Principal Scientist – Analytical

Concept Life Sciences Group; Chapel-en-le-Frith; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site parking

Pension scheme

Health cash plan

Cycle to work

Retail discount

Death in service

Discretionary bonus

BHN Extras platform

Wellbeing hub access

Job summary

Concept Life Sciences is seeking an experienced Principal Scientist (Analytical) to provide scientific leadership and hands-on expertise at our Chapel-en-le-Frith site. This senior role combines strategic influence with practical laboratory delivery across a diverse portfolio.

You will design, execute and interpret complex analytical studies, ensure compliant data for process development and investigations, mentor colleagues, and uphold high safety and quality standards in GMP environments

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of analytical techniques (UPLC-MS, SFC, NMR, GC-MS) with practical direction.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead the analytical strategy across client projects, combining hands-on lab work with senior scientific leadership.
• Design, execute, and interpret complex analytical studies, delivering high-quality, compliant data.
• Collaborate across disciplines with R&D chemists, project teams, QA, and clients to solve technical challenges.
• Mentor and develop colleagues, strengthening analytical capability and scientific culture.

Skills

Analytical leadership

GMP compliance

Method development

Troubleshooting

Mentoring

Education

PhD or equivalent

Tools

UPLC-MS

SFC

NMR

GC-MS

Job description

Job Role: Principal Scientist – GMP Analytical
Site: Chapel-en-le-Frith
Salary:Competitive - DOE
Job type: Permanent, full time (37.5 hrs per week)

Overview

Concept Life Sciences is seeking an experienced Principal Scientist (Analytical) to provide scientific leadership, and hands‑on expertise within our analytical function . This is a senior scientific role combining strategic influence, technical authority, and active laboratory contribution, supporting a diverse portfolio of client projects across small molecules and emerging modalities. You will act as a trusted scientific lead, driving high‑quality analytical delivery, and contributing to the continued growth and success of the department.

What you will be doing:

As a Principal Scientist (Analytical), you will shape and lead the analytical strategy across a diverse portfolio of client projects, combining hands‑on laboratory work with senior scientific leadership. You will design, execute, and interpret complex analytical studies, delivering high‑quality, compliant data that supports process development, technical investigations, and informed decision‑making.

Working closely with R&D chemists, process chemists, project teams, quality colleagues, and clients, you will act as a trusted scientific partner, collaborating across disciplines to solve challenging technical problems and ensure analytical approaches are robust, fit for purpose, and where appropriate aligned with regulatory expectations. Alongside project delivery, you will model scientific excellence, uphold the highest standards of safety and quality, and actively mentor and develop colleagues, helping to strengthen analytical capability, innovation, and scientific culture across the organisation.

About you:

• You will have broad technical knowledge of analytical techniques (e.g. UPLC-MS, SFC, NMR, GC‑MS), with the ability to provide practical support and scientific direction.
• You will be passionate about delivering high‑quality analytical science, combining hands‑on laboratory expertise with leadership to drive robust, compliant outcomes.
• Scientific integrity, data quality, safety, and regulatory compliance will be central to everything you do, alongside a strong focus on meeting client and project requirements.
• You will be a highly skilled analytical scientist with extensive experience in method development, validation, troubleshooting, and advanced characterisation techniques.
• You will act as a trusted scientific partner, working collaboratively to shape analytical strategy and solve complex technical challenges.
• You will enjoy mentoring and developing others, actively contributing to capability building, knowledge‑sharing, and a positive, inclusive scientific culture.
• You will hold a PhD (or equivalent postgraduate qualification) in a relevant scientific discipline, and ideally possess experience working in regulated (GMP) analytical laboratory environments.

What you will get:

In addition to a competitive salary, we provide

• generous holiday entitlement
• a pension scheme with enhanced employer contributions
• a health cash plan covering a range of therapy treatments
• a cycle to work scheme
• a retail discount scheme
• death in service benefit
• a discretionary bonus scheme
• free on‑site parking

You’ll also have access to our BHN Extras platform, offering cashback, discounts, and tech/home purchases via salary sacrifice.

Colleague wellbeing is important to us - we offer 24/7 virtual GP access, emotional support services, and a comprehensive wellbeing hub. We’re proud of our inclusive, supportive culture and provide a range of learning and development opportunities to help you grow both personally and professionally.

About Concept Life Sciences:

Concept Life Sciences is a multi-disciplined Contract Research Organisation based in the UK providing market‑leading scientific services globally. Over the past 25 years, Concept Life Sciences and its heritage companies have played a pivotal role in guiding numerous clients along their path to clinical success and many of these clients have evolved into enduring scientific collaborators.

From our 4 sites across the UK, we provide world‑leading expertise to the pharmaceutical, biotech, agrochemical, and material science industries. We have clients across Europe, Asia, and the US, who value our knowledge‑based, science‑led, and customer‑focused approach.