How to hire a process development associate

How to hire a process development associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step process development associate hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a process development associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new process development associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a process development associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The process development associate hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A process development associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, process development associates from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of process development associate salaries for various roles:

   Type of Process Development Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Process Development Associate	Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. They design processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing, plan and test production methods and byproducts treatment, and direct facility operations.	$25-44
   Chemical Engineer	A chemical engineer provides support for chemical operations and testing new processes. The processes they successfully come up with are used to make different products from gas, oil, food, and drink... Show more	$32-57
   Chemical Engineering Internship	A chemical engineering internship involves a trainee who gains skills that range from scientific and problem-solving in the field of chemical engineering. Chemical engineering interns must assist in solving problems by applying the principles of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products... Show more	$25-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GMP
   • Data Analysis
   • Statistical Analysis
   • Analytical Methods
   • Troubleshoot
   • HPLC
   • JMP
   • Bioreactors
   • Technical Reports
   • Process Characterization
   • Harvest
   • Experimental Data
   • Equipment Maintenance
   • Analytical Techniques

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the execution of protein extraction, quantification and identification from medicinal plants, germinating seeds and seedlings.
   • Used virological plaque assays to determine viral titers of cell's harvest.
   • Perform HPLC purification of individual bone growth factors including TGF- 1 and TGF- 2.
   • Develop HPLC base assays to show clearance of purification additives from process buffer pools.
   • Collaborate with the CRO on the development of a stem cell harvest procedure to maximize the product output.
   • Revamp the existing HTML website and update content to be store on the database instead of hardcode into each page.

   More process development associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your process development associate job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A process development associate salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, process development associates' average salary in new hampshire is 39% less than in oklahoma.
   • Seniority. Entry-level process development associates earn 43% less than senior-level process development associates.
   • Certifications. A process development associate with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a process development associate's salary.

   Average process development associate salary

   $70,655yearly

   $33.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level process development associate salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average process development associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$74,643	$36
   2	Washington	$71,250	$34
   3	Massachusetts	$70,449	$34
   4	Maryland	$68,232	$33
   5	New York	$63,680	$31
   6	Texas	$63,552	$31
   7	Indiana	$63,458	$31
   8	North Carolina	$63,362	$30
   9	Illinois	$62,052	$30
   10	Pennsylvania	$56,666	$27
   11	Florida	$56,107	$27
   12	Colorado	$55,702	$27
   13	Puerto Rico	$41,756	$20

   Average process development associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Novo Nordisk	$95,276	$45.81	5
   2	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$90,830	$43.67	10
   3	Kraton	$90,363	$43.44
   4	Regeneron	$79,854	$38.39	16
   5	Amgen	$79,793	$38.36	35
   6	Vertex Pharmaceuticals	$79,699	$38.32	3
   7	Wacker Chemie	$77,978	$37.49
   8	Gilead Sciences	$77,794	$37.40	9
   9	Agenus	$77,264	$37.15	1
   10	Abbott	$77,156	$37.09	51
   11	Sanofi US	$72,817	$35.01	13
   12	Novavax	$71,918	$34.58
   13	Endeavor Consulting Group	$70,553	$33.92
   14	Tris Pharma	$69,558	$33.44
   15	Fred Hutch	$68,721	$33.04
   16	Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	$68,438	$32.90	1
   17	Mount Sinai Health System	$68,411	$32.89	5
   18	FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA	$68,096	$32.74	14
   19	Astellas Pharma	$67,943	$32.66	8
   20	Organogenesis	$67,023	$32.22	1

4. Writing a process development associate job description

   A job description for a process development associate role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a process development associate job description:

   Process development associate job description example

   Kelly Science has a **Process Development Associate** position with a leading company in Gaithersburg MD!
   
   You will support the development, characterization, and tech transfer of processes to manufacture purified lentiviral vectors used for pre-clinical and clinical gene therapy products.
   Responsibilities:
   
   + Carry out all aspects of upstream vector production with the goal in mind that every effort is aimed at developing and qualifying processes required for clinical gene therapy products.
   
   + Order necessary supplies, maintain laboratory equipment and space, and prepare media and buffers.
   
   Requirements:
   
   + B.S. Degree in the life sciences with at least 2 years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   
   + Previous biotech industry experience is preferred, specifically in the fields of gene therapy and virology.
   
   + Adherent and/or suspension mammalian cell culture, transfection and harvest of viral vectors and/or antibodies using aseptic techniques.
   
   + Strong experience utilizing stirred-tank bioreactors in the production of viral vectors and/or antibodies. Disposable and single use stirred-tank bioreactor experience preferred.
   
   + An understanding of DO/pH control loops, PID settings, and scale up and scale down parameters.
   
   + Practical knowledge in a range of bioprocess analytical techniques, such as but not limited to, cell-based assays, flow cytometry, qPCR, Western Blot analysis, and ELISA.
   
   **APPLY NOW FOR IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATIN!!**
   
   **\#P2**
   
   **You should know:** Your safety matters! Vaccination against COVID-19 may be a requirement for this job in compliance with current client and governmental policies. A Kelly recruiter will confirm and share more details with you during the interview process.
   
   **Why Kelly** ** ** **Science & Clinical?**
   
   Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals-it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.
   
   **About Kelly** ** **
   
   At Kelly, we're always thinking about what's next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we're a leading advocate for temporary/nontraditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live (plus, did we mention we provide a ton of benefits ?). Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best, and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels, and industries around the world.
   
   Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center.
   Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find process development associates for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your process development associate job on Zippia to find and recruit process development associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit process development associates, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new process development associate

   Once you've selected the best process development associate candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new process development associate. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a process development associate?