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Manager - Process Development, Downstream

Catalent · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role leads late-stage process development and characterization for protein biologics. Tell me about a late-phase program you led.

What they are checking: Whether they have real late-phase experience, which is different from early development work.

How do you lead a team of scientists while staying technically sharp yourself?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage people and still give real technical leadership to the team.

Tell me about a technology transfer into cGMP manufacturing that you supported. What made it go well or poorly?

What they are checking: Whether they understand what manufacturing needs from development to run a process reliably.

How do you work with MS&T and Quality across a late-stage program?

What they are checking: Whether they collaborate across groups, which the posting stresses for this role.

What would you do

A characterization study shows a parameter has a bigger effect on an impurity than expected. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they handle surprising data openly and adjust the control strategy rather than hide it.

A client wants to skip some characterization studies to save time. How do you advise them?

What they are checking: Whether they can explain regulatory risk clearly and help the client make an informed tradeoff.

About the work

How do you apply quality-by-design to set proven acceptable ranges for a downstream process?

What they are checking: Whether they can use risk assessment and DoE to define ranges that will hold up in a filing.

What does PPQ readiness mean for a downstream process, and how would you know you are ready?

What they are checking: Whether they understand what must be in place before process performance qualification batches.

How would you set up scale-down models for chromatography and filtration steps, and how do you show they represent manufacturing scale?

What they are checking: Whether they know how to qualify scale-down models so characterization data is trusted by regulators.

How do you contribute to the regulatory filing sections that describe the downstream process?

What they are checking: Whether they can write or review process descriptions and justifications for regulatory submissions.

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The full job description

As published by Catalent.

Manager - Process Development, Downstream Position Summary: • Work Schedule: M-F 8am-5pm • 100% on-site Working for Catalent Biologics is an opportunity to join an entrepreneurial team. Catalent Biologics is making significant investments in people and capabilities. This is a unique opening to join a small, fast-growing business, backed by a global public company. People joining our team will have the opportunity for career development as our business continues to grow and expand. Catalent-Madison employees are helping to improve future patient outcomes by working on products that are designed to treat COVID-19, cancer, various autoimmune, fibrotic and blood disorders, HIV, diabetes, heart and lung diseases as well as Alzheimer’s. Catalent Pharma Solutions in Madison, WI is hiring a Manager - Process Development, Downstream. We are seeking an experienced Downstream Process Development Manager to lead late‑stage process development and process characterization activities for protein biologics. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in downstream unit operations and quality‑by‑design principles, along with hands‑on experience supporting late‑phase programs, PPQ readiness, and technology transfer into cGMP manufacturing. This role will provide technical leadership across cross‑functional teams, ensuring robust process understanding, regulatory‑ready documentation, and successful execution from clinical through commercial stages. The Role: • Supervise assigned team’s daily work activities including workload, ensuring training, general guidance to direct reports and across functional groups, and serve as resource for technical/administrative problems • Hire, train, motivate, lead, develop, and evaluate staff • Mentor direct reporting people leaders on fundamentals of leadership and career development. • Take corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with company policy • Ensure compliance with current federal, state, and local regulations. Consult with Human Resources Department as appropriate • Ensure target timelines to deliver results are met and data integrity • Interact with customers during meetings as a first line in escalations; provide responses to customer’s questions • Identify and implement new technology/instrumentation for continuous improvement of productivity and throughput • Author and review technical documents such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), study protocols, and reports • Communicate effectively and follow detailed written and verbal instruction; ability to clearly communicate and provide mentorship to other groups and clients as necessary • Ability to provide ideas and introduce new technology for process improvements with the goal of transfer to manufacturing • Collaborate significantly with cross functional groups including Project Management, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Sciences, and Process Development • Take responsibility for direct reports’ performance by setting clear goals and expectations, tracking progress against the goals, ensuring constructive feedback, and addressing performance-related concerns and issues promptly • Work with, coach, and support direct reports in developing knowledge, skills, and abilities in the interest of performance improvement and employee’s career development • All other duties as assigned The Candidate: • PhD in Biotechnology or related field with minimum of 4 years’ experience in related laboratory work/laboratory leadership role; or • M.S./M.A. in Biotechnology or related field with minimum of 8 years’ experience in related laboratory work/laboratory leadership role; or • B.S./B.A. in Biotechnology or related field with minimum of 10 years’ experience in related laboratory work/laboratory leadership role • Leadership experience minimum 4 years • Downstream process development and scale‑up for protein biologics, including chromatography, filtration (UF/DF, normal flow), viral clearance, and formulation unit operations • Leadership experience directing personnel and organizational group management, including mentoring and training staff members cross-functionally • Experience in applying GMP/GDP in compliance with international regulatory expectations and requirements is a plus • Process characterization and validation support, including identification of CPPs, CQAs, and establishment of control strategies aligned with QbD principles • Late‑phase and PPQ readiness support, including authoring or reviewing development reports, characterization protocols, validation strategies, and regulatory‑supporting documentation • Technology transfer to cGMP manufacturing, including scale‑down model definition, risk assessments, and troubleshooting during manufacturing execution • Strong working knowledge of cGMP expectations, data integrity, and good documentation practices for biologics manufacturing • Application of statistical and experimental design tools (e.g., DoE) to support process robustness, lifecycle management, and comparability assessments • Cross‑functional leadership working with MS&T, Manufacturing, Quality, and Analytical Development to drive aligned technical and execution strategies • People and technical leadership experience, including mentoring scientists and managing execution across multiple complex programs • Experience interacting and liaising with internal and external clients, customers, and/or suppliers required • Experience managing continuous improvement initiatives, lean principles, and 5S is preferred Why you should join Catalent: • Defined career path and annual performance review and feedback process • Diverse, inclusive culture • Positive working environment focusing on continually improving processes to remain innovative • Potential for career growth on an expanding team within an organization dedicated to preserving and bettering lives • 152 hours of PTO + 8 paid holidays • Generous 401K match • Medical, dental and vision benefits effective day one of employment • Tuition Reimbursement - Let us help you finish your degree or start a new degree! Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference. personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work. Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities. Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to DisabilityAccommodations@catalent.com . This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process. Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you. Important Security Notice to U.S. Job Seekers: Catalent NEVER asks candidates to provide any type of payment, bank details, photocopies of identification, social security number or other highly sensitive personal information during the offer process, and we NEVER do so via email or social media. If you receive any such request, DO NOT respond— it is a fraudulent request. Please forward such requests to spam@catalent.com for us to investigate with local authorities. California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE . Volunteer Work Disclosure: Applicants for employment in Massachusetts may include in their employment history any verified work performed on a volunteer basis. Massachusetts Lie Detector Test Notice: 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 may be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Consistent with Massachusetts law, Catalent does not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.

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