Lead Chemical Process R&D Scientist (m/f/d)

Randstad Switzerland; Basel; On-site; CHF 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad Switzerland is assisting a global pharmaceutical leader in Basel to hire a Lead Chemical Process R&D Scientist. You will lead internal and external process chemistry efforts, guide a small team, and ensure scalable, compliant development of APIs and intermediates.

The role requires a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 5+ years in pharma process R&D, strong leadership and CDMO management skills, and fluency in English. GMP familiarity and German are a plus.

Qualifications

• PhD or postdoctoral background in Synthetic Organic Chemistry.
• 5+ years in pharmaceutical chemical process R&D with scale-up.
• Leadership and project management experience.
• CDMO management experience in external development/tech transfers.
• Proficiency with chemistry tools, DoE, analytics, and planning software.
• Fluent English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Lead Internal & External Chemical Process R&D activities: Direct chemical process research and development work, managing an internal team of 1–5 process chemists and/or leading external activities at CDMOs.
• Oversee end-to-end process chemistry workflows, including synthetic route scouting, process optimization, scale-up, and support for supply activities.
• Coordinate Cross-Functional Delivery: Synchronize internal laboratory efforts with CDMO timelines to guarantee timely, safe, and cost-effective production of APIs and intermediates.
• Ensure Quality & Compliance: Deliver target compounds following internal quality processes and specifications, safety standards and sustainability objectives.

Skills

Leadership

English

Process R&D

CDMO management

Scale-up

Education

PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Tools

Chemistry drawing tools

Literature search tools

DoE software

Analytical software

Project planning tools

Job description

For one of our clients, a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals, we are currently looking for a dedicated Lead Chemical Process R&D Scientist

General Information:

• Latest start date: February 2027
• Duration: 1 year
• Extension: likely
• Contract type: Temporary contract via Randstad (employment)
• Work location: Basel
• Home Office: 2 days/week
• Working hours: Standard
• Travel: possibly to visit CDMOs, up to 4x/year - Europe or Asia (China, India)

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Lead Internal & External Chemical Process R&D activities: Direct chemical process research and development work, managing an internal team of 1–5 process chemists and/or leading external activities at contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs).
• Oversee end-to-end process chemistry workflows, including synthetic route scouting, process optimization, scale-up, and support for supply activities.
• Coordinate Cross-Functional Delivery: Synchronize internal laboratory efforts with CDMO timelines to guarantee the timely, safe, and cost-effective production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and advanced intermediates
• Ensure Quality & Compliance: Deliver the target compounds following internal quality processes and according to specifications, safety standards and sustainability objectives.

Must Haves:

• PhD or Postdoctoral background in Synthetic Organic Chemistry.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in pharmaceutical chemical process R&D, with demonstrated expertise in late-stage process development and scale-up.
• Leadership & Project Management: Proven track record of leading, mentoring, and driving project deliverables within internal process chemistry teams.
• CDMO Management: Direct experience managing external chemical development, technology transfers, and manufacturing activities at CDMOs.
• Technical & Software Proficiency: High proficiency with standard office applications alongside core chemistry tools, including chemical drawing tools, literature/patent search engines, Design of Experiments (DoE) applications, analytical software, and project planning platforms.
• Professional fluency in spoken and written English.

Nice to Have:

• Familiarity or prior experience working within Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) environments.
• Professional working proficiency or fluency in German.
• Proficiency in the use of kinetic modeling or scale-up simulation software.