Job Title: Director - Process Design and Optimisation in Chemical Development
Location: Macclesfield, UK
Hybrid working model, 3-5 days per week onsite
Introduction to Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated leader to join the Chemistry function within AstraZeneca’s Chemical Development department as Director - Process Design and Optimisation. As Director (senior team manager), you will set the technical direction for modern process design and optimisation, leading your team to deliver high quality, robust sustainable commercial processes, manufacturing campaigns, control strategies and future‑proofed regulatory submissions. By exploiting innovative science, cutting‑edge technologies and AI/data‑driven solutions, you will empower your team to reduce risk and shorten timelines, enabling confident clinical supply and launch.
Accountabilities
Through leading a process design and optimisation team in Chemistry, you will drive technical excellence in project delivery, senior line‑management of a chemistry technical team, and contribute to our chemistry strategy.
Technical Excellence in Project Delivery
* Applying your experience to successful accountability for drug projects at both Chemistry Section and Chemical Development functional levels.
* Acting as a source of expert guidance for development of chemical processes, technology transfer and clinical drug substance manufacture both internally and externally, facilitating on‑time, right quality clinical API supplies and strong data packages.
* Delivery of CMC regulatory submissions for clinical and marketing phases – guiding and supporting authorship of drug substance submissions and developing harmonised control strategies at the substance‑product interface.
Senior Line‑management of a Chemistry Technical Team
* Sophisticated coaching and mentoring to support professional development of ~8‑10 highly skilled scientists and scientific leaders, up to and including Principal Scientist level.
* Advanced performance management – goal setting and regular feedback to drive high impact contributions at all levels, generating impactful, meaningful career pathways for each member of your team.
* Mentorship, coaching and onboarding of first‑time team leaders and support for our wider chemistry team manager community.
* Driving key elements of SHE and cGxP compliance for our Chemistry section.
Contributing to Key Elements of Our Chemistry Strategy
* Identification and execution of improvement programmes to enhance the capability and capacity of the Chemistry function to deliver their contribution to drug substance projects, through strong career pathways for our people.
* Working across the section to specifically champion integration of innovative route design and process design, with associated support for modern business processes including scale‑up assessment and control strategy development.
* Understanding the external science and technology landscape to champion innovation and curiosity within process design and optimisation, and working across interfaces to improve standards and ways of working.
Essential Skills/Experience
* Degree, PhD or equivalent experience in Chemistry, plus an additional 8+ years’ experience in synthetic drug substance pharmaceutical development.
* Proven high‑impact people leadership experience, with a track record of delivery at Associate Director (Team Manager) level.
* Expertise in development and scale‑up of synthetic chemistry to deliver commercially viable manufacturing processes in mid‑to‑late phase development.
* Strong understanding and experience of delivery across the drug development process, especially late‑stage development to support Phase 3 clinical studies and launch, including control strategy development.
* Strong project management skills developed through personal leadership and delivery of drug projects.
* Proven CMC‑wide experience and an appreciation of how to generate the best impact for patients; demonstrated application to high quality regulatory delivery through authoring and reviewing module 3.2 regulatory submissions or response to health authority questions.
* Demonstrated experience of managing change through continuous improvement, increasing efficiency and measurable impact.
* Track record of driving the introduction of digital approaches and new synthetic/manufacturing platforms or technologies, and examples of publicising these achievements.
* Extensive experience of leading senior scientific staff / peers to deliver high‑impact improvements to ways of working.
Competitive Salary and Benefits Package
Competitive, generous remuneration package with flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, performance recognition scheme and flexible benefits.
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
#J-18808-Ljbffr