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 and data integrity (ALCOA+) principles
- Strong experience in EQMS activities, including:
- Change Control impact assessments
- Deviation investigations and root cause analysis
- CAPA development and effectiveness checks
- Audit support and regulatory inspection readiness
- Experience acting as validation SME during internal, customer, and regulatory audits, including SFDA inspections
- Strong leadership and team‑coordination skills with experience assigning and reviewing work of validation engineers and SMEs
- Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and risk‑assessment skills
- Proficiency in MS Office and electronic QMS / validation management system