Associate Director, Lead Pathogen Safety Laboratory

Job Purpose

Serves as PS laboratory head in Australia, you will manage all laboratories-related activities to deliver on QbD virus reduction packages for new or established processes/products as well as data packages to support operational deviations. Working closely between sites, and with PS single point of contacts (SPoCs) to ensure appropriate resources are available either internally or externally to execute virus reduction packages as per project requirements.

This position is also responsible for instilling an environment that encourages the team to embrace and implement continuous improvement initiatives which includes digitalization and maintaining state of the art pathogen reduction lab practices across the Australian lab sites.

Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Lead the Melbourne lab team to ensure virus reduction packages are executed and delivered as per integrated project team (IPTs) objectives and timelines

• Establish appropriate scaledown models (SDM) in collaboration with Technical Development capabilities from IPTs for transfer to PS labs or CROs, collaborate on execution of SDMs in PS labs with Technical Development SMEs owning and executing SDMs and Pathogen Safety laboratory staff performing spiking, analytics and reporting

• Drive the lab team to work closely within the PS cross-IPT matrix (Support team and SPoCs) to externalize virus reduction packages or virus production or virus assays to a preferred CRO, where appropriate

• Accountable for lab practices that adheres to appropriate compliance levels ie non-GLP and OECD GLP studies as well as Biosecurity requirements

• Oversee and deliver on the full implementation of continuous improvements initiatives to improve quality and increase lab efficiencies across both sites

• Accountable for the implementation of fit-for-purpose virus titration assays, the development of processes to generate high-quality and/or new virus stocks and effective cells and/or processes to increase PS laboratories overall efficiency in close collaboration with the sister-site lab head

• Ensure lab practices strictly adhere to internal and global EHS and PS safety procedures. Ensure the team supports safety audits and inspections, risk assessment activities and follow safe practices

• Together with pathogen safety cross-IPT tier 3 members, co-owns and maintains Pathogen Safety best practices as well as Pathogen Safety by Design framework and its implementation within PS cross-IPT and IPTs

• Build, mentor, and nurture a high-performing scientific team, fostering a culture of collaboration, teamwork, common goals, agility, flexibility, quality, and accountability

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• PhD in the relevant life science discipline preferred– virology, cell biology, immunology, biopharmaceutical process science or related field

• Min 8+ years’ Biopharmaceutical environment experience and/or equivalent experience in a relevant academic environment

• A solid understanding of biopharmaceutical development processes of new product development and life cycle management in a Biopharmaceutical environment

• Strong publication record and/or contributions to regulatory submissions, patents, or scientific advancements

• Proven track record in managing mid-to large laboratory teams to deliver on complex projects with the ability to adapt to the fast-paced, constant changes, matrixed environment, expected from the Technical Operations dynamic working environment

• Competencies (Measurable or observable skills, abilities, and behaviors critical to successful job performance.)

• Demonstrated strong leadership and interpersonal skills and the ability to create a highly effective, engaged and outcome-driven teams that are both resilient and agile

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and strong scientific and technical concept communication skills to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Build bridges and proactively improves cross-business collaboration

Working Conditions

• High level of understanding of how goals and decisions align with the Technical Operations compelling business needs, ensuring delivery efforts are consistently value driven and timely

• Able to maintain the companies’ strategic focus for yourself and your team

• Strong decision-making ability under uncertainty

• A proven track record in fostering high-performing and engaged teams through coaching and empowerment

• Brings clarity and executional rigor amid ambiguity and competing priorities expected in a fast-paced Technical Operations working environment

Travel Requirements

• Is expected to travel to multiple sites on an infrequent basis to meet project needs (frequency and exact locations to be further defined)

Application Closing Date Thursday 16th April 2026

About CSL Behring

CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader driven by our promise to save lives. Focused on serving patients’ needs by using the latest technologies, we discover, develop and deliver innovative therapies for people living with conditions in the immunology, hematology, cardiovascular and metabolic, respiratory, and transplant therapeutic areas. We use three strategic scientific platforms of plasma fractionation, recombinant protein technology, and cell and gene therapy to support continued innovation and continually refine ways in which products can address unmet medical needs and help patients lead full lives.

CSL Behring operates one of the world’s largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. Our parent company, CSL, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, employs 32,000 people, and delivers its lifesaving therapies to people in more than 100 countries.

To learn more about CSL, CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor  visit https://www.csl.com/ and CSL Plasma at https://www.cslplasma.com/.

Our Benefits

For more information on CSL benefits visit How CSL Supports Your Well-being | CSL.

You Belong at CSL

At CSL, Inclusion and Belonging is at the core of our mission and who we are. It fuels our innovation day in and day out. By celebrating our differences and creating a culture of curiosity and empathy, we are able to better understand and connect with our patients and donors, foster strong relationships with our stakeholders, and sustain a diverse workforce that will move our company and industry into the future.

 To learn more about inclusion and belonging visit https://www.csl.com/careers/inclusion-and-belonging

Equal Opportunity Employer

CSL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please visit https://www.csl.com/accessibility-statement.

Global biotech leader in plasma-derived therapies, vaccines, and iron deficiency treatments. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

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