R&D Tech

BIOVECTRA, now a part of Agilent, is recognized as a leader in the contract development and manufacturing space of active pharmaceutical ingredients specializing in clinical-to-commercial scale production for microbial fermentation, synthetic small molecules including ADC, HPAPI, plasmid DNA, mRNA, LNP and sterile filling capabilities. With over 650 employees at both the Windsor, NS and Charlottetown, PEI sites, BIOVECTRA supports over 100 clients, including over 20 top pharma and biotech companies.

BIOVECTRA joined Agilent in 2024 and is part of Agilent’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships Division (AMPD), which also contains Agilent’s Nucleic Acid Solutions Division. With BIOVECTRA, Agilent aims to align advanced manufacturing capabilities, expertise, and resources to foster greater innovation and operational excellence. Within AMPD, you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and collaborate with a team of dedicated professionals committed to revolutionizing advanced manufacturing, making a significant impact in the industry and, most importantly, improving patient care through the manufacture of better therapeutics. 

The Senior Technician, Process Development will be responsible for operating and maintaining fermentation and purification equipment in process development laboratories with minimal supervision. The individual will act as team lead during experiments, provide technical assistance, participate in the training of other coworkers, and ensure safe working practices. This position will help the scientists during the hands-on process development activities, critical to advancing innovative biopharmaceutical programs. It will also occasionally involve supporting GMP cell banking and pilot plant work activities.

• Supervise shift activities and follow work instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure experiments are performed as designed in a non-GMP or GMP environment

• Supervise technicians during process development experiments in the capacity of “lead hand” on a shift

• Verify that work instructions are complete at the end of a shift and communicate during shift handoff

• Verify that samples are collected, labelled, and tested according to the experimental plan

• Training junior employees during processes based on experience with specific processes and equipment

• Operating manual, electronic, pneumatic, or computerized laboratory process equipment

• Monitor experimental work and troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve complex technical issues with equipment during the experiments

• Ensure the correct labeling of reagents and instrumentation in the PD laboratory

• Reviewing work instructions prior to runs and assisting in writing SOP’s; assisting with data entry

• Clean and organize equipment and work area. Support lab organization (5S and inventory), and calibration and maintenance of laboratory equipment

• Assist in preparation, testing, and maintenance of cell banks, including occasional cleaning of cell banking lab in a GMP environment

• Assisting the scientists and the manufacturing in supporting pilot plant operations when required

• Complying with approved safety practices for the laboratory facility

• Accurately record experimental data in accordance with BIOVECTRA’s data integrity policy CP0011

• Complying with approved safety practices for the laboratory facility.

• Accurately record data in accordance with BIOVECTRA’s data integrity policy CP0011

• Following the company’s quality standard (quality management system procedures)

• Additional duties assigned, based on business needs and the department supervisor’s request.

• Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts

• Ability and willingness to work after hours and on weekends if required

• Overtime as required

• Heavy lifting occasionally required (up to 20 kg)

• Using a respirator is required

• Ability and willingness to work with potent compounds and following all safety precautions and protocols

• Post-Secondary Education

• Undergraduate Degree in microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or related discipline is preferred

• cGMP experience

• Experience with aseptic handling techniques, sampling, and the analysis of materials

• Biochemical assays

• Related industry experience in fermentation and protein purification is an asset