Rachid Marhaba - Associate Director – Head Lab...

Q: Where is Rachid based?

Rachid is based in Lahntal, Germany .

Q: What languages does Rachid speak?

Rachid speaks the following languages: Arabic (Native), German (Advanced), English (Advanced), French (Advanced), Italian (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Rachid have?

Rachid has at least 27 years of experience. During this time, Rachid has worked in at least 6 different roles and for 5 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 5 years and 6 months . Note that Rachid may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Rachid's latest experience?

Rachid's most recent position is Associate Director – Head Lab Support Functions at IQVIA Laboratories .

Q: What companies has Rachid worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Rachid has worked for IQVIA Laboratories .

Q: Which industries is Rachid most experienced in?

Rachid is most experienced in industries like Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical .

Q: Which business areas is Rachid most experienced in?

Rachid is most experienced in business areas like Research and Development , Quality Assurance , and Operations .

Q: Which industries has Rachid worked in recently?

Rachid has recently worked in industries like Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical .

Q: Which business areas has Rachid worked in recently?

Rachid has recently worked in business areas like Operations , Quality Assurance , and Research and Development .

Recommended expert

Lahntal, Germany

Experience

Feb 2021 - Present

5 years 2 months

Marburg, Germany

Associate Director – Head Lab Support Functions

IQVIA Laboratories

Head of department overseeing laboratory operations, ensuring efficient, compliant, and inspection-ready processes across BSL-2 and BSL-3 areas
EHS site lead and biosafety officer for BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories (conventional and GMO), ensuring adherence to biosafety, biosecurity, and regulatory requirements
Primary point of contact with local authorities, responsible for regulatory submissions and approvals for BSL-2/BSL-3 operations, including GMO registration (S2/S3)
Risk management activities, including risk assessments, mitigation strategies, and continuous monitoring to ensure safe and compliant operations
Successfully led the organization through ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety) certifications, embedding sustainable and safe operational practices across the site
Lifecycle management of laboratory equipment and facilities, including strategic planning, acquisition, qualification, validation, and maintenance oversight

Jul 2016 - Jan 2021

4 years 7 months

Marburg, Germany

Senior Scientist – Scientific & Technical Excellence

GSK Vaccines

Led and oversaw assay development, qualification, and validation programs to demonstrate vaccine immunogenicity in alignment with regulatory and clinical requirements
Reviewed, approved, and released comprehensive assay validation packages for regulatory submissions to FDA, EMA, and other global health authorities
Directed assay transfer and outsourcing activities, including vendor selection, technical transfer oversight, and CRO qualification to ensure compliance and operational excellence
Defined assay strategies for clinical evidence generation, ensuring robust analytical approaches throughout vaccine development phases
Supported the evaluation and integration of novel technologies for advancing clinical readout development and enhancing analytical capabilities

May 2011 - Jun 2016

5 years 2 months

Marburg, Germany

Head of Assay Development – Bioanalytical Development

Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics

Led a team of scientists responsible for developing analytical assays to assess vaccine immunogenicity across multiple platforms and development stages
Oversaw assay qualification and validation in alignment with international regulatory guidelines (ICH, FDA, EMA) to ensure robustness, reproducibility, and compliance
Collaborated with and supported the QC department in Italy for the release of commercial vaccine batches, ensuring analytical readiness and regulatory alignment
Directed assay transfer and outsourcing activities, including technical transfer oversight, CRO selection, and performance monitoring to ensure high-quality data delivery
Managed budget planning and resource allocation, optimizing operational efficiency and project delivery timelines

Apr 2008 - Apr 2011

3 years 1 month

Marburg, Germany

Laboratory Head – Clinical Serology

Novartis Vaccines

Led a team responsible for analytical testing of Phase I–III clinical trial samples, ensuring high-quality data generation in support of clinical development programs
Managed assay transfers from research into GxP clinical testing, including method implementation, qualification/validation, and readiness for regulated environments
Oversaw outsourcing and vendor management activities, including CRO auditing, qualification, performance oversight, and issue resolution to ensure compliance and data integrity
Held full budget ownership, including planning, forecasting, and resource allocation to support operational efficiency and strategic priorities

Jan 2005 - Mar 2008

3 years 3 months

Heidelberg, Germany

Group Leader – Cancer Immunology

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

Investigated the role of CD44 variant isoforms in T-lymphocyte activation, maturation, and autoimmune disease mechanisms
Characterized the involvement of CD44 variant isoforms in tumor progression and immune surveillance pathways
Studied the functional impact of IL-1α and IL-1β on tumor growth and inflammation-driven oncogenic processes
Supervised and mentored a multidisciplinary team of PhD students and laboratory technicians, providing scientific guidance and operational oversight

Jan 1999 - Dec 2004

6 years

Heidelberg, Germany

Post-Doctoral Fellow – Cancer Immunology

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

Investigated the role of CD44 variant isoforms in T-lymphocyte activation, maturation, and autoimmune disease mechanisms

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical.

Biotechnology

Pharmaceutical

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Research and Development, Quality Assurance, and Operations.

Research and Development

Quality Assurance

Operations

Summary

Scientific leader with 18 years of experience in highly regulated pharmaceutical environment. Proven track record in building high-performing teams, implementing and optimizing EHS management systems, and driving safety, compliance, and operational excellence across complex, automated laboratory settings. Strong expertise in risk assessments, regulatory compliance, incident prevention (including SIF-focused programs), and sustainable site strategies. Recognized expert in ISO 14001/45001 management systems, and sustainability initiatives.

Skills

Risk Management & Safety Culture
Iso 14001/45001
Incident Investigation, Emergency Response
Regulatory Submissions & Regulatory Inspections Readiness
Chemical And Waste Management
Strong Governance Of Quality Systems, Including Oversight Of Change Controls, Deviation Management, And Capa Implementation.
Registered Project Leader Under §15 Gentsv (Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance).
Certified Safety Professional (Fachkraft Für Arbeitssicherheit)
Certified Hazardous Substances Management
Budget Management And Resource Planning.

Languages

Arabic

Native

German

Advanced

English

Advanced

French

Advanced

Italian

Advanced

Education

Oct 1995 - Jun 1998

University of Nice

PhD · Life Sciences, Immunology · Nice, France

Oct 1994 - Jun 1995

University of Nice

Postgraduate · Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Biology · Nice, France

Oct 1992 - Jun 1994

University of Nice

Master of Sciences · Biochemistry · Nice, France

...and 1 more

Certifications & licenses

Certified Hazardous Substances Management

Certified Safety Professional (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit)

Registered Project Leader under §15 GenTSV (Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance)

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 6

Experience in Biotechnology 22 y

Avg length 4 y 6 m

Longest experience 5 y 11 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Associate Director – Head Lab Support Functions, Senior Scientist – Scientific & Technical Excellence, Head of Assay Development – Bioanalytical Development

Main industries Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical

Main business areas Research and Development, Quality Assurance, Operations

Qualifications

Highest degree Doctorate

Certifications earned 3

Profile

Created

March 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Rachid based?

Rachid is based in Lahntal, Germany.

What languages does Rachid speak?

Rachid speaks the following languages: Arabic (Native), German (Advanced), English (Advanced), French (Advanced), Italian (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Rachid have?

Rachid has at least 27 years of experience. During this time, Rachid has worked in at least 6 different roles and for 5 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 5 years and 6 months. Note that Rachid may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Rachid be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Rachid would be well-suited for roles such as: Associate Director – Head Lab Support Functions, Senior Scientist – Scientific & Technical Excellence, Head of Assay Development – Bioanalytical Development.

What is Rachid's latest experience?

Rachid's most recent position is Associate Director – Head Lab Support Functions at IQVIA Laboratories.

What companies has Rachid worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Rachid has worked for IQVIA Laboratories.

Which industries is Rachid most experienced in?

Rachid is most experienced in industries like Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical.

Which business areas is Rachid most experienced in?

Rachid is most experienced in business areas like Research and Development, Quality Assurance, and Operations.

Which industries has Rachid worked in recently?

Rachid has recently worked in industries like Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical.

Which business areas has Rachid worked in recently?

Rachid has recently worked in business areas like Operations, Quality Assurance, and Research and Development.

What is Rachid's education?

Rachid holds a Doctorate in Life Sciences, Immunology from University of Nice, a Master in Biochemistry from University of Nice and a Bachelor in Biochemistry from University of Nice.

Does Rachid have any certificates?

Rachid has 3 certificates. These include: Certified Hazardous Substances Management, Certified Safety Professional (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit), and Registered Project Leader under §15 GenTSV (Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance).

What is the availability of Rachid?

Rachid will be available from June 2026.

What is the rate of Rachid?

Rachid's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.