Director - Head of Drug Substance & Analytical Development

Zealand Pharma A/S; Gladsaxe Kommune; On-site; DKK 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Zealand Pharma A/S, a Copenhagen-based biotechnology company, seeks a Director, Head of Drug Substance & Analysis within Pharmaceutical Development. You will lead a team driving synthetic peptide DS development and analytical method development from early research through Phase 2, defining DS strategy and collaborating with CMOs.

You will own the area, drive decision-making with CMC stakeholders, report to the VP of Pharmaceutical Development, and help strengthen cross-functional partnerships to

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or similar.
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience within CMC.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team through clear direction, coaching, feedback, and resource planning.
• Define and drive DS and analytical development strategies from early research through Phase 2.
• Drive DS process development with external CMOs, including planning, oversight, and key technical decisions.
• Collaborate with internal DS laboratory to strengthen process development and scientific capabilities.
• Cultivate strong cross‑functional collaboration across projects, internal teams, CMOs, and partners, contributing scientifically when needed to advance program goals.

Job description

Does it excite you to work with driving strategic drug substance (DS) and analytical development for peptide-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)?, and do you have experience with leading high-performance teams while also contributing hands‑on? If this sounds like you, and you are ready to take on a broad area of responsibilities, then you could be our new colleague.

Your new position As Director, Head of Drug Substance & Analysis within Pharmaceutical Development, you will lead a talented team driving synthetic peptide DS development and analytical method development from early research through Phase 2.

The role is central to defining DS strategy, driving process development with external contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), and ensuring processes and methods are robust and scalable.

You will be empowered—and expected—to take full ownership of your area and drive scientific decision-making in close collaboration with cross‑functional Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) stakeholders and you will report to the Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development.

We offer exciting responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a high-performing team through clear direction, coaching, feedback, and resource planning
• Define and drive DS and analytical development strategies from early research through Phase 2
• Drive DS process development with external CMOs, including planning, oversight, and key technical decisions
• Collaborate with internal DS laboratory to strengthen process development and scientific capabilities.
• Cultivate strong cross‑functional collaboration across projects, internal teams, CMOs, and partners, contributing scientifically when needed to advance program goals

Your profile

A collaborative, purpose‑driven leader with a strong scientific foundation and a supportive, engaging approach to team culture.

Brings clarity, empathy, and drive, and navigates complex challenges with sound judgment and a proactive, goal‑oriented mindset.

Thrives in a friendly, highly professional environment and builds strong partnerships across internal and external stakeholders.

• PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or similar
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience within CMC (preferred)
• Strong expertise in synthetic peptide DS development, including awareness of state‑of‑the‑art technologies and approaches for manufacturing
• Knowledge of analytical method development relevant to peptide APIs
• Strong knowledge of GMP, guideline requirements, and regulatory submissions
• Proven leadership experience, including outsourcing to CMOs and building productive external partnerships

Your new team

You will join Pharmaceutical Development, collaborating broadly across Zealand Pharma and with external CMOs and partners. The team fosters a friendly, helpful, and engaging atmosphere focused on delivering impactful results together.

Let’s bond and be bold

We have a unique culture, characterized by excellent teamwork and strong engagement across the organization. And we want you to help us strengthen this culture. Making bonds is at the core of everything we do. From discovering and developing the best new peptide drugs for patients, to engaging with our partners or connecting with each other. We bond through curiosity and playfulness as a team, allowing ourselves to challenge common thinking and drive future innovation. Join us and let’s bond and be bold.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from all job applicants.

About Zealand Pharma A/S

Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health.

Combining more than 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform that leverages advanced data‑driven and AI/ML approaches, Zealand Pharma aims to lead a new era in obesity and metabolic health.

To date, more than ten Zealand Pharma‑invented drug candidates have entered clinical development, of which two products have reached the market and three candidates are in late‑stage development.

The Company has collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for research, development, and commercialization. Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Boston, Massachusetts.

Learn more at www.zealandpharma.com. #LI-Onsite

Since our founding in 1998, Zealand Pharma has built a core expertise in the discovery, design, and development of therapeutic peptides. This expertise has led to an R&D pipeline of innovative investigational candidates designed to address a broad range of disease areas. We have four therapeutic focus areas: obesity, rare diseases, chronic inflammation, and type 1 diabetes. In obesity, our peptide capabilities place us in a unique position to address a vast global health challenge and positively impact hundreds of millions of lives.

Within rare diseases, we have a long‑standing commitment to deliver new treatments to patients living with congenital hyperinsulinism and short bowel syndrome. For chronic inflammatory diseases, we are progressing peptide programs focused on high‑profile targets shown to be difficult to address with small molecules and antibodies. For type 1 diabetes, we aspire to change the management of this disease.

Our strategy is to pursue global co‑development and commercialization partnerships that complement and extend our capabilities across the value chain to deliver new peptide therapies to people who need them.