Head of Analytics | Chromatography (HPLC/UPLC) · Bioassays | Biologics · Lab Digitalisation | Valais

Recrutis; Wallis; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Recrutis is seeking a Head of Analytics for an international biotech organisation in Valais. You will lead the Chromatography and Bioassays groups, remain the technical reference for HPLC/UPLC, and drive method development and data-driven improvements for biosimilar programmes.

The role requires 5+ years in biologics analytics, a leadership track, and fluency in English with working French. On-site role in canton of Valais, with a start in early 2027 and direct reporting to the COO.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of analytics experience in biologics (recombinant proteins, antibodies, biosimilars) in pharma/biotech context.
• A first leadership or coordination role with responsibility for others' work.
• Hands-on chromatography expertise (HPLC/UPLC) for protein characterisation.
• Fluent written/spoken English and working French to lead a French-speaking team.
• Involvement in a digitalisation or automation project in an analytical lab (data integration or LIMS).

Responsibilities

• Lead the Chromatography and Bioassays groups as a unified department.
• Serve as technical reference for HPLC/UPLC and capillary electrophoresis; oversee bioassays.
• Drive method development, qualification and validation; troubleshoot complex data.
• Support biosimilar programmes and interpret outsourced MS data.
• Develop digitalisation and automation roadmap with IT, including costed investments.

Skills

Biologics analytics

Leadership

HPLC/UPLC

English (fluent)

French (working)

Digitalisation/automation

Education

PhD in Analytical Chemistry / Biochemistry / Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tools

LIMS

Mass spectrometry data analysis

Job description

Recrutis is supporting one of its clients, an international biotech organisation developing and producing recombinant proteins and antibodies for biopharmaceutical companies, in the search for a Head of Analytics, based in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.

Why this role

• Take the lead of a complete analytical department (Chromatography and Bioassays, around ten scientists), reporting directly to the COO and sitting on the operations coordination team.
• A role built first on analytical expertise: you remain the technical reference in chromatography, close to the data and to complex troubleshooting, while leading the team.
• A department at the heart of client delivery: its results drive the quality and timelines of the programmes run for biopharmaceutical clients.
• A clear modernisation mandate: data integration, automation, laboratory information systems, new analytical technologies and pragmatic data and AI use cases.
• A scientifically demanding environment (antibodies including complex formats, biosimilar programmes) in an organisation in a growth phase, international and bilingual.

Key information

• Location: canton of Valais, Switzerland. On-site role, cannot be performed primarily remotely
• Reporting line: COO
• Start: early 2027, subject to notice period
• Experience: 5+ years in analytics on biologics, doctoral research included
• Languages: fluent professional English and working French (see required criteria)

Scope

• Lead the Chromatography and Bioassays groups as one unified department: clear responsibilities between the two groups, objectives, coaching, backups and continuity.
• Directly lead the Chromatography group and work in partnership with the Bioassays Group Leader.
• Act as the technical reference in HPLC/UPLC and capillary electrophoresis; oversee bioassays and classical methods (ELISA, gels, Western blot).
• Drive method development, optimisation, qualification and validation where required; review data and conclusions; step in on complex troubleshooting.
• Support the analytical strategy of biosimilar programmes (glycosylation, charge variants, similarity assessment) and interpret outsourced mass spectrometry results with external providers.
• Build a service culture towards Cell Line Development, Upstream and Downstream Processing, Project Management and Manufacturing: shared workload planning, clear priorities, predictable turnaround times.
• Set up and monitor KPIs (workload, capacity, on-time delivery, rework, productivity, cost per analysis) and prepare staffing, equipment and budget proposals.
• Build and execute a prioritised digitalisation and automation roadmap with IT, starting with data integration; lead the evaluation and implementation of new analytical technologies, with costed investment proposals.

Profile — Required criteria (knockout)

• At least 5 years of analytical experience, doctoral research included, with biologics (recombinant proteins, antibodies, biosimilars or other biomolecules), gained in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, a CDMO, a CRO or a laboratory.
• A first leadership or coordination experience in a laboratory (line management, functional or project-based), with responsibility for organising or delivering the work of others.
• Hands-on expertise in chromatography, in particular HPLC or UPLC, applied to protein characterisation.
• Fluent professional English, spoken and written, and French sufficient to lead a French-speaking team on a daily basis.
• Involvement in at least one digitalisation or automation project in an analytical laboratory (data integration and exploitation, sample automation or LIMS; one of these is enough), in any role: key user, contributor, referent or project lead.

Strong assets — Differentiators

• Curiosity and active technology watch: openness to new methods and market developments.
• Line management experience, beyond functional or project-based coordination.
• Biosimilar characterisation: glycosylation, charge variants, head-to-head comparison with the reference product, similarity assessment.
• Capillary electrophoresis (CE-SDS, cIEF), ideally including the evaluation, selection and implementation of a new analytical technology.
• Also valued: analytical method lifecycle (development, qualification, validation, transfer), a PhD in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology or pharmaceutical sciences, bioassay practice (ELISA, binding, potency), interpretation of mass spectrometry data, and CDMO/CRO experience with direct client exposure.

Process — Confidential recruitment process.

Response within 48 hours for applications meeting required criteria. Active mandate, priority review.

Keywords:

Head of Analytics, Analytical Development, Chromatography, HPLC, UPLC, Capillary Electrophoresis, CE-SDS, cIEF, Bioassays, Protein Characterisation, Biologics, Monoclonal Antibodies, Biosimilars, LIMS, Lab Automation, Digitalisation, Valais, Switzerland

Fabrice Cattant — Founder, Recrutis | Expert & Executive Search in Life Sciences