Key responsibilities

As a process chemist working closely 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. 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 Requirements

• 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 Requirements

• 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.
• The ability to develop and analyse multiple solutions to problems.

Skills and 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.

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law.