Here Are Several Philly-Area Life Science Companies Hiring Right Now: Q2 2023

By Mark Terry
March 28, 2023

The Philadelphia region, which includes Delaware and Southern New Jersey, is emerging as one of the top areas in the U.S. for the life sciences. So-called “Cellicon Valley” has numerous top academic institutions, and a range of biopharma companies working in drug discovery and development, as well as contract research organizations that manufacture and help deliver drugs. BioBuzz rounds up some of the leading companies in the region looking for top talent, with examples of a few of the jobs they’re currently hiring for.

Eli Lilly

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly has numerous job openings in the Philadelphia area. Career areas include business, engineering, finance, manufacturing/quality, research and development and many others. In addition to the Philadelphia area, the company has sites all over the world, with open positions, including but not limited to China, Austria, Germany, Mexico and Italy. To know more about Eli Lilly’s career opportunities, visit their careers site.

Two examples include:

Technical Operations Associate/Sr. Associate

This position is responsible for “troubleshooting production issues with Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) sites” and other duties. It requires an Associate’s degree in a relevant field, or a higher degree such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, with knowledge of cGMP drug substance/drug product manufacturing and quality control.

Senior Director, CMC Regulatory

This applicant will provide “leadership, direction, and management for CMC regulatory operations for radiopharmaceuticals globally.” The position calls for a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or a related field and a minimum of five years of pharmaceutical industry experience, with 10+ years preferred.

Daiichi Sankyo

Founded in 2006 from the merger of two 100-year-old Japanese pharmaceutical companies, Daiichi Sankyo is headquartered in New Jersey. There are job openings across the United States in medical affairs, biostatistics & data management, clinical operations, pharmaceutical technology and many others. Here are examples of positions in the Philadelphia area:

Sr. Medical Value Liaison/Principal Medical Value Liaison – Delaware Valley in Philadelphia

This field-based role “provides scientific and health economics/outcomes research support for DSI initiatives and engages in dissemination of DIS product/portfolio total value proposition.” Requires a PharmD, MD, or Ph.D. in health sciences-related field, or a Master’s in pharmaco-epidemiology, epidemiology, or health economics. Must have four or more years of experience including medical & scientific affairs, clinical practice, research, academic or U.S. managed markets.

Medical Science Liaison, Oncology Lung/GI – Delaware Valley Based in Philadelphia

This position with the Field Medical Affairs Team develops “on-going professional relationships with national and regional healthcare opinion leaders and other healthcare professionals to provide medical and scientific support for Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. (DSI) initiatives in selected therapeutic areas.” The territory includes Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Requires a PharmD, MD, or Ph.D. in health sciences or equivalent combination of education and experience, with one or more years of experience including medical & scientific affairs, clinical practice, research, academic or U.S. managed markets preferred.

Century Therapeutics

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Century Therapeutics is developing next-generation iPSC-derived iNK and IT cell therapies for hematological and solid tumor malignancies. It currently has open positions at its Philadelphia site.

Research Associate, Cell Engineering

The applicant will “support activities to advance (Century’s) universal iPSC-derived allogeneic cell products for targeting hematological and solid tumors. The Associate will be responsible for utilizing existing cell engineering methodologies for gene editing of iPSCs to generate Century’s future cell therapy products.” The position requires a Bachelor of Science with 0-4 years of experience or a Master’s degree with 0-2 years of experience in a relevant field. Also requires experience in genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 and/or CRISPR/Cpf1.

Emergent BioSolutions

Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., Emergent BioSolutions has locations around the U.S., including Lansing, Mich., San Diego, Calif., as well as international sites in Spain, Italy, UK and Switzerland. The company has 12 marketed products, but also acts as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), providing “molecule-to-market services” ranging from clinical to commercial supply. Visit its careers page here.

Emergent has several current openings in the Philadelphia area, including:

Director, Shopper Marketing

This individual “will be responsible for the strategic direction and creation of impactful point of purchase campaigns supporting the Rx-to-OTC switch of NARCAN Nasal Spray.” Minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business, healthcare marketing, health sciences or a related field is required, with an MBA preferred. Also requires 8+ years of relevant experience in brand, shopper, and in-line marketing, and/or product management in pharmaceutical, life science or related industry.

Sr. Director, B2B Sales

The Sr. Director of B2B sales will “be responsible for the promotion and sales of a first-in-class non-prescription drug/device (OTC) to ensure sales growth and to increase the market.” Minimum educational requirement is a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with an advanced degree preferred, and 10+ years of BTB OTC sales experience in the biopharma field.

CSL Behring

Based in King of Prussia, Pa., CSL Behring is a biopharmaceutical company, manufacturing plasma-derived, and recombination therapeutic products. In early February, one of its subsidiaries, Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma reported its Tavneos in combination with rituximab or cyclophosphamide-based regimen had been approved in Australia for adults with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. Visit its careers page here.

Examples of open positions include:

Paramedic OR Nurse – LPN, LVN or RN

This individual would be “responsible for the evaluation of donor suitability for automated pheresis procedures. Administration and supervision of approved immunizations other than red blood cell immunizations.” It is for the CSL Plasma US site at State College, Pennsylvania. It calls for graduation from a paramedic, nursing, physician assistant, chiropractic, medical school or naturopathic medical training program with a minimum of one year’s experience in a health care environment.”

Associate Director Medical Writing

This position is based in King of Prussia, Pa. It is “a key leadership position responsible for determining and driving the medical writing strategy for one or more Programs within Clinical Development.” A minimum of 5 years of medical writing experience within the biopharma industry or a CRO is required.

GlaxoSmithKline

UK-headquartered GlaxoSmithKline has numerous locations in and around the Philadelphia and Maryland area, as well as positions all over the world, from Algeria to Kenya, and Denmark to Italy. The company’s therapeutic areas include infectious diseases, HIV, immunology/respiratory, oncology and what the company calls “opportunity-driven,” meaning it pursues opportunities when emerging science suggests the potential for new opportunities. Visit their careers page here.

Potential positions include:

Director, Regulatory Affairs

This position, based in Philadelphia, would “ensure the development of appropriate regulatory strategies and their execution for assigned assets consistent with Medicines Development Strategy/Integrated Asset Plan.” Requires excellent communication skills, ability to lead change and communicate difficult messages, and a proven ability to “derive creative solutions to regulatory problems, while balancing the expectations of Agencies and ensuring compliance with regulation in all regions.”

Scientist, Immunology & In Vivo Sciences

With positions in Philadelphia, Rockville, Md., and Washington DC, the company is looking for candidates “interested in working with a diverse team of vaccines scientists to develop animal models and immunologic assays to screen and evaluate potency, safety and mechanisms of action of vaccine and immunotherapeutic candidates while supporting platform technology development.” (Position specifically in Rockville, Md.) Requires a degree in immunology, biology, life sciences, molecular biology, cell biology, biotechnology or other related programs. For a Ph.D. with0 + years, or MS with 3+ years or BS with 5+ years of experience.

For a broader look into what companies are hiring in the Philadelphia area, or across the BioHealth Capital Region and Research Triangle Park area, visit the BioBuzz Job Board search engine, a free resource for job seekers looking to enter the biotech industry or take that next step in their life sciences careers.