Director Particle & Process Engineering

Job title:

Director Particle & Process Engineering

Company

AstraZeneca

Job description

Position: Director Particle and Process Engineering group, Early Chemical Development, Pharmaceutical SciencesLocation: Macclesfield, United KingdomCompetitive Salary and BenefitsHere 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.The setup: The 101-acre Macclesfield is the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturing site in the UK, supported by over 3,000 employees. The campus is also home to pharmaceutical sciences and is the only AstraZeneca site with chemical development capabilities.Be encouraged and supported to think creatively in our dynamic environment. Here we are free from fear of failure, free to ask the right questions and make bold decisions.We are currently looking for a Director for the Particle and Process Engineering Team to join our Early Chemical Development group.Pharmaceutical Sciences is a function within the AstraZeneca Biopharmaceuticals R&D unit that builds innovative, efficient solutions by transforming molecules into investigative medicines meeting unmet needs of future patients. The function is made of 6 departments including Early Chemical Development, Advanced Drug Delivery, Early Product Development, and Manufacturing and Data Science and Modelling. Our wide-ranging portfolio of projects includes traditional small molecules, nucleotide-based therapies, and nanomedicines across AstraZeneca’s therapy areas.Early Chemical Development (ECD) is a world class CMC department with responsibility for early phase Drug Substance. The department’s responsibilities span from early engagement with Discovery Chemistry groups to manufacture of Phase II Clinical material, and its key skill areas include Analytical Chemistry, Crystallisation and Particle science, Isotope Chemistry, Manufacturing, Process Chemistry, Process Engineering, and Separation Science.We’re looking for a highly talented and experienced team leader to join ECD. The individual will have some experience of process and chemical engineering within a leadership setting, preferably with an appreciation of different chemical entities (ideally spanning from small organic molecules to larger ones, e.g. oligonucleotides, peptides and ADCs) in the process phase development. A passion for working in new scientific areas and developing solutions to technical and project challenges is a key requirement for the role. The role will form part of our Manufacturability group, with a focus on establishing capability to develop and manufacture drug substances, alongside managing a team of diverse skillsets.As a line manager, you will provide leadership, coaching and mentorship alongside scientific/technical input to development in collaboration with the relevant science ladder people. You will work with your team, and in close collaboration with other skill groups and organisations, to ensure project activities are delivered in line with the overall project timelines, scientific rigor and appropriate quality.As a member of the Early Chemical Development Leadership Team (ECDLT), you will provide expertise and leadership for Particle and Process engineering group. You will partner with other Team Leaders to contribute to strategic business development and manage resources to deliver the project portfolio to time, quality and quantity targets. You will work broadly across in collaboration with different people within the business and externally, looking to implement new technologies and ways of working, plus interface, where necessary, with industry and regulatory bodies to keep abreast of industry trends.Key Responsibilities:

• Accountable for the creation and implementation of process and chemical engineering strategy across ECD.
• Responsible for the implementation of Particle Science strategy across ECD.
• Manage and ensure input of expert guidance to Particle and Process Engineering team to support development, manufacturing of early drug substance projects.

• Continue to build and shape team to meet the needs of AstraZeneca’s future portfolio.
• Coach team member’s individual development as well as assess and reward their performance.
• Track portfolio and manage allocation of resource based on ideally on Individual Development Plan, project priority and in collaboration with the scientific ladder.
• Ensure phase appropriate project technical scopes are defined and executed.
• Establishing in-house capability for the process engineering group to support development and manufacturing
• Provide broader skill set coaching across ECD and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Seek out and share insights into new technology/novel product platforms and regulations and support their adoption within AstraZeneca
• As key member of ECDLT, contribute to the development of departmental goals and link them to team and individuals’ goals.
• Ensure work is performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment (SHE), quality and compliance standards, e.g. GMP, ensuring standards are upheld and improvement and action plans delivered as required

Essential Criteria

• BSc/BEng/MSc/MEng/PhD level education in a relevant discipline (for example Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering and Crystallisation Science) and a significant number of years’ experience working within a CMC development and/or manufacturing organisation
• Experience of line management, technical supervision, coaching and mentoring or leading teams of people on scientific projects
• Significant experience within a chemical or process engineering development organisation.
• The role holder should have a thorough working knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that industry standards are applied, as well as possess an understanding of other relevant developments in Industry
• A strong understanding and practical experience of the principles and management of SHE and cGMP.
• Strong stakeholder management, collaboration and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent communication and strategic influencing skills across interfaces of discipline, culture and diverse individuals within our exciting department.

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrated strong scientific leadership
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex situations and provide clear strategic direction
• Experience developing process engineering approaches to support chemical processes.
• Ability to think and operate across functional boundaries, challenge the status quo and seek opportunities for business improvement
• Proven problem solver with in-depth technical skills

Interested? Please apply by submitting your CV by COB 16th March 2025.Date Posted 03-Mar-2025Closing Date 16-Mar-2025Our 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.

Expected salary

Location

Macclesfield, Cheshire

Job date

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 03:25:52 GMT

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (globalvacancies.org) you saw this job posting.