Production Assistant for Biotech Startup

Summary:

Primary responsibilities include conducting and documenting daily and weekly cleaning and light maintenance activities in the production, laboratory, and general office areas as well as helping with production activities including growing and harvesting algae in Lumen’s photobioreactor system following written Standard Operating Procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Production Assistant is responsible for daily production reactor operations including:

- Strict adherence to product and personal safety standards and protocols to ensure a safe working environment for both the operator and other team members, and production of a safe and compliant product.

- Cleaning, inspecting, and conducting light maintenance in production areas.

- Assisting with inoculations, transfers, harvests and cleaning activities; conducting daily sampling, sample processing, recording results in lot/batch records.

- Use of pipettes, mechanical pipettors, balances, and spectrophotometer.

- Operation under current Good Manufacturing Practices, requiring careful attention to detail and ability to conduct operations strictly according to procedure under hygienic conditions.

- Receiving shipments and coordinating handoff to Quality Assurance and other groups; unpacking shipments and disposing of packing materials; organizing and maintaining storage areas.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of duties, activities, or responsibilities that are required of the employee.  Other duties responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Desired Qualifications & Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

- High school diploma or GED

- Work experience in a commercial pharmaceutical, food, or beverage production environment or equivalent with clean operations experience

- Ability to understand and follow detailed operational procedures and work instructions

The successful application will have the following attributes:

- Attention to detail and enthusiasm for maintaining the working environment

- Good office-type computer skills.

- Mechanical competence, ability to use pumps and hoses for transfer of liquids.

- Be safety minded: safe and hygienic workplace practices are mandatory

- Experience in sanitary liquid handling (commercial beverage or food processing, brewing, pharmaceutical processing, etc.) a significant plus.

- Excellent interpersonal skills and team focus, along with a desire to learn new processes.

The successful application may have the following desirable attributes and experience:

- Some coursework in biology and or a scientific background in a biology field.

- Some experience working in a production environment that is governed by a quality assurance system such as ISO 9001 or the like, including (i) document control systems, (ii) batch/lot recordkeeping processes, (iii) rigorously documented operating procedures, (iv) regular cleaning and quality testing procedures.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to lift and carry 65 lbs.; ability to manipulate hoses, air lines, sanitary tri-clamps, etc. overhead. Required to safely use stepstools and step ladders in accordance with Lumen’s workplace safety policies.