Apheresis Operations Manager

Who We Are:

At Dendreon, we’re transforming the battle against cancer with personalized immunotherapy. Our flagship product, PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T), was the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, utilizing a patient’s own immune cells to fight the disease.

If you’re driven by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on cancer patients' lives, we invite you to join our team. With Immunotherapy Manufacturing Facilities in Seal Beach, CA, and Union City, GA,  and a highly skilled Commercial team across the nation, Dendreon is at the forefront of cancer treatment innovation.

Core Values:

• Put Patients First: Every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of those living with cancer.
• Act with Integrity: We commit to transparency, honesty, and always doing what’s right.
• Build Trust: Trust is earned through candid, open communication and a collaborative approach.
• Raise the Bar: We embrace continuous improvement and innovation, always striving to elevate our people.
• Drive Results: We are accountable to each other and deliver success together.

Job Summary:

The Apheresis Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing Dendreon’s network of qualified collection centers, partners, key accounts, and vendors to ensure reliable, compliant, and patient-centered apheresis solutions. This role provides direct supervision and coaching to Apheresis Operations Account Managers, drives operational excellence across the collection network, and serves as a key point of coordination between internal cross-functional teams and external partners. The position is accountable for strengthening site performance, maintaining readiness and capacity, supporting quality and compliance activities, and advancing continuous improvement initiatives that help deliver the best possible experience and outcomes for patients. This position reports to the Director, Apheresis Operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage overall day-to-day network operations and lead Apheresis Operations Account Managers
• Collaborate with field Commercial team members to identify and break down barriers to treatment, improve apheresis scheduling and site readiness, and help enable more eligible patients to successfully receive therapy.
• Serve as the operational escalation point for collection site issues impacting patient scheduling, collection readiness, capacity, or product quality.
• Monitor qualification and requalification activities, and ongoing readiness assessment of apheresis collection sites to ensure compliance with company requirements and applicable regulatory standards.
• Oversee implementation of process changes, updated collection requirements, and refresher training across the apheresis network.
• Support investigations related to collection deviations, material specifications, and process exceptions.
• Participate in operational reviews, business reviews, and quality governance forums to communicate network performance, risks, and improvement plans.
• Provide subject matter expertise on apheresis operations, collection requirements, and external site capabilities to internal stakeholders and leadership.
• Optimize the overall Apheresis Operations collection network for maximum performance ensuring sufficient coverage and capacity in the network to achieve Dendron’s strategic targets
• May manage and oversee the vendor/supplier contracting and billing processes.
• Work closely with industry partners to understand future apheresis constraints and opportunities in the network to keep current on trends and changes in the industry
• Develop and monitor key metrics to understand trends, gaps and opportunities for continuous improvement in targeted areas of the apheresis network
• Develop and implement educational initiatives for Apheresis Operations team to strengthen apheresis expertise and support, and enhance deeper knowledge and understanding of industry practices
• Lead Apheresis Operations cross-functional project teams to meet strategic plans and targets
• Develop and implement comprehensive training plans
• Manage onboarding and training of new Apheresis Operations employees

Required Experience & Education:

• • • Bachelor’s degree in business or life sciences, advanced degree desired
    • Minimum five years’ experience working in biotechnology, pharmaceutical or other relevant healthcare experience
    • Two years of direct experience in Dendreon Apheresis Operations preferred
    • Direct management or supervisory experience required
    • Vendor management experience required
    • Extensive understanding of Apheresis practices and standards
    • Ability to work independently and effectively while producing high quality results in a fast-paced team environment
    • Exceptional customer service orientation and proven success in a customer-facing role
    • Ability to build effective teams and motivate staff to achieve optimal performance.
    • Manage key relationships within the company and with external partners, at all levels, from technical/clinical staff to executives
    • Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
    • Experience in leading and facilitating training in an adult learning environment desired

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• • • 25% travel anticipated
    • Remote
    • Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time 
    • Intermittent walking to gain access to work areas
    • Finger dexterity sufficient to use a computer and to complete paperwork activities
    • Vision sufficient to use a computer, to read written materials and to complete paperwork activities.
    • Hearing sufficient to communicate with individuals by telephone and in person
    • Ability to lift up to 25 pounds. Limited exposure to (2ºC - 8ºC); (-20ºC); (-75ºC); (-196ºC) areas.
    • Must have the ability to work around laboratories, manufacturing areas and equipment, and regularly lift 10 – 20 lbs and lift up to 50 lbs.
    • May be required to work alternate shifts
    • Ability to gown aseptically for work in Clean Room environments
    • Job performed in a lab, office, or utility (noisy) environment
    • Must have the ability to work around laboratories, manufacturing areas and equipment with exposure to blood, blood products or OPIM (other potentially infectious materials) while donning required personal protective materials.