Process Chemistry Team Leader

We are an award-winning, fast-growing and agile innovation partner with a proven track record in developing economically and environmentally sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing processes for global companies of all sizes.

Every day, we leverage our fully integrated process chemistry, analytical development, pre-formulation and material science teams along with our state-of-the-art facilities and refined workflows to deliver perfect-for-purpose solutions that balance timelines and internal resources with maximum flexibility.

Due to strong customer demand, CatSci is looking to appoint a new Team Leader within our process chemistry department, in order to further deliver excellent technical expertise and quality for our customers. In particular, we are eager to hear from applicants who have manufacturing and/or CMC experience who can support our emerging biotech customers in the development of processes, suitable for Phase 2b and beyond, and support their technology transfer into manufacture.

Location: Cardiff, UK

Contract: Permanent

Compensation: (Salary according to banding) + 25 days holidays, increasing with service + 2 volunteering days + private healthcare + pension scheme + life cover + other company benefits

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Reporting directly to a senior manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering chemistry development programmes to cost, quality and time demands

• Leading and working as a part of the process chemistry team on process development projects, with a particular focus on late-stage development projects, technology transfer, manufacturing/CMC support for our customers

• Assisting in the further development of CatSci's process development workflows to maximise efficiency

• Liaising with clients at technical meetings, and compiling high-quality project updates and reports to convey results

• Leading by example, delivering technical excellence and supporting your team's personal and technical development according to CatSci values and capability framework

• Advocating for and creating opportunities for the team using knowledge of CatSci objectives

• Ensuring team resources, skill sets, and capabilities meet current customer needs with clear plans for the future

• Recruitment and induction of new team members (according to CatSci policies and strategies, supported by the People Team)

• Demonstrating excellent awareness of self, impact on others and supporting others with an active and open approach to personal development

Knowledge and Skills

The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in chemistry (or related subject) plus suitable industrial experience in process development of scalable processes (or alternatively, Masters degree in chemistry or related subject, and additional industrial experience equivalent to PhD)

• Detailed understanding of organic synthesis and process development, including practical techniques

• Experience of technology transfer of chemical processes to a manufacturing environment

• Background knowledge and understanding of key aspects of API manufacture and CMC topics such as cGMP manufacturing and analytical requirements, ICH guidelines, regulatory approach, control strategy, in order to understand and support our customers' requirements

• Excellent project management and communication skills, with the proven ability to organise technical development across a multi-strand project (e.g. process development of multiple steps in parallel) and/or on parallel projects

• Background understanding of materials sciences/solid state aspects of API development and manufacturing (for instance, salt selection, polymorphism, crystallisation)

• The ability to act as a line manager and mentor for scientists, with ability to give and receive coaching and performance feedback

• Ability to adapt to new environments and lead and inspire change

• Ability to lead by influence and drive consensus as well as lead and motivate cross-functional teams

• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively to solve demanding problems

Abbreviated person specification

• Self-motivated and results-oriented with a clear focus on delivery of demanding project objectives

• Enthusiastic and willing to learn; keen for challenging new experiences and scientific accountability

• Good interpersonal skills which foster collaborative team-working

• Good communicator, both written and verbal; able to advocate and justify own opinion, but equally able to take on board differing opinions and work collaboratively

• Demonstrated leadership ability is required, although formal line management experience is not required