Senior Director - Small Molecule Chemistry in Chemical Development

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A global biopharmaceutical leader in Macclesfield is seeking a Senior Director for Small Molecule Chemistry to lead and develop synthetic manufacturing processes. The role demands a minimum of 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical development, coupled with strong leadership and project management skills. This individual will guide a Chemistry team, ensuring compliance and excellence in drug substance projects while playing a key role in innovative processes. The company values flexibility, efficiency, and collaboration within its unique working environment.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Strong investment in people and facilities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in synthetic drug substance pharmaceutical development.
• Proven experience in authoring and reviewing module 3.2 regulatory submissions.
• Expertise in scale-up of synthetic chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Lead a section of Chemistry team leaders and senior scientific staff.
• Drive technical excellence in Chemistry contributions to drug substance projects.
• Manage the delivery of CMC regulatory submissions.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching and mentoring

Project management

Process design and optimization

Analytical chemistry

Chemical engineering

Education

Degree in Chemistry or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

You will be responsible for leading a section of the Chemistry function developing synthetic manufacturing processes and supporting regulatory documentation. Working closely with the Function Head for Chemistry to deliver the Small Molecule development strategy and drive successful delivery of the projects portfolio through Phase 3-enabling clinical development to commercialisation. Do you thrive when you can mentor leaders, influence strategy, and see tangible impact on medicines reaching patients faster?

Lead a section of Chemistry team leaders (and associated teams) and senior scientific staff to drive technical excellence in delivery of the Chemistry contribution to small molecule drug substance projects, with accountability for:

Responsibilities

• Route design, process design and optimisation, process characterisation and finalisation, with associated scale-up assessment, and control strategy development
• Technology transfer and support of clinical drug substance manufacture and process validation
• Delivery of CMC regulatory submissions for clinical and marketing - acting as reviewer and approver
• Line management of Chemistry team leaders and senior scientific staff, including:
  • Sophisticated coaching and mentoring to support professional development as leaders, including onboarding of first-time team leaders
  • Advanced performance management - goal setting and regular feed-forward to drive high impact contributions
  • Driving SHE and compliance for section
• Leading the small molecule Chemistry development strategy:
  • Identification and execution of improvement programmes to enhance the capability and capacity of the Chemistry function to deliver their contribution to drug substance projects
  • Understanding the external scientific and technology landscape to champion innovation and scientific curiosity within the function
  • Working across interfaces to develop and embed improved standards and ways of working

Here, your leadership turns complex science into dependable supply for patients worldwide. You will work with pioneering chemistry, digital technologies, and lean principles, side by side with colleagues who put unexpected teams in the same room to crack tough problems. With a truly global network and strong investment in people and modern facilities, you will grow your impact and your career-learning from diverse teams, shaping standards across sites, and contributing to a more sustainable future. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we back decisive leaders who take ownership and deliver outcomes that matter.

Qualifications

• We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated leader to join the Chemistry function in AstraZeneca's Chemical Development department as Senior Director - Small Molecule Chemistry. Degree or equivalent experience in Chemistry + a minimum of 10 years' experience in synthetic drug substance pharmaceutical development
• Proven high impact people leadership experience, with a track record of effectively managing and developing scientific teams through coaching and mentoring. Demonstrated experience of leading senior staff - either scientific or team leaders is highly desirable
• Expert in development and scale-up of synthetic chemistry to deliver commercially viable manufacturing processes, including advanced understanding of the contribution of analytical chemistry, chemical engineering, and particle science
• Strong understanding of the drug development process, especially late-stage development to support Phase 3 clinical studies and launch including control strategy development
• Proven experience in authoring and reviewing module 3.2 regulatory submissions

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Track record of driving the introduction of digital approaches and new synthetic manufacturing technology is highly desirable
• Strong project management skills and the ability to drive multiple projects simultaneously within the team
• Demonstrated experience of inspiring change and continuous improvement to improve overall efficiency with measurable impact

Working Style and Environment

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That\'s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn\'t mean we\'re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world!

At AstraZeneca, we\'re united by a bold ambition: to push the boundaries of science and deliver life-changing medicines to patients worldwide. As a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company, we transform pioneering research into breakthrough treatments across oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory, and rare diseases. Here, your talent will contribute to innovations that truly matter—helping us reimagine healthcare and create a healthier future for all!

Introduction to role

Are you ready to lead world-class small molecule chemistry development that turns bold science into reliable medicines for patients? In this role, you will set the technical direction and elevate how we design, scale, and validate robust drug substance processes—reducing risk, shortening timelines, and enabling confident clinical supply and launch. Small molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) remain a powerful modality for tackling disease. The complexity of small molecule therapeutics continues to grow, necessitating innovative and efficient means for their synthesis and manufacture to meet volume, cost and sustainability goals.