Senior Scientist – Process Chemistry

Macclesfield, UK

Competitive salary and benefits

Make a more meaningful impact to patients’ lives around the globe

Here you’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to patients’ lives. With science at its heart, this is the place where breakthroughs born in the lab become transformative medicines – for the world’s most complex diseases. Answer unmet medical needs by pioneering the next wave of science, focusing on outcomes and shaping the patient ecosystem.

Who we are

A high performing team, we are united and motivated by our shared purpose – to deliver life-changing medicines. We come to work each day to make a difference – to patients, society and our company.

What we do

We are a global, science-led Biopharmaceutical business and our innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

Why we love it

This is the place to make an impact. Here we ensure everyone can reach their full potential, perform at their best and make a valued contribution to the enterprise.

Chemical Development

In Chemical Development we are determined to push the boundaries of science to deliver medicines to our patients. We combine people’s technical knowledge and understanding with their talent and drive to design, develop and optimise synthetic routes and processes that deliver the active pharmaceutical ingredients of our medicines in a sustainable, commercially viable way. We believe in innovation and continuous improvement, working closely with colleagues in academia and across industry, to ensure that we apply the newest technologies and principles in the processes we develop.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Scientist to join us in our growing process chemistry development team.

What you’ll do

As a process chemist working collaboratively with analytical chemists, engineers, project managers and other scientists, you will contribute to pharmaceutical development programmes, supporting project progression through late clinical development and launch. Potentially, you will lead significant parts of chemistry development programmes, directing the work of other scientists. You will:

• Design and implement new chemical routes and processes suitable for scale-up, with a focus on process understanding

• Be responsible for optimising chemical manufacturing processes taking consideration of speed, quality, cost, sustainability, reproducibility and efficiency

• Collaborate closely with other scientists to contribute to the development of new medicines

• Assess and manage process risks arising from scale, equipment or process changes

• Support problem solving when development or manufacturing issues arise

• May also work with third party organisations to develop and manufacture API processes

Essential criteria

• A PhD in Organic Chemistry, or BSc/MSc with relevant industrial experience to an equivalent level

• Substantial experience in practical organic synthesis

• A proven record of innovation through, for instance, authorship of papers, inventor status on patents, or presenting at external conferences

• An excellent understanding of synthetic reagents and methodologies, reaction mechanisms and modern analytical techniques

• The ability to think innovatively to drive improvement, and address issues when contributing to project strategies

Desirable criteria

• Lab-based pharmaceutical industry and/or process development experience, using a broad range of practical techniques

• Practical experience of modern synthetic technologies, e.g. process analytical techniques, continuous processing, high through-put experimentation, etc.

• A substantial and influential record of publication

• Proven laboratory team leadership skills

• The ability to develop and analyse multiple solutions to problems

• The confidence to coach and drive performance and development among your peers

Skills & Capabilities

• Ability to challenge and innovate, bringing new solutions and opportunities for chemical development.

• Ability to analyse and interpret complex chemistry problems and provide solutions

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate across interfaces of scientific disciplines, culture, and expertise both internally and externally

• The ability to confidently participate in, and potentially lead, improvement projects

At AstraZeneca, we ‘re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

So, what’s next?

If you have the passion and the drive to accelerate growth and make people’s lives better – then this is the place for you.

Please include your current CV and a Covering Letter which presents your key areas of strength and why you should be considered for the role.

Interviews for this position will be held in early November 2021.

Closing date: Sunday 3rd October 2021