Chemist III

Job Description

Chemist III in Albuquerque, NM

Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives


Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers' therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients' lives.

We proudly offer

• Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment)
• Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
• Career advancement opportunities
• Education reimbursement
• 401K program with matching contributions
• Learning platform
• And more!

Summary:

The Chemist III provides advanced analytical testing and technical leadership within the Chemistry Department supporting internal manufacturing and external customer programs. The laboratory performs testing of raw materials, in-process samples, finished products, stability samples, plant water, and particulates to support manufacturing and quality operations. This role independently performs and troubleshoots complex analytical testing using a variety of laboratory instrumentation, ensuring compliance with approved methods, specifications, and regulatory requirements. The Chemist III interprets and evaluates data, leads or supports method transfers, validations, investigations, and new product onboarding, and ensures accuracy and integrity of all analytical documentation. In addition, the Chemist III serves as a technical resource, providing mentorship and training to junior staff, authoring and reviewing technical documents, and collaborating cross-functionally with Quality, Manufacturing, Validation, Engineering, and customers. The role also supports continuous improvement initiatives, regulatory inspections, and maintains a state of GMP/GLP compliance and inspection readiness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a subject matter expert for analytical testing, instrumentation, and laboratory processes, independently performing and troubleshooting complex testing activities using equipment such as balances, pipettes, pH meters, UV/Visible spectrophotometers, TOC analyzers, IR, HPLC, and related laboratory instrumentation.
• Perform and review analytical testing of raw materials, in-process samples, finished products, stability samples, water, and particulates in accordance with approved methods, specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Analyze, interpret, trend, and summarize analytical data; compile technical summaries and communicate findings, risks, and recommendations to management and cross-functional teams.
• Execute, author, review, and provide technical input for protocols, reports, investigations, change controls, data summaries, and laboratory documentation to ensure accuracy, compliance, and data integrity.
• Lead or support investigations involving deviations, problem reports, out-of-specification (OOS), and out-of-trend (OOT) results utilizing root cause analysis and risk assessment tools to identify corrective and preventive actions.
• Perform detailed data reviews and provide guidance and coaching on good documentation practices, error corrections, and compliance expectations.
• Provide technical training, mentorship, and cross-training to laboratory personnel on analytical methods, instrumentation, SOPs, aseptic practices, and regulatory requirements while maintaining accurate training records.
• Collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Validation, Engineering, external laboratories, and customers regarding testing schedules, technical updates, investigations, and project support activities.
• Coordinate testing activities performed by external laboratories and support raw material and customer-related testing requirements.
• Maintain, sanitize, troubleshoot, and support lifecycle activities for laboratory equipment and cleanroom areas while assisting with evaluation and implementation of new equipment, technologies, and procedures.
• Enter, review, track, and trend analytical data within applicable laboratory data management systems to support operational monitoring and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead departmental and cross-functional projects, including continuous improvement initiatives, new product onboarding activities, audit support, and customer-facing interactions.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of pharmaceutical regulatory and compliance requirements and support inspection readiness through adherence to GMP, GLP, safety, and aseptic gowning requirements.
• Adhere to all company, safety, quality, and regulatory policies while promoting a compliant, safe, and quality-focused laboratory environment.
• Read/interpret SOPs to ensure compliance
• Maintain up to date trainings
• Other duties as assigned

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in in Science, Chemistry, Biology or related field of study
• Minimum of five (5) years experience in chemistry
• Minimum of five (5) years experience in a pharmaceutical or aseptic/sterile related industry

Supervisory Responsibilities:


This role does not have supervisory responsibilities, yet it may involve mentoring, guiding, and advising.

Language Skills:


The ideal candidate should have the ability to read and interpret various documents, such as safety instructions, standard operating procedures, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. Additionally, they should possess strong written and verbal communication skills, along with effective presentation skills.

Mathematical Skills:


Proficient in executing arithmetic operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division across various units of measurement, employing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Candidates must possess a strong grasp of algebraic and geometric principles.

Reasoning Ability:


Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills:


The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical foundation and proven capability in effectively utilizing diverse software tools to streamline the organization's daily functions. Essential skills encompass adeptness in manufacturing and internet software, alongside proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Proficient in the use of operational theories of all common laboratory equipment.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to perform independent work related to projects and/or routine activities.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure with limited supervision.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Be accessible to laboratory and plant area(s) and office staff
• Able to use required office equipment.

Other Qualifications:

• Must pass a background check
• Must pass a drug screen
• May be required to pass Occupational Health Screening

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The essential physical demands will vary for each Curia position.


All positions may require regular or occasional lifting, pushing and pulling up to 10 pounds, frequently; up to 25 pounds occasionally; and up to 50 pounds infrequently. Additionally, all positions entail regular sitting, standing and reaching, with some roles requiring prolonged periods of time for each activity. Visual acuity, both close and distant, along with depth perception is necessary in each role, with or without corrective lenses. Please note that employees are prohibited from wearing contact lenses in work areas with exposure to cleaning agents. Hand and finger dexterity are integral to all positions, with specific activities varying from typing to manipulating maintenance tools or operating keypads, switches, and buttons. Occasional stooping, kneeling, twisting, crouching, crawling and balancing are also part of each position's physical requirements. Certain roles may involve climbing and working at elevated heights as well.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics, described below, are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The working environments will vary for each Curia position. The employee may be required to work in an office, manufacturing, or warehouse environment.


The office environment is designed for comfort and productivity, with room temperature settings maintained for optimal working conditions. It is common to hear conversational noise in the background.


The pharmaceutical manufacturing environment is sterile. Therefore, aseptic gowning is required. Personal protective equipment (nitrile gloves, clean room socks, face-shields, safety glasses, aprons, steel-toed shoes and powered air purifying respirators) is necessary, depending upon the task at hand. The employee may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, confined areas, and refrigerator or freezer temperatures when working in a sterile environment.


The warehouse environment is typically set at a controlled temperature but the employee may be exposed to refrigerator or freezer temperatures when retrieving materials.


Some positions may occasionally be exposed to moving mechanical parts, elevated heights, airborne particles, electrical activities and vibration. In addition, some positions may work with or be exposed to, compressed gases and must wear ear protection.


All environments may be subject to working with or being exposed to cleaning agents.


Education, experience, location and tenure may be considered along with internal equity when job offers are extended.

We do not accept unsolicited assistance from any headhunters or recruitment firms for any of our job openings. All resumes or profiles submitted by search firms to any employee at Curia, in any form without a valid, signed search agreement by an authorized signatory in place for the specific position, approved by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Curia. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Curia because of the unsolicited referral.

All interested applicants must apply online. Please be aware of scammers. Curia will only send offer letters and requests for sensitive personal information from a curiaglobal.com email address. Curia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Curia is an E-Verify employer.