Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vaccines Access Initiative (VAI)
Type of Contract: Fixed Term
Department: Vaccines Access Initiatve
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
JOB PURPOSE:
To lead and support the development, scale-up, technology transfer, and manufacturing of vaccines and biologics by applying advanced scientific, technical, and regulatory expertise to ensure safe, effective, high-quality, and commercially viable vaccine production processes in compliance with GMP and international regulatory standards.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Vaccine Research, Development and Product Innovation
- Lead and support vaccine research and development activities from concept through product
- Design, evaluate and optimize vaccine formulations, production processes and manufacturing
- Identify and assess emerging vaccine technologies, platform innovations and manufacturing approaches for adoption.
- Contribute to product development strategies, feasibility studies and technology
Process Development and Manufacturing Scale-Up
- Develop and optimize upstream and downstream bioprocesses for vaccine
- Lead process scale-up activities from laboratory and pilot-scale operations to commercial
- Establish robust, reproducible and cost-effective manufacturing
- Monitor process performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and
Technology Transfer and Manufacturing Readiness
- Lead the transfer of vaccine technologies from R&D into manufacturing
- Prepare and execute technology transfer protocols and
- Support facility readiness, equipment qualification and operational preparedness for vaccine
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure successful implementation of transferred
Oversight of Vaccine Manufacturing Operations
- Provide technical oversight and guidance for vaccine production
- Support production planning, execution and troubleshooting of manufacturing
- Ensure adherence to approved manufacturing procedures, specifications and production
- Monitor critical process parameters and recommend corrective actions where
Quality Assurance, Validation and Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and applicable regulatory
- Develop and review validation protocols, reports and qualification
- Support process validation, cleaning validation, equipment qualification and method validation
- Participate in internal and external audits, inspections and regulatory
Analytical Testing and Quality Control Support
- Support development and implementation of analytical methods for vaccine
- Interpret analytical test results and provide scientific
- Work closely with Quality Control and Quality Assurance teams to investigate deviations and quality
- Ensure product safety, potency, purity and consistency through scientifically sound quality systems.
Risk Management and Continuous Improvement
- Identify technical and operational risks affecting vaccine development and
- Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Promote process optimization, cost reduction and operational excellence
- Drive continuous improvement programs to enhance manufacturing efficiency and product
Regulatory and Technical Documentation
- Prepare, review and maintain technical reports, manufacturing records, protocols, SOPs and regulatory
- Contribute to the preparation of dossiers for regulatory approvals and product
- Ensure integrity, accuracy and traceability of manufacturing and development
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Research & Development, Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs and Engineering
- Provide technical guidance during project planning and
- Liaise with external consultants, academic institutions, technology providers and regulatory authorities as
Capacity Building and Technical Leadership
- Mentor, train and develop technical staff involved in vaccine development and
- Build institutional capacity in vaccine production technologies and GMP-compliant
- Provide expert technical advice to management on vaccine manufacturing strategy, investments and capability
- Support the establishment of sustainable vaccine manufacturing capacity in Uganda and across
Upstream Processing
- Strain/Cell Line Selection & Engineering: Expertise in choosing, modifying, and banking viral strains, bacterial cells, or mammalian/yeast expression
- Bioreactor Operation: Managing microbial or cell culture growth parameters (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient feed) to maximize
- Inactivation & Attenuation: Applying chemical or physical methods to safely weaken or kill pathogens without destroying their immunogenic
Downstream Processing
- Purification & Isolation: Utilizing chromatography, ultrafiltration, and tangential flow filtration (TFF) to separate the target antigen from cellular impurities.
- Formulation & Stabilization: Combining antigens with adjuvants, buffers, and stabilizers to ensure product efficacy and extended shelf-life under cold-chain
- Aseptic Filling & Packaging: Operating specialized barrier-isolator filling lines and packaging units under sterile conditions to prevent
Quality Assurance & Control (QA/QC)
- Analytical Characterization: Performing potency assays, quantitative PCR (qPCR), and immunogenicity tests to verify product safety and batch
- Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP): Strict adherence to regulatory standards governing facility design, documentation, and cleanroom
- Data Integrity & Computerized Validation: Managing electronic quality management systems (eQMS) and ensuring manufacturing data
Process Development & Regulatory Compliance
- Technology Transfer: Scaling up bench-scale processes to commercial industrial suites while maintaining reproducibility.
- Quality-by-Design (QbD): Implementing risk management frameworks to design processes that consistently meet predefined product quality.
- Regulatory Navigation: Preparing documentation for clinical trial approvals, lot release criteria, and compliance audits by stringent health
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB)
- Master’s degree, PhD or equivalent advanced qualification in Vaccinology, Biotechnology, Virology, Immunology, Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioprocess Engineering or a related
- Demonstrated industry experience in vaccine development, production or
- Strong understanding of GMP-regulated vaccine or biologics
Required Expertise
- Strong vaccine R&D and Product Development
- Vaccine Manufacturing & Production
- Upstream & Downstream Bioprocessing
- Process Development, Optimization & Scale-Up
- Technology Transfer
- Formulation, Filling & Aseptic Processing
- GMP & Quality Systems
- Process Validation & Qualification
- Manufacturing Readiness & Facility Operations
- Vaccine & Biologics Regulatory Requirements
All eligible applicants should submit their applications with detailed and up-to-date CVs, certified copies of academic transcripts and certificates, and any other supporting documents, daytime telephone contacts, and addresses of two referees (including the current employer, where applicable) addressed to:
The Director Human Resource,
Microhaem Scientifics and Medical Supplies Limited
Plot 16 A-C Martyrs Way Ntinda
P.O Box 73496, Kampala, Uganda
Applications should be sent by email to: recruitment@microhaem.co.ug as a single file in Portable Document Format (PDF). Applications should reference the Job Title in the subject of the email. Please note that physical applications will not be accepted.
Deadline: Friday,18th September 2026, by 5:00 pm.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED.