Manager, Chemistry R&D

Danaher; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading life sciences company in Stevenage is seeking a Manager for its Chemistry R&D team. You will lead a group focused on developing next-generation chromatography products. Candidates should possess a PhD in Organic Chemistry, with 8+ years of experience, including leadership. This position offers a dynamic environment with opportunities for professional growth and innovation, driving impactful scientific solutions in healthcare.

Benefits

Support for career development

Diverse and inclusive culture

Opportunities for innovation

Qualifications

• 8+ years of industrial experience in chemistry.
• 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Expertise in surface modification and bioconjugation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Chemistry team and mentor members.
• Define and drive the chemistry roadmap.
• Ensure safety and compliance in the lab.

Skills

Synthetic organic chemistry

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry or related discipline

Tools

HPLC

LC-MS

FT-IR

UV/Vis

Job description

Overview

Manager, Chemistry R&D - STEVENAGE

Be part of something altogether life-changing!

Working at Cytiva in the Life Sciences industry means being at the forefront of providing new solutions to transform human health. Our customers undertake life-saving activities ranging from fundamental biological research to developing innovative vaccines, new medicines, and cell and gene therapies. Cytiva offers opportunities to continuously improve yourself and the organization by tackling challenges that matter, with a culture of care for colleagues, customers, and patients. With associates across 40 countries, Cytiva is a place where every day is a learning opportunity to grow your career and skills in the long term.

Cytiva is proud to work alongside nine fellow Danaher Life Sciences companies. Together, we are pioneering the future of science and medicine, developing products that enable researchers in the fight to save lives. Cytiva\'s Membrane Chromatography R&D team is looking for a leader for its Chemistry department, based at the new state-of-the-art R&D facility in Sycamore House, Stevenage. The successful candidate will lead a team of chemists and technicians focused on developing Cytiva\'s next-generation membrane chromatography products. The Chemistry team\'s core remit involves developing the synthetic pathways and chemistry processes used to modify and functionalise proprietary membranes for use in biotherapeutics such as monoclonal antibodies and genomic medicines, playing a key role in developing and optimising the performance of Cytiva\'s membrane chromatography products.

What you\'ll do

As the Manager of the Chemistry team, you will translate high-level strategies into tangible group objectives and deliverables. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of chemists and scientists, providing mentorship, performance management, career development and technical guidance. You will act as a subject matter expert (SME) in synthetic organic chemistry, with deep expertise in surface chemistry and bioconjugation, providing technical input to project teams focused on developing the next generation of membrane chromatography bioprocessing solutions. You will also represent the Chemistry team in cross-organisational forums, strategic planning sessions and customer engagements.

As a member of the R&D Leadership team, you will partner with material science, engineering, applications and analytical team leaders to align Chemistry objectives with other R&D functions. You\'ll also have the opportunity to work with Chemistry and R&D teams from Cytiva\'s global network.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the development of surface chemistry and bioconjugation approaches for modifying and functionalising Cytiva\'s chromatography membranes.
• Lead and provide direction to the R&D Chemistry team at Cytiva Stevenage by setting clear objectives, conducting regular performance reviews and supporting career development for all team members.
• Define and drive the chemistry roadmap for Cytiva\'s membrane chromatography products in alignment with company innovation and commercial objectives.
• Work across functional boundaries by coordinating Chemistry development activities with other Cytiva R&D teams.
• Support the progression of R&D projects directed towards New Product Introductions (NPIs) and the improvement of existing Cytiva products.
• Manage projects and stakeholder expectations to ensure alignment of defined deliverables and realised outcomes.
• Author and oversee documentation, including technical reports and patent filings, ensuring chemistry team documents meet Cytiva QMS requirements.
• Leverage Cytiva\'s QMS tools to manage design transfer to manufacturing, supply chain teams, and relevant Contract Manufacturing Organisations.
• Ensure health and safety of the chemistry team, working with the EHS lead to put risk assessments in place and provide guidance on chemical safety.
• Contribute to the short, medium and long-term chemistry development strategy for Cytiva\'s membrane chromatography products.
• Drive the use of Danaher Business System (DBS) tools, including daily management, Kaizen and the Problem Solving Process (PSP).

Job Requirements

• PhD or equivalent higher-level qualification in Organic Chemistry or related discipline with 8+ years of relevant industrial experience, including 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, with specialisation in surface modification and bioconjugation.
• Hands-on experience with analytical chemistry techniques (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS, FT-IR, Raman and UV/Vis) and surface characterisation methods (e.g., SEM).
• Experience of working on multidisciplinary projects and at the interface between chemistry and biology.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience managing technical teams and cross-functional projects.
• Track record of problem-solving and ability to work independently in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment.

Preferred Knowledge & Experience

• Knowledge in the field of material sciences is desirable.
• Experience with membrane or polymer surface functionalisation is desirable.
• Experience in chromatography, membrane filtration or bioprocessing is desirable.
• Experience in reactor design/process engineering is desirable.
• Familiarity with GMP/GLP environments and documentation practices is desirable.

When you join us, you\'ll also be joining Danaher\'s global organization, where 68,000 people wake up every day determined to help our customers win. As an associate, you\'ll try new things, work hard, and advance your skills with guidance from dedicated leaders, all with the support of Danaher Business System tools and the stability of a tested organization. Danaher is committed to a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels they belong and all voices are heard. We believe in our associates and the unique perspectives they bring to every challenge, which is why we\'ll empower you to push the boundaries of what\'s possible. Join our winning team today. Together, we\'ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow\'s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life. For more information, visit www.danaher.com.