Putting People Front and Center at BMS Quality Control Release and Testing Team in Cruiserath, Ireland

Ireland is known as the land of “a hundred thousand welcomes”—and that spirit is on display at the BMS Cruiserath Biologics Campus in Dublin, Ireland, where collaboration and support are core parts of the culture.

That’s been the experience for Donagh Walls, Director, Quality Control, and Dursey Culleton, Associate Director, Quality Control Release, who work in the Quality Control Release and Testing department—often referred to as the Global Biologics Lab (GBL) at Cruiserath Campus.

The campus is currently expanding to include a new sterile drug product facility. Learn about Donagh’s and Dursey’s career paths, how BMS supports employees, and the new opportunities the expansion will create for people interested in a career in biologics manufacturing.

Two Career Paths Grounded in a Common Purpose

Donagh joined BMS in 2016 after nearly two decades in various quality control roles in the pharmaceutical industry. An early interest in the natural world led him to pursue a microbiology degree, where he discovered that “I just love being in a lab.”

The continued advancement of the field—and its connection to helping patients—has kept him there. “What inspires me is that the industry, and particularly microbiology, has really exploded in the last five to 10 years in terms of the technology,” Donagh explained. “Being able to detect and identify microorganisms in a much more accurate and timely manner has significantly improved our ability to provide safe medicines to patients faster.”

For Dursey, a degree in analytical science launched her career in pharmaceutical quality control with a similar purpose. “At university, I heard a lot about the growing biotech industry in Ireland and wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “I like that we work on products across hematology, rheumatology, and oncology. We all know people who have been ill and needed new types of medicines, and that's what we're working on here.”

Aiming to Be the Best

The team is responsible for testing and releasing certificates of analysis for all drug products made in our network, providing assurance that they meet regulatory standards.

“Our goal is to be recognized as the world leader in quality control operations,” Dursey said.

“We are focused on delivering excellent performance and sustaining the very positive compliance record we’ve achieved for regulatory inspections.”

Their work also involves collaborating across BMS and beyond. “In addition to conducting drug product release testing for the entire BMS global biologics network, we also support our multi-product cell culture facility, Cruiserath Campus. That means we interact with a range of cross-functional stakeholders supporting both internal and external manufacturing,” Donagh explained.

Going Above and Beyond to Serve Patients

When asked about the most meaningful work being done by the Quality Control Release and Testing team, Dursey described it as “our focus on supply to patients. For example, if there is a shortage in the market of a particular drug, we may be asked to test samples in an expedited manner. In these hyper-care efforts, it may involve weekend work and work outside of normal business hours. However, expedited requests are never asked for without necessity. We’re very conscious that if we don’t meet that accelerated timeline, there are patients who won’t get the treatment they need.”

Donagh agreed that “getting medicines to patients is the bottom line,” adding that how they deliver on that promise is what makes his job most fulfilling.

“Operational excellence is what motivates me on a day-to-day basis—coming home knowing that we’re working more efficiently than when I came to work that morning,” Donagh said.

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone: ‘Nothing’s Off-Limits’

Both Dursey and Donagh mentioned the chance to explore other career paths as one of the most appealing aspects of working at BMS in Cruiserath.

“What I really appreciate about BMS is that nothing's off-limits,” said Dursey. “You can get training and develop into a role that interests you. The opportunities aren't limited by technical knowledge—they’re based on people's values, work ethic, and behavior.”

“We have a shadowing program where you can spend some time in a different department to see what it's like, and then do a tour of duty there if it interests you,” said Donagh. “If you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone, you can develop new skills and get a diverse range of experiences within this one campus.”

Expanding Opportunities in Cruiserath

The expansion of the Cruiserath campus will open up new job opportunities across the pharmaceutical manufacturing process.

“With the new drug product manufacturing facility, Cruiserath will have an end-to-end value stream for manufacturing and release at this campus,” Donagh said.

His advice to job seekers is simple: Be informed, but flexible. “Do your research on the company and try to speak to people in the roles that you're looking at,” he said. “But be open-minded to other opportunities where your skills and interests might be a good match.”

“I also think it's important to demonstrate your willingness to be adaptable and to keep up to speed with new developments in technology,” Dursey added. “If you’re looking to work in a fast-paced environment on multiple products that make a difference in people's lives, you would really thrive here.”

High-Performing Teams, People-First Culture

To Donagh, what makes BMS Cruiserath unique is “the people and the culture.”

“I had never before worked with such a high-performing team—and I think that's because the people-first culture at BMS attracts top talent,” Donagh said. “That extends to even the small things—no achievement goes unrecognized, and that makes a big difference to people.”

Dursey notes that the supportive culture is integrated in company initiatives like the employee assistance program. “We look after our employees in so many ways, including training and support for mental health issues,” she said.

“You can work somewhere and it’s just your job,” Dursey added. “But at BMS, you see what it means to put people front and center, and I think that’s unique and why a lot of people stay on to have long careers here.”