Quality Assurance Specialist-Third-Party laboratory

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Purpose:

The Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for independently providing Commercial Quality support in the affiliate including full management of third-party laboratories conducting post importation testing.  Scope of activities includes quality system requirements associated with pharmaceutical products, medical devices, combination products, biologics. Specific areas of support may include Storage and Distribution, potential quality events/product shortage execution, Supplier Controls, Product Quality Review, Risk Management, Agency inspections/internal audits, CAPA, and overall Quality Manual requirements.   This position will ensure that all product, process or system related quality activities supporting the business at the affiliate from receipt of final product through distribution are in compliance with Corporate, governmental, and local regulations and requirements.    

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the integration of local quality regulations for drugs, biologics, device and/or combination products and cosmetics.
• Design effective quality systems, procedures and/or processes within cross functional teams to ensure compliance as well as efficiency throughout our quality systems. 
• Work on assessments to determine compliance with processes, procedures and regulations to identify potential gaps and mitigate and implement improvements. 
• Plan, prepare, review and approve quality documentation such as change controls, product reviews and other local requirements. 
• Support self-inspections, internal, external and MoH audits as directed by the manager.
• Coordinate and investigate quality events such as deviations, non-conformances and corresponding action plans including decisions.  
• Execute supplier qualification and performance monitoring for key suppliers, including third party laboratories. Managing contract/SOW/QTA with the lab.
• Monitor metrics and KPIs to ensure compliance.
• Support all activities governed by Good Storage and Distribution Practices including monitoring of controlled temperature and cold chain shipments.
• Support the Management Review process for the affiliate. 
• Represent Commercial Quality in cross functional teams, projects and programs, as assigned by management. 
• Managing timeline for post importation testing at the lab.
• Ensure proper maintenance, calibration, and qualification of AbbVie-owned equipment at the laboratory.
• Managing supplier/audit records in One Track system and supplier qualifications.
• Handle and communicate all change notifications from the laboratory (including SCN process).
• Ensure timely provision of reference standards and critical reagents to the laboratory.
• Ensuring supply of reference standards and critical reagents to the lab.
• Handle and troubleshoot any un-expected results (LIR, OOS) from lab testing. – including ER reporting.
• Communicate testing method changes (STM or locally registered methods) to the lab.
• Ensure ongoing training and compliance with GxP standards for lab personnel as relevant.
• Manage risk assessments and implement improvement actions for lab-related processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy.
• Registration with the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC).
• At least two years’ experience in quality assurance, GMP or GDP environment preferred. 
• Excellent knowledge of computer skills, familiarity with SAP, Track Wise, ComplianceWire and One Vault.
• Full understanding of local GxP requirements including regulations and standards affecting device, biologics, pharmaceutical products and cosmetics.
• General knowledge and understanding of AbbVie MD, pharmaceutical, biologic and cosmetic products and regulations.
• Ability to support projects as a team member as assigned by manager.
• Experience working in both a team setting and independently.  Works well with manager guidance to complete tactical objectives while able to manage own time effectively. 
• Make decisions in collaboration with management.
• Acts as an owner - uses available resources to independently complete assigned tasks.

Key Stakeholders: 

Local Affiliate Staff, Commercial QA team, Regulatory/Competent Authority, Suppliers/Service Providers. 

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. 

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html