Director – Process Design and Optimisation in Chemical Development

About this role

Requirements

• and
• drug development
• ,
• to
• guide and
• inspire
• our
• chemists in
• process design and optimisation
• ,
• turn
• ing
• bold science into reliable medicines for patients?
• As
• Director (senior team manager)
• ,
• you will
• set the technical direction for
• modern
• process design and optimisation,
• whilst
• leading
• your
• team
• to deliver
• high quality, robust
• sustainable
• commercial processes,
• manufacturing campaigns
• , control
• strategies
• and future-proofed regulatory
• submissions
• . Through
• exploiting
• innovative science,
• cutting edge
• technologies and
• AI /
• data
• d
• riven 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
• driv
• e
• T
• echnical excellence in project delivery
• :
• Applying
• your experience to successful
• accountability for
• d
• rug p
• roject
• s
• at
• both
• Chemistry Section
• and
• Chemical Development functional level
• s
• Acting as a source of expert guidance for
• development of ch
• emical processes
• ,
• t
• echnology
• transfer
• and clinical drug substance manufactur
• e
• both internally and externally
• . You will
• facilitate
• on
• time
• , right quality
• clinical
• API
• supplies
• and
• strong data packages
• , designed
• to seamlessly
• support
• onward
• process
• characterisation and finalisation
• Delivery of CMC regulatory submissions for clinical and marketing
• phases
• –
• guiding and supporting
• authorship of
• drug substance submissions
• and
• developing
• harmonised
• control strateg
• ies
• at the
• substance-product
• interface. Acting as an
• experienced
• reviewe
• r,
• you will reduce
• risk and seek
• opportunities
• to drive
• the best
• outcome for the business, via
• excellence in
• authorship
• and
• response to regulatory questions
• Senior
• l
• ine
• management of
• a
• Chemistry
• technical
• team
• , including:
• 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 feed-forward to drive high impact contributions at all levels
• ,
• generating
• impactful, meaningful career pathways for
• each member of your team
• M
• entorship, coaching and
• onboarding of first-time team leaders
• and
• support and guidance 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
• S
• trategy including:
• 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 desig
• n
• , with associated support for
• modern business processes including
• scale-up assessment and control strategy development
• . E
• mploying
• cutting edge
• AI / data techniques where
• appropriate
• , you will drive efficiency across the process design and optimisation area
• for the business
• Understanding the external scien
• ce
• and technology landscape to champion innovation and curiosity within
• process design and optimisation,
• you will work
• across interfaces to
• improve
• standards and ways of working
• which
• impact
• across the whole project
• lifecycle
• Essential Skills/Experience:
• Degree
• , PhD
• or equivalent experience in Chemistry
• , plus
• a
• n
• 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
• ; e
• ffectively
• manag
• ing
• ,
• coaching
• and developing scientific teams
• to deliver complex
• projects
• Expert
• ise
• in development and scale-up of synthetic chemistry to deliver commercially
• viable
• manufacturing processes
• in mid
• to
• late phase development
• , including advanced
• understanding of
• process design
• and optimisation
• .
• Proven experience in
• collaboration with
• interface groups
• such as
• analytical chemistry, chemical engineering, particle
• science
• and drug product
• in order to
• achieve your goals
• 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, as well as the
• cap
• ability to support multiple projects simultaneously within the team
• Proven
• CMC-wide
• and an appreciation of how to generate
• the best impact for patients.
• Demonstrated application of
• this experience to
• high quality
• regulatory delivery through
• authoring and reviewing module 3.2 regulatory submissions
• and/or response to health authority questions
• Demonstrated experience of managing change through continuous improvement, increasing efficiency and with measurable impact inside and outside
• of
• a
• Chemical Development setting
• Track record
• of driving the introduction of digital approaches and new synthetic / manufacturing platforms or technologies, and examples of publicising these achievements to the outside world
• Extensive
• experience of leading senior
• scientific
• staff
• / peers
• to deliver
• high impact improvements to ways of working,
• as well as projects in both an internal and external development and manufacturing setting
• When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge
• perceptions
• .
• That's
• why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that
• doesn't
• mean
• we're
• not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world!
• **Please note: we operate a rolling recruitment process and may close this vacancy early if a strong candidate is identified. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
• Competitive salary and benefits package on offer.
• The successful candidate will have access to a flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, a performance recognition scheme and a competitive, generous remuneration package
• Why AstraZeneca:
• Here, your leadership turns complex science into dependable supply for patients worldwide. You will work with pioneering chemistry, digital technologies, and lean principles, side by side with colleagues who put unexpected teams in the same room to crack tough problems. With a truly global network and strong investment in people and modern facilities, you will grow your impact and your career—learning from diverse teams, shaping standards across sites, and contributing to a more sustainable future. We value kindness alongside ambition, and
• we
• back decisive leaders who take ownership and deliver outcomes that matter.
• Call to Action:
• Step forward to lead the chemistry that scales breakthrough molecules into life-changing medicines—and shape
• what’s
• next!
• Date Posted
• 21-Apr-2026
• Closing Date
• 22-May-2026
• Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.

About AstraZeneca BE

At AstraZeneca, we're united by a bold ambition: to push the boundaries of science and deliver life-changing medicines to patients worldwide. As a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company with a n exciting and robust portfolio of nearly 200 investigational therapies at varied stages of clinical development ( including >20 at late-stage ) , we transform pioneering research into breakthrough treatments across oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, and rare diseases. Here, your talent will contribute to innovations that truly matter—helping us reimagine healthcare and create a healthier future for all! Introduction to role: We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated leader to join the Chemistry function with in AstraZeneca’s Chemical Development department as Director – Process Design and Optimisation Are you ready to apply your extensive leadership