Cell & Gene Therapy Associate

Job Title: Cell & Gene Therapy AssociateJob Description

The Cell & Gene Therapy Associate supports clinical manufacturing operations in a cellular therapy facility, working in clean room environments to process cells and samples using aseptic techniques and GMP practices. This role focuses on clean room qualification, cell and tissue culture activities, and preparation of safe and efficacious cell products for clinical use. It is an excellent opportunity for individuals early in their scientific career who are eager to gain hands-on experience, receive extensive training, and grow within a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist with clean room qualification activities, including performing burden cleaning to prepare rooms for testing.
• Run supplies and materials to support clean room operation and processing, ensuring that all required items are available when needed.
• Perform aseptic gowning procedures to enter the clean room and participate in qualification and manufacturing activities.
• Work within manufacturing operations to help process cells and samples in accordance with established procedures and quality standards.
• Process cultures, cryopreserve, and manipulate cell products using aseptic technique to maintain product integrity and sterility.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) in all aspects of laboratory and clean room work.
• Support cellular facility operations, including preparation of media and reagents for cell therapy processes.
• Perform any and all processing and testing required to produce and assess safe and efficacious cell therapy products.
• Work in a clean room environment to carry out stem cell preparation and cell/tissue culture activities.
• Handle batch records and support cell processing steps such as cell expansions, volume reductions, depletions, and enrichments.
• Contribute to clinical trial support by executing laboratory and manufacturing tasks that align with clinical protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate effectively within a large team of operators and with operations leadership to coordinate daily activities and priorities.
• Maintain compliance with facility procedures for clean room entry, gowning, and environmental controls.
• Support a fast-paced production environment by adjusting to changing priorities and schedules as needed.

Essential Skills

• Experience working within a cell-based biology laboratory, either in an academic or industry setting.
• Hands-on experience with aseptic technique in laboratory or clean room environments.
• Familiarity with GMP practices and the ability to follow SOPs consistently.
• Experience with cell culture, including handling and maintaining cell and tissue cultures.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing operational needs.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate within a team environment.
• Capability to perform clean room gowning procedures and work comfortably in a controlled environment.
• Experience working with batch records and documented procedures.
• Ability to support processes such as cell expansions, volume reductions, depletions, and enrichments.
• Understanding of basic biology laboratory operations, including media preparation and general lab practices.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree in biology or a related scientific field is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline is strongly preferred for candidates seeking long-term growth in cell and gene therapy.
• Previous experience in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or clinical manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Experience in stem cell preparation and cell/tissue culture is highly beneficial.
• Exposure to clinical trial support activities within a laboratory or manufacturing setting is an advantage.
• Previous experience with lab gowning procedures and working in clean room or controlled environments.
• Demonstrated positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn new techniques and processes.
• Ability to manage time effectively and maintain attention to detail in documentation and processing.

Work Environment

This role is based in clinical manufacturing laboratories and cellular therapy clean rooms, where work is performed under strict GMP and aseptic conditions. The associate joins a large team of operators and reports into operations leadership, receiving extensive training on aseptic gowning, clean room procedures, and manufacturing processes. Training for the first 2-3 months typically follows a Monday-Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. After training, the position requires flexibility on shifts and openness to working weekends, including Saturday and Sunday. Schedules may include first and second shifts, with some shifts extending as late as approximately 2:30 a.m., and arrival times may occasionally be communicated the day before. The environment is fast-paced, collaborative, and focused on producing high-quality, safe cell therapy products for clinical use. Team members work in specialized clean room attire appropriate for aseptic operations and adhere to all facility protocols to maintain a controlled, compliant, and safety-conscious workplace. The role offers substantial hands-on training, opportunities to build core skills in cell and gene therapy manufacturing, and potential for growth within the first year for individuals who demonstrate strong performance and a positive, proactive attitude.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Allendale, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $29.78 - $29.78/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Allendale,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.