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 commercialization.
• Design, evaluate and optimize vaccine formulations, production processes and manufacturing platforms.
• Identify and assess emerging vaccine technologies, platform innovations and manufacturing approaches for adoption.
• Contribute to product development strategies, feasibility studies and technology assessments.

Process Development and Manufacturing Scale-Up

• Develop and optimize upstream and downstream bioprocesses for vaccine production.
• Lead process scale-up activities from laboratory and pilot-scale operations to commercial manufacturing
• Establish robust, reproducible and cost-effective manufacturing processes.
• Monitor process performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and quality.

Technology Transfer and Manufacturing Readiness

• Lead the transfer of vaccine technologies from R&D into manufacturing operations.
• Prepare and execute technology transfer protocols and documentation.
• Support facility readiness, equipment qualification and operational preparedness for vaccine production.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to ensure successful implementation of transferred technologies.

Oversight of Vaccine Manufacturing Operations

• Provide technical oversight and guidance for vaccine production activities.
• Support production planning, execution and troubleshooting of manufacturing operations.
• Ensure adherence to approved manufacturing procedures, specifications and production schedules.
• Monitor critical process parameters and recommend corrective actions where necessary.

Quality Assurance, Validation and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Develop and review validation protocols, reports and qualification documentation.
• Support process validation, cleaning validation, equipment qualification and method validation activities.
• Participate in internal and external audits, inspections and regulatory submissions.

Analytical Testing and Quality Control Support

• Support development and implementation of analytical methods for vaccine characterization.
• Interpret analytical test results and provide scientific recommendations.
• Work closely with Quality Control and Quality Assurance teams to investigate deviations and quality issues.
• 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 manufacturing.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Promote process optimization, cost reduction and operational excellence initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement programs to enhance manufacturing efficiency and product quality.

Regulatory and Technical Documentation

• Prepare, review and maintain technical reports, manufacturing records, protocols, SOPs and regulatory documentation.
• Contribute to the preparation of dossiers for regulatory approvals and product registrations.
• Ensure integrity, accuracy and traceability of manufacturing and development data.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Research & Development, Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs and Engineering teams.
• Provide technical guidance during project planning and implementation.
• Liaise with external consultants, academic institutions, technology providers and regulatory authorities as required.

Capacity Building and Technical Leadership

• Mentor, train and develop technical staff involved in vaccine development and manufacturing.
• Build institutional capacity in vaccine production technologies and GMP-compliant operations.
• Provide expert technical advice to management on vaccine manufacturing strategy, investments and capability developement.
• Support the establishment of sustainable vaccine manufacturing capacity in Uganda and across Africa.

Upstream Processing

• Strain/Cell Line Selection & Engineering: Expertise in choosing, modifying, and banking viral strains, bacterial cells, or mammalian/yeast expression systems.
• Bioreactor Operation: Managing microbial or cell culture growth parameters (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient feed) to maximize yeild.
• Inactivation & Attenuation: Applying chemical or physical methods to safely weaken or kill pathogens without destroying their immunogenic properties.

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 constraits.
• Aseptic Filling & Packaging: Operating specialized barrier-isolator filling lines and packaging units under sterile conditions to prevent contamination.

Quality Assurance & Control (QA/QC)

• Analytical Characterization: Performing potency assays, quantitative PCR (qPCR), and immunogenicity tests to verify product safety and batch consitstency.
• Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP): Strict adherence to regulatory standards governing facility design, documentation, and cleanroom behaviours.
• Data Integrity & Computerized Validation: Managing electronic quality management systems (eQMS) and ensuring manufacturing data traceability.

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 authorities.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

1. Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB)
2. Master’s degree, PhD or equivalent advanced qualification in Vaccinology, Biotechnology, Virology, Immunology, Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioprocess Engineering or a related field.
3. Demonstrated industry experience in vaccine development, production or manufacturing.
4. Strong understanding of GMP-regulated vaccine or biologics manufacturing.

Required Expertise

1. Strong vaccine R&D and Product Development
2. Vaccine Manufacturing & Production
3. Upstream & Downstream Bioprocessing
4. Process Development, Optimization & Scale-Up
5. Technology Transfer
6. Formulation, Filling & Aseptic Processing
7. GMP & Quality Systems
8. Process Validation & Qualification
9. Manufacturing Readiness & Facility Operations
10. Vaccine & Biologics Regulatory Requirements

Remuneration:

Net pay of Uganda Shillings 84,000,000 – 108,000,000 p.a.

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.