Quality Control Specialist, Biochemistry

Elanco · Elwood, KS

Level: Specialist
Team: Quality
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 4+ years
Industry: Pharma & life sciences
Posted: 4 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A specialist quality role at Elanco (pharma & life sciences) in Elwood, KS. Lead Lab Operations: Direct the regular workload for Technicians and other Specialists, ensuring QC policies are followed and acting as the primary point of contact for technical instruction or clarification.

They ask for: 4+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
Day to day: relocation help

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Quality Engineer roles in the US: typical posted base $96k–$135k.

Median of the low and high ends of 464 live postings that list pay, out of 1137 quality engineer openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Kansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 1136 other live quality postings in the US.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Root cause 68%
FMEA 40%
Supplier quality 39%
✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 37%
Six Sigma 36%
Lean 34%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 4+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Relocation help

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Elanco
We found 1 person at this company and state: 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
2
Send a short, curious note
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3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: Elanco in Elwood

11 other open roles at this site · 1 person we found in quality roles at Elanco.

Sr. Process Engineer, Manufacturing · Process · Senior
Validation Engineer · Quality
Director, Technical Services Manufacturing Science · Manufacturing · Director+
Manufacturing Supervisor – Downstream Bioprocessing (Night Shift) · Process · Supervisor
Process Engineer, Biologics Manufacturing · Process
Consultant – Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing

All 12 roles at Elanco →

Full description from ElancoAs posted on their careers site.Show

Your Role: QC Specialist. Biochemistry

The QC Specialist is responsible for the daily operations and technical leadership of the Quality Control laboratory. This role serves as a subject matter expert for analytical methods and equipment, owning critical processes including method validation, investigations, and the direction of daily workloads for QC Technicians. The Specialist ensures strict adherence to quality policies while driving continuous improvement and collaborating with leadership to optimize laboratory processes.

Your

Responsibilities

◆Lead Lab Operations: Direct the regular workload for Technicians and other Specialists, ensuring QC policies are followed and acting as the primary point of contact for technical instruction or clarification.
◆Method Ownership: Perform regular release testing and lead specialized development experiments, including participating in or owning method validations and technical transfers.
◆Quality Event Management: Regularly lead and own quality events, including deviations, laboratory investigations, and change controls.
◆Technical Review & Audit: Act as a reviewer for QC Technicians and other Specialists; audit inventory management and ensure reagent/material

qualifications

are maintained.

✓SME Leadership: Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for specialized laboratory equipment, coordinating routine maintenance schedules and ensuring compliance.
✓Continuous Improvement: Partner with the QC Leader to identify and improve obsolete processes, anticipating potential problems and finding effective solutions to improve lab systems.
✓Compliance & Audit Readiness: Participate in audit activities and proactively prepare the laboratory space for inspections by anticipating potential issues.
✓Safety & Culture: Personify Elanco values of Integrity, Respect, and Excellence while fostering an environment of safety, compliance, and inclusion.

to Succeed (minimum qualifications)

✓Education: High School Diploma
✓Experience: 4+ years of relevant experience in a laboratory or quality environment.
✓Top Skills: Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; proficient computer literacy; and the ability to work with and lead a diverse group of colleagues. Must possess a “quality mindset” with a deep understanding of quality expectations and compliance.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)

✓Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely related field or a Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Biology, Chemistry, or an associated science with 2+ years of experience.
✓Hands-on experience with HPLC and ELISA techniques.
✓Proficiency using Empower and/or Softmax software platforms.
✓Direct experience in analytical laboratory operations and leadership or training roles.
✓Strong attention to detail and a proven track record of acting as a leader of change.

Show full description ↓

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Additional Information

•Location: Elwood, Kansas
•Shift: Primarily day shift; however, the ability to occasionally support manufacturing timelines outside of normal operating hours is required.
•Travel: Minimal travel requirements.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!

Elanco Benefits and Perks

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:

•Multiple relocation packages
•8-week parental leave
•9 Employee Resource Groups
•Annual bonus offering
•Flexible work arrangements
•Up to 6% 401K matching

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.