We are seeking an experienced Head of Chemistry to lead and develop a world class Medicinal Chemistry Group, within Pharmaron Integrated Drug Discovery, enabling Pharmaron to deliver integrated drug discovery projects for our partners.
At Pharmaron we offer:
1. Vibrant and dynamic employment – we are a highly specialised, growth company operating in a critical sector of the economy – our future is strong and exciting!
2. Opportunities to develop your skills and yourself – our rapid growth brings greater opportunities for you to learn and grow faster!
3. A great team where we all support each other – enjoy your work – after all you spend about a third of your time here!
Roles and responsibilities:
4. Set strategy and direction, build infrastructure, skills & capabilities of the Chemistry Group
5. Ensure scientific excellence & delivery across the portfolio of drug discovery projects ensuring best practices are applied
6. Expand group expertise beyond classical small molecules
7. Work across the global Pharmaron organisation and with client partners to lead major discovery programs and/or contribute as project team member leading by example
8. Contribute to culture, strategy and long term scientific and commercial success of Pharmaron Integrated Drug Discovery Department
9. Opportunities to Lead company strategic capability builds
10. Work with business development and marketing functions to develop new business proposals and marketing material for business promotion
11. Ensure safe operation and Health, Safety and Environmental standards
12. Promote and ensure effective collaboration with other functions
13. Establish & maintain high performing team culture
14. Recruit, train, mentor, develop and retain outstanding scientists in the field of medicinal chemistry commensurate with growth and capability development strategy
15. Performance & talent management of the Medicinal Chemistry Group
16. Build long term collaborations with clients attracting projects into Pharmaron
17. Grow Pharmaron’s external reputation in medicinal chemistry
18. Some travel to Pharmaron sites in China and to partner sites is likely to be required
Ensure:
19. Excellence in compound design to test clear hypotheses
20. State of the art medicinal chemistry strategies and procedures are applied to projects
21. Open, timely and transparent communication with relevant partners
22. Clear, timely decision making.
23. Scientific and career development of staff
Contribute to:
24. The building of an outstanding drug discovery group, including attracting, development and retention of world class medicinal chemists and other scientists
25. A learning culture in which new and best practices are sought out, shared and rapidly implemented
26. The creation of environment of respectful but strong scientific challenge, to bring the best science to Pharmaron and its partner organisations
27. Present plans, strategy, objectives and achievements to external partners and to internal stakeholders including local and global senior management.
28. Provide flexible support to the scientific and operational needs of the department; be willing to develop new skills and assume responsibility for new capabilities
Requirements:
QUALIFICATION
MSc in Chemistry or closely related field is essential, Ph.D. degree would be desirable.
EXPERIENCE
29. Multi-year experience in the pharmaceutical industry in world-class small molecule drug discovery organizations (pharma., biotech., or CRO)
30. Strong track record leading small molecule drug discovery programs through key milestones from hit-finding through to candidate selection including compounds advanced into the clinic
31. Experience leading medicinal chemistry groups at senior levels in world-class small molecule drug discovery organizations (pharma., biotech., or CRO)
32. A strong history of scientific publications: peer-reviewed papers, patents, presentations
33. Scientific leadership of multidisciplinary teams
Desirable:
34. Experience with discovering / developing drugs across multiple modalities
35. Experience with the use of application of AI technologies to compound design / drug discovery
36. Experience leading external collaborations
37. Experience working across multiple therapeutic areas
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
38. Outstanding knowledge of medicinal chemistry, including the use of structural information, physicochemical properties and multiple parameter optimization in compound design
39. High level working knowledge of Synthetic Chemistry, Computational Chemistry and structure-based drug design, DMPK, Biology and Pharmacology
40. Excellent organization and time management with ability to manage multiple competing activities
41. Excellent influencing & interpersonal skills
42. Strategic thinker: able to execute on long term vision
Our Company:
“We are a dynamic, fast-growing company, with an enviable reputation for leading edge science, offering contract research services to some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, solving what were believed to be unsolvable scientific challenges”.
We believe in our ability to relentlessly push forward the boundaries of scientific excellence, delivering solutions for our clients, always operating ethically and with integrity. We take pride in our professionalism and commitment to always deliver our very best work.
Pharmaron acquired the Hoddesdon campus, consisting of several purpose built scientific and administrative buildings together with a purpose-built conference area in February 2017. The research building has more than 5,000m2 of premier R&D space and houses an established Process Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Drug Discovery teams. In addition, there is a Formulation Development team. The Hoddesdon site has state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard facilities for the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), Formulation Development (FD) and Process Chemistry (PC).
We offer a competitive salary and a progressive and comprehensive suite of employee benefits.
43. We offer state of the art working environment on site.
44. We offer the opportunity for growth and development and will support funding for relevant training and development programmes.
Why Should You Apply?
45. This is an opportunity for you as a Senior Medicinal Chemistry Leader to make a real impact in a highly scientific and regulated environment, demonstrate leadership, ambition and the desire to grow with the department.
46. Build and shape your career in an environment that sets and commits to the highest standards.
47. To be part of a team who support each other, embrace and solve technical challenges and put excellence at the heart of all that we do.