Head of Chemistry

Job title:

Head of Chemistry

Company

Lhasa Limited

Job description

Salary & BenefitsFrom £80,000 depending on experience, plus generous benefits package, including:
34 days holiday per year (plus Bank Holidays) • Generous pension plan • Hybrid working • Health care cash back • Private medical insurance • Discounted gym and retail benefits • 3 x life insurance • Employee advice line • Free onsite car parkingLocationLhasa Limited, Granary Wharf House, 2 Canal Wharf, Leeds LS11 5PS. We support hybrid working with a typical week involving 2 days in the office.About Lhasa LimitedLhasa Limited is a not-for-profit scientific software company dedicated to improving human health through innovative solutions for chemical safety assessment. For over 40 years, we`ve been at the forefront of developing decision support systems and leading data-sharing initiatives that help scientists make better decisions about chemical safety. Following our acquisition of Molecular Networks and Altamira, we`ve expanded our capabilities in cheminformatics and molecular modelling, strengthening our position as a leader in predictive toxicology. Our scientific software is trusted by leading pharmaceutical, agrochemical, chemical, and personal care companies worldwide, as well as by academia and regulatory bodies.Summary of the roleWe are seeking an exceptional Head of Chemistry to join our science team, reporting to the Director of Science. This pivotal role will shape our scientific direction and impact across the industry and regulatory landscape. As a senior leader, you will drive our chemistry strategy, represent Lhasa externally, and lead a talented team of scientists working on predictive chemistry.The ideal candidate will possess a unique blend of deep scientific expertise, strategic vision, and leadership capabilities. You must be adept at navigating the evolving regulatory landscape while identifying emerging scientific trends that could impact our products and members. Your ability to synthesize complex chemistry concepts and translate it into practical applications will be crucial for our continued innovation.This role requires someone who can seamlessly bridge the gap between the chemistry domain and the technical world of software development, ensuring that the company`s products truly meet the needs of Lhasa`s members while remaining scientifically sound and regulatorily compliant. You should have a proven track record of influencing without authority and building consensus among diverse stakeholders, from regulatory bodies to industry scientists and other business stakeholders.Critical skills for success include:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to anticipate industry trends in chemical safety assessments, identify scientific opportunities, and develop long-term strategies that align with Lhasa`s purpose while applying commercial awareness to identify market opportunities for chemistry solutions
• Technical Expertise:

• Strong knowledge of chemistry, manufacturing processes, medicinal chemistry principles, structure-property relationships, and ADMET.
• Data analysis capabilities, including statistical evaluation of chemical datasets.
• Proficiency with chemical structure representation, molecular descriptors, and fingerprinting techniques.
• Understanding of computational chemistry, particularly QSAR modelling and cheminformatics.
• Translational Capability: Proven ability to translate complex chemistry concepts into practical software solutions.
• Regulatory Insight: Comprehensive knowledge of global regulatory frameworks and the ability to anticipate how they will evolve together with proven experience of working with regulatory frameworks (ICH, REACH) and their chemistry requirements.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, from chemists to software developers to business leaders.
• Relationship Building: Proven ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with industry partners, regulators, and any relevant stakeholders.
• Team Leadership: Experience in building high-performing scientific teams and fostering a culture of innovation, knowledge sharing and scientific excellence.
• Change Management: Capacity to lead organisational change and drive adoption of new scientific approaches.

As Head of Chemistry, you will be at the forefront of shaping how predictive chemistry evolves in a rapidly changing scientific and regulatory environment.Key ResponsibilitiesScientific Leadership

• Provide expert guidance on chemistry-based science across all relevant Lhasa products and services.
• Drive scientific strategy for product development and enhancement in various chemistry domains, including chemical purge domain, forced degradation and metabolism.
• Identify emerging industry trends that represent new market opportunities.
• Stay current in scientific advances, methodologies and regulatory changes to identify new opportunities.
• Champion the development and implementation of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
• Contribute to our scientific publications and presentations at international conferences and Lhasa events.
• Develop and validate chemistry related scientific approaches that can be implemented in software solutions.
• Ensure scientific accuracy of all chemistry-related content in the software.
• Bridge communication between technical teams and non-specialist stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of scientists with diverse expertise working on chemistry-related solutions.
• Create a collaborative, innovative environment that fosters scientific excellence.
• Establish clear goals and objectives aligned with organisational strategy.
• Support professional development and knowledge sharing within the team.

Product Development

• Collaborate with the Solution teams (software development, product owners) to help translate complex chemistry concepts into functional software requirements which are aligned to members` needs.
• Identify gaps in current software offerings and opportunities for new tools.
• Ensure scientific integrity and validity of chemistry predictions and assessments.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on integrated solutions.

External Engagement

• Represent Lhasa at scientific conferences and industry events and forums.
• Build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners.
• Publish scientific papers demonstrating the validity and utility of the company`s approaches.
• Participate in industry working groups to shape standards and guidelines.
• Engage with regulatory authorities to understand evolving requirements and advocate for science-based approaches.
• Collect feedback from the chemistry community to inform product development.
• Work with marketing to ensure accurate scientific messaging.
• Help define and communicate the scientific value proposition of Lhasa`s solutions.
• Evaluate alternative approaches from a scientific perspective.

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD in Chemistry or related discipline.
• Significant experience in computational chemistry, cheminformatics, or related field.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in scientific teams.
• Strong understanding of chemical safety assessment principles.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex concepts.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements for chemical safety assessment; experience working with or for regulatory agencies is advantageous.
• Experience in using in silico approaches for chemical safety assessment.
• Knowledge of cheminformatics and/or molecular modelling is advantageous.
• Experience engaging with industry consortia.

Why Join Lhasa Limited?

• Purpose-Driven Work: Contribute to safer chemicals and medicines that benefit human health and the environment.
• Scientific Impact: Shape the future of chemical safety assessments and in silico approaches.
• Collaborative Culture: Work within a not-for-profit that values sharing knowledge and collaboration over competition.
• Innovation Focus: Be part of developing next-generation tools that transform chemical safety assessment.
• Expanded Capabilities: Leverage the combined strengths of Lhasa Limited, Molecular Networks and Altamira
• Work-Life Balance: Benefit from our supportive work environment and flexible working arrangements.
• Development Opportunities: Access to continuous learning, conference attendance, and professional growth.
• Global Reach: Interact with scientists worldwide to make a global impact.
• Competitive Package: Excellent salary, benefits, and relocation assistance if required.

Ready to lead Lhasa`s Chemistry Team?At Lhasa Limited, we`re passionate about using computational approaches to advance chemical safety science and create solutions that matter to protect human health. If you share our vision and want to lead a team making significant contributions to this field, we want to hear from you.

Expected salary

£80000 per year

Location

Leeds

Job date

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 23:19:52 GMT

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