Quality Control Planner

Purpose and Scope:

The QC Planner is responsible for the management, planning and coordination of samples in the QC laboratory. This position will coordinate and communicate across QC and other departments to organize and maintain tracking of testing stages to ensure accurate and timely reporting.

 Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Perform scheduling of all workstreams to ensure optimum flexibility and utilization of all employees to meet the demands of the business.
• Ensure all testing is scheduled to meet timelines for stability commitments, production and ship dates.
• Facilitate cross-training to prevent potential bottlenecks in testing efficiencies.
• Maintain a customer-focused sample management and planning system in the QC laboratory with the assistance of the QC Management team.
• Collaborate with external departments to ensure swift communication of delays and impact to production or shipment schedules.
• Communicate with management and manufacturing to assist in timely release of critical samples, coordinate results reporting activities with QC customers and follow up with Stability area for timely delivery of samples for stability testing.
• Review samples and accompanying documentation submitted to the QC laboratory to ensure accuracy.
• Provide support to the QC department for the evaluation and implementation of new technological innovations in laboratory automation systems, documentation systems and other technologies.
• Ensure the stability pulls schedule are mitigated and designed with the most efficient test batching potential to support adherence to testing timelines prior to stability samples being pulled and submitted to the laboratory.  
• Support revisions of Binocs scheduling software including revising test times, scheduling rules, and templating new materials in the system.
• Provide critical information on workload assignments, and manage test scheduling conflicts and gaps.
• Establish and track key performance indicators for laboratory activities and introduce operational efficiency efforts in test management.
• Support QC management by tracking relevant data and assisting with ongoing capacity analysis activities.
• Contribute to a highly productive environment by avoiding distractions.
• Maintain a positive atmosphere of teamwork, camaraderie and respect towards co-workers.
• Ensure that company compliance and regulatory data integrity guidelines are consistently followed.
• Assist co-workers with the completion of tasks; learn to identify areas of contention on a team and work with management to correct.
• Interact respectfully with all other employees both inside and outside of the department and members of management, and show interest in others' input and reasoning. Appropriately resolve differences of opinion.
• Upon delegation, may be responsible for representing the QC laboratory when communicating with outside departments and vendors.
• Identify issues and possible solutions and escalate those issues and solutions to the department senior leadership or management as appropriate. Follow up as needed to ensure complete resolution.
• Participate in required annual department related trainings and activities.
• Perform various other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Demonstrated knowledge of scheduling multiple work streams pertaining to specific products and assays conducted in a high throughput QC laboratory.
• Strong sense of purpose and drive to meet deadlines without sacrificing quality.
• Ability to schedule work for multiple workstreams utilizing trained team members as efficiently as possible to reduce cycle time of submitted samples. 
• Ability to perform designated duties under minimal supervision and support departmental management in all aspects of organizational functions.
• High level of proficiency in Quality Control laboratory procedures and testing techniques.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills demonstrated through interactions internally and externally.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and under tight time constraints.
• Ability to grasp and use multiple complex software systems in order to generate and revise a weekly schedule.
• Understanding of cGMP regulations as it pertains to stability programs.
• Knowledge of different laboratory instruments as it pertains to scheduling and batching rules.
• Knowledge of computer applications, including Microsoft Office.
• Adaptable to shift priorities and to operate with a sense of urgency while maintaining high quality in order to meet important timelines in a high throughput lab.

 Core Values

The QC Planner is expected to operate within the framework of Tolmar’s Core Values:

• Center on People: We commit to support the well-being of our patients. We are committed to treating our employees and those we serve as valued partners. By placing people at the heart of our actions, we actively engage, invigorate, acquire knowledge, and grow together.
• Are Proactive & Agile: We embody a culture of engagement and action. With a hands-on approach, we fearlessly adapt to change. We anticipate, respond swiftly and efficiently to ignite a spirit that propels us towards extraordinary outcomes.
• Act Ethically: We are committed to consistently conducting our business in an ethical, compliant, and socially aware manner, in line with our purpose of positively impacting lives. We actively cultivate diversity, equity, inclusion & sustainability in our workplace.
• Constantly Improve: We are committed to a collaborative & proactive effort to improve our products, systems, processes, and services by reducing waste, increasing efficiency & improving quality.
• Are Accountable: We think, act, and communicate with honesty, transparency, and clarity in alignment with our core values. We don't compromise our values for near term gain. We take accountability & ownership of our work, actions, successes, and setbacks. We strive to deliver our best as we shape the future.

 Education& Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, Business or related discipline preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two or more years of experience in an analytical laboratory position.
• Project management experience and/or certification preferred.

 Working Conditions

• Business demands may present a need to work extended hours.
• This position will be on-site, with a possibility of a hybrid work arrangement.

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay: $39.00 - $40.50 per hour
• Benefits summary:  https://www.tolmar.com/careers/employee-benefits 

Tolmar compensation programs are focused on equitable, fair pay practices including market-based base pay and a strong benefits package. The final compensation offered may vary from the posted range based on the selected candidates qualifications and experience.