Associate Director, Chemical Development

Company Description

Veranova is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of complex active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for pharma and biotech customers. With deep technical expertise and impressive flexibility, we develop solutions and processes that support and accelerate innovation.

Job Description

The Associate Director, Chemical Operations will oversee a team of process chemists/scientists to deliver on Veranova' s portfolio of Innovator and Generic projects. The process development team focuses on diverse areas ranging from synthetic route development to modification, safety evaluation, greener chemistry, yield optimization and creating a deep understanding of chemical processes to enable those processes to be conducted on a larger scale.

The individual will be responsible for developing the chemical development team by providing mentorship, clear guidance and growth opportunities. This role will lead the day-to-day operations of the Chemical Development team through group and project leaders. This will require an expert level of understanding of Potent compound handlings and cGMP. As a strong communicator, this individual will partner with other department heads both locally and globally.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities

• Responsibilities span all areas of development including Commercial Process Development, Process Characterization, Technology Transfer & Process Performance Qualification (PPQ) / Validation.
• Develop industrially relevant and reliable procedures to control the purity, the polymorphism and the size and shape distribution of particles by means of suitable technologies like crystal engineering, milling and spray-drying
• Ensures that staff performance & career development are effectively managed
• Ensures that staff are qualified by education, experience and/or training to successfully perform their professional duties to the highest standards
• Actively 'directs research' via leadership presence in the R&D labs, scale-up lab and plant in addition to scientific reviews & external partner engagement
• Authors, reviews and/or approves technical reports and regulatory documents
• Authors, reviews and/or approves departmental guidance documents or SOPs
• Applies knowledge of GMP and technical problem solving to support scale-up and tech transfer activities across the manufacturing network
• Oversees the design & execution of unit operations and helps to develop appropriate scale-down models for key unit operations and reactions
• Organizes or participates in departmental committees to ensure that industry standards and best practices are applied
• Routinely leads and/or contributes to risk assessments, Technical Review Gate meetings and Phase Reviews to advance the portfolio
• Participates in resource & budget planning
• Informs, consults & advises senior leadership appropriately
• Identify and drive Life Cycle Management opportunities including Cost of Goods and plant cycle time reductions as well as disruptive innovation in the generics space
• Works with the AR&D and other PR&D sites as well as our partners in Manufacturing (and externally with Snap Dragon Chemistry) to advance and implement new synthetic methods and technologies (including chemo-catalysis, bio-catalysis, modelling, electrochemical synthesis & flow chemistry)
• Promote & foster potential industry - academia collaborations to advance Veranova's technology platforms or portfolio
• Promotes the relentless pursuit of innovation and a continual learning culture
• Other duties as described

Qualifications

Technical/ professional knowledge and skills competency

• PhD in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
• 10+ years of academic, post-doctoral or pharmaceutical industry experience
• Extensive hands-on experience in small molecules, peptides and/or oligonucleotides.
• Possesses ability to lead, coach and develop a team of multiple experience and skill levels. Exhibits an adaptive management style with an ability to positively resolve conflict
• Demonstrates strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills. Possesses the ability to write clear and concise technical reports, presentations, and business correspondence
• Strong business acumen
• Sound knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
• Ability to define problems, collect relevant data, recognize patterns, and draw conclusions from disparate information streams. Makes well informed decisions in a timely manner
• Experience in working in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Proven track record of scientific excellence through presentations at conferences and publication of peer reviewed manuscripts.

Personal skills and key competencies

• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills - Able to troubleshoot critical issues or problems using appropriate information and, determine causes and possible solutions
• Teamwork - Ability to work well on global cross-functional teams.
• Communication Skills - Able to expresses oneself clearly and concisely within team; documents issues and/or concerns concisely with colleagues; adjusts communication style as appropriate for the audience; timely and effectively communicates with senior management; technical writing skills to support authorship and approval of internal technical documents
• Organization - Exercises good time management and prioritization skills to balance multiple project and departmental objectives
• Technical - Subject matter expertise in a specific scientific area or areas. Demonstrated ability to successfully contribute across multiple scientific endeavours
• Knowledge Sharing - Ability to capture knowledge within the organization; improves solutions, processes, and deliverables through use of information; improves information capital by contributing experience, theories, deliverables, and models for others to use
• Resource Management - Project management skills; ability to manage one's time within individual, departmental, and corporate goals and timelines; management of internal external resources (vendors)
• External Involvement - Demonstrated involvement in professional community evidenced by presentation of scientific posters or lectures at professional conferences or events. Interacts with external vendors for projects
• Leadership Skills - Develops and uses knowledge and interpersonal skills to appropriately influence and guide others towards the accomplishment of department/function goals and objectives.
• A champion for growth and change. Ability to implement new processes and technology aligned with Veranova's values

Special Factors

• Some traveling is required for the position at other Veranova locations which may include globally.
• Assistance and involvement with other sites will be required on occasion involving special projects using the expertise of this position. This may involve work on site at other locations or remote support.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Veranova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Veranova to provide equal employment access and opportunity to all persons regardless of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical or mental disability, genetic information, citizenship, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

All applications are carefully considered, and your details will be stored on our secure Application Management System. This is used throughout Veranova for the selection of suitable candidates for our vacancies as they arise. Veranova respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. For more information about how your personal data is used please view our privacy notice.