Biotech & Pharma OPT Jobs in Iowa
F-1 OPT biotech and pharma sponsorship jobs in Iowa are concentrated around Des Moines, Iowa City, and Ames, where employers like Corteva Agriscience, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, and university-affiliated research institutions actively hire international graduates in life sciences, agricultural biotechnology, and pharmaceutical research roles.
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Position Summary:
Owns day-to-day execution and coordination of the stability program to ensure compliant study setup, sample management, testing coordination, data review support, and on-time reporting. Partners cross-functionally to maintain high data integrity, inspection readiness, and continuous improvement. Acts as site laboratory management system (SAP/zLIMS) subject matter expert. Maintains compliance through creation and maintenance of biological product specifications and COA templates. The successful candidate must be a self-starter and have the ability to prioritize work based on the needs of Production, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Regulatory, Global Manufacturing Technologies and Supply Chain.
Position Responsibilities:
Stability:
- Coordinate stability studies (routine stability, confirmation of expiry, USDA/regulatory commitments, as well as new product registration) in alignment with approved protocols, regulatory requirements and internal procedures.
- Create/maintain stability schedules, pull plans, timepoints, and tracking logs to ensure on-time sample pulls, testing, and reporting.
- Ensure accurate stability sample receipt, labeling, storage placement, chain-of-custody, and inventory reconciliation.
- Partner with QC, QA, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Global Manufacturing Technologies and other Zoetis sites to align timelines, resolve issues, and maintain clear communication.
- Prepare/route stability documentation (protocols, amendments, pull schedules, test requests, shipping paperwork, OOS/deviation inputs) with a high level of detail and right-first-time execution.
- Support data review and trending activities; verify completeness and traceability of data packages.
- Support stability reporting (interim/annual/expiry), including compilation of supporting documentation and readiness for QA review.
- Identify and escalate risks (missed timepoints, sample issues, lab capacity constraints) early with proposed mitigation plans.
- Support deviation/nonconformance initiation and investigation inputs related to stability activities, track actions to closure.
- Maintain inspection readiness: organized records, clear audit trails, and rapid retrieval of stability documentation.
- Drive continuous improvement by simplifying workflows, reducing errors, improving on-time performance, and updating SOPs/work instructions as needed.
Master Data:
- Coordinate SAP and zLIMS transactions supporting QC operations (e.g., sample log-in support, status updates, results routing, COA/data package support as applicable).
- Maintain and control QC-related master data with a high level of detail (materials, specifications, sampling plans, test methods, stability links, locations, units, reason codes), per change control requirements.
- Ensure data accuracy, completeness, and alignment between SAP and zLIMS (as applicable); perform reconciliation checks and resolve discrepancies.
- Act as primary point of contact for day-to-day system issues: troubleshoot, triage, document, and coordinate resolution with IT/Zoetis system support.
- Develop/maintain job aids, work instructions, and SOPs related to SAP/zLIMS workflows; keep documentation inspection ready.
- Coordinate periodic reviews (master data, pending transactions/backlogs) and drive actions to closure.
- Partner with QC, QA, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, MSAT, and external partners to align end-to-end processes and timelines.
- Support change control deliverables (as required)
- Track workload, KPIs (e.g., turnaround time, backlog, right-first time), and implement continuous improvement to reduce rework and improve on-time performance.
- Perform additional tasks as needed to support business priorities and operational resilience.
- Follow all Zoetis Quality Standards, Policies and Procedures.
Education and Experience:
- BA/BS degree in scientific discipline or business with 0-2 years’ experience (experience in SAP/zLIMS highly desired) or 8 years relevant experience.
- Demonstrated commitment to the Zoetis Core Beliefs and leadership competencies.
- Works well with others; collaborative team player with professional communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to interact positively with all levels of colleagues including senior leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to achieve results.
- Strong communication (oral and written), interpersonal, and team/group interactive and leadership skills.
- Strong commitment to product quality, customer service, and continuous improvement.
- Strong organization, prioritization, and follow-through; consistently meets deadlines.
- Detail-oriented with strong documentation practices and data integrity mindset.
- Comfortable managing multiple tasks simultaneously and shifting priorities with minimal supervision.
Technical Skills Requirements:
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, ETS, Veeva Vault.
- Experience with 9CFR & EU regulatory requirements preferred.
- Experience in GMP/GLP environments; stability program experience preferred.
- Understanding of Outlines of Production/Special Outlines preferred.
- Experience supporting SAP (QM/MM preferred) and/or LIMS (zLIMS preferred) in a regulated environment.
- Familiarity with ICH stability principles (e.g., Q1) preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to walk, sit, or stand for long periods of time.
- Must be able to reach above shoulder level, bend/stoop, kneel, push/pull, and handle/grip frequently.
- Must be able to work scheduled 40 hours with the ability to work overtime as needed.
- Frequent lifting and carrying of 5 to 50lbs.
- Regular reaching, bending, stooping, and twisting.
- Repetitive motion and substantial movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
- Must be able to work weekends and some holidays.
- Must be able to wear a respirator.
- Capabilities of performing physical labor.
Full time
Regular
Colleague
Any unsolicited resumes sent to Zoetis from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Zoetis mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Zoetis employees, or to Zoetis resume database will be considered Zoetis property. Zoetis will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.
Zoetis will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.
Notice: Zoetis Recruiters will contact candidates via email from an address ending in @zoetis.com and may also initially connect with candidates through LinkedIn, including LinkedIn InMail. Zoetis does not use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or other web-based/generic email domains to communicate about job opportunities, interviews, or offers of employment. If you receive a recruitment-related email message claiming to be from Zoetis that does not come from @zoetis.com, please treat it as suspicious. For your security, do not reply, click links, open attachments, share personal or financial information, or send money in response to unexpected or questionable recruitment communications.
Zoetis is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status or any other protected classification. Disabled individuals are given an equal opportunity to use our online application system. We offer reasonable accommodations as an alternative if requested by an individual with a disability. Please contact Zoetis Colleague Services at zoetiscolleagueservices@zoetis.com to request an accommodation. Zoetis also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. All applicants must possess or obtain authorization to work in the US for Zoetis. Zoetis retains sole and exclusive discretion to pursue sponsorship for the acquisition or maintenance of nonimmigrant status and employment eligibility, considering factors such as availability of qualified US workers. Individuals requiring sponsorship must disclose this fact. Please note that Zoetis seeks information related to job applications from candidates for jobs in the U.S. solely via the following: (1) our company website at www.Zoetis.com/careers site, or (2) via email to/from addresses using only the Zoetis domain of “@zoetis.com”. In addition, Zoetis does not use Google Hangout for any recruitment related activities. Any solicitation or request for information related to job applications with Zoetis via any other means and/or utilizing email addresses with any other domain should be disregarded. In addition, Zoetis will never ask candidates to make any type of personal financial investment related to gaining employment with Zoetis.
OPT Biotech & Pharma Job Roles in Iowa
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Search Biotech & Pharma Jobs in IowaBiotech & Pharma OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which biotech and pharma companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Iowa?
Iowa employers with a track record of hiring F-1 OPT workers in biotech and pharma include Corteva Agriscience, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, and Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) in Coralville. University of Iowa Hospitals and affiliated research centers also hire OPT candidates in laboratory and research roles. Sponsorship patterns vary by role, department, and hiring cycle, so confirming authorization support directly with each employer is important.
Which cities in Iowa have the most biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Coralville and Iowa City form Iowa's most active biotech corridor, anchored by the University of Iowa and companies like IDT. Ames supports life sciences hiring through Iowa State University partnerships and agricultural biotech firms. Des Moines has a smaller but growing presence in pharmaceutical distribution and healthcare-adjacent biotech. Most F-1 OPT sponsorship opportunities in the state are concentrated across these three metro areas.
What types of biotech and pharma roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Iowa?
Roles that align directly with a STEM degree field qualify for standard 12-month OPT, while positions in biological sciences, chemistry, agricultural biotechnology, and related engineering disciplines may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Common qualifying titles include research associate, quality control analyst, bioinformatics specialist, and process development scientist. The role must be directly related to your degree program, which employers and your designated school official (DSO) can help confirm.
How do I find biotech and pharma F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Iowa?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters biotech and pharma jobs in Iowa by visa type, including F-1 OPT. Rather than sorting through general job boards that rarely flag sponsorship availability, Migrate Mate surfaces roles where employers have demonstrated willingness to work with OPT candidates. Filtering by Iowa and the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals category gives you a focused list relevant to your authorization status.
Are there any Iowa-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in biotech and pharma?
Iowa's biotech sector is heavily tied to agricultural science and veterinary pharmaceuticals, which shapes the types of STEM OPT-eligible roles available. Many positions are at smaller research firms or university spin-offs that may have less experience processing OPT employment verification, so confirming E-Verify enrollment and I-983 training plan support early in the hiring process is important for STEM extension eligibility. Iowa State University and University of Iowa career offices can also assist with employer outreach.