Technical Leader - Compound Management - Automation Optimisation

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.; Uttlesford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global contract research organization is seeking a Technical Leader to optimize automation processes and manage compound management operations. The ideal candidate will have significant lab-based experience, strong communication skills, and expertise with liquid dispensers. This role promises a career with an impact on health and wellbeing, supporting drug discovery through leadership of technical projects and collaboration across various disciplines.

Benefits

Generous pension contribution

Private medical care

Flexible and hybrid working

Well-being support

Qualifications

• Significant compound management lab-based experience in industry.
• Some project leadership at a senior technical level.
• Able to present complex scientific data effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead and influence activities across technical specialism.
• Develop processes for greater efficiency.
• Manage budgets and resources for technical projects.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Excellent problem-solving skills

Project leadership

Deep working knowledge of Titian Mosaic

Expert user of liquid dispensers

Education

BSc in a relevant scientific discipline

MSc preferred

PhD advantageous

Tools

Tecan Fluent

Tempo Fulfilment Module

Cellario

Director

Job description

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Technical Leader - Compound Management - Automation Optimisation, Saffron Walden

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Job Reference:

36e67e55ef81

Job Views:

5

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

For 75years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Summary

Within Discovery at Charles River, we hold our own large screening libraries of small molecules for delivery of High Throughput Screening campaigns, along with proprietary libraries for our clients. Within the Group we manage, curate and analyse the collection, using industry-leading automation and UPLC-MS to deliver a fast, efficient, and quality service.

As a Technical Leader in Compound Management you’ll lead and influence activities across Discovery and Safety Assessment sites in your area of technical specialism or area of the business to positively impact business effectiveness. You will take leadership for projects, process or platform, strategically supervising others and defining their technical objectives. You will manage resources and finances for your area of specialism and may technically influence business development activities.

Main Tasks

• Routine and non-routine use of contact liquid dispensing with Tecan Fluent, Janice plus Mosquito and Bravo based automation platforms.
• Routine and non-routine use of non-contact liquid dispensing with Beckman and Hi-Res acoustic platforms.
• Develop our processes for greater efficiency and robustness. Working with the Scientists and Technicians to advance our systems, develop processes for new and existing workflows.
• Influencing colleagues across different disciplines to deliver projects focused on reducing the Drug Discovery journey time for our clients.
• Demonstrate effective leadership in the exploration of new technologies and solutions for technical challenges. Increasing the utilisation of automation within Compound Management and surrounding departments, biology, DMPK, Informatics.
• Establishing strong relationships with vendors and automation providers to ensure appropriate resolution of issues.
• Implementation planning and delivery of automation processes and platforms.
• Demonstrate effective leadership within area of technical specialism or area of the business, able to oversee project teams comprising of multiple disciplines and grades across sites
• Use positive influencing and role modelling abilities to drive area of technical specialism forward to achieve goals as agreed with internal and external stakeholders within and outside own area.
• Act as the key point of contact for area of technical specialism or area of the business. Will build strong working relationship across sites and act like a role model to others on the technical ladder.
• Create work schedules and coordinate work plans to ensure tasks are delegated appropriately and are appropriate for team members.
• Able to identify any technical issues within area of business, using strong problem-solving skills to come up with and apply an appropriate resolution.
• Management of budgets and resources for technical projects, able to accurately track the key data to ensure they are running effectively.

Profile and Requirements

Educated to BSc level, MSc preferred within a relevant scientific discipline. PhD within relevant scientific discipline advantageous.

Significant compound management lab-based experience in industry, ideally within CRO / Biotech / Pharma.

Some project leadership at a senior technical level.

Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Excellent problem-solving skills, able to approach problems with sound logic and judgement.

Able to present complex scientific data effectively and concisely to mixed groups virtually and in person.

Deep working knowledge of Titian Mosaic and of mainstream automation scheduling software, such as: Tempo Fulfilment Module, Cellario (HighRes Bio), Director (Wako), etc.

Expert user of contact and non-contact liquid dispensers, including protocol writing and troubleshooting.

Advantageous:

Proven CRO experience on drug discovery focused projects.

Active presence in laboratory automation networks, such as SLAS, ELRIG, etc.

Experience with automated tube stores.

Experience with orchestration software, voice-prompted processes and other digital enhancements within the Compound Management / Lab Automation sector.

What We offer You:

A very comprehensive benefits package from day one, including a generous pension contribution, private medical for you (and can add family members), private dental care, critical illness cover, bonus and more!

Access to great discounts via our CREDS discount scheme.

Global opportunities and strong career progression.

The chance to work on several varied projects and liaise globally and nationally with other business areas.

To be able make a difference to health and wellbeing of people.

To continue your own career growth.

Flexible and hybrid working.

Parental leave.

Group Life Assurance and Group Income Protection.

Remote GP access 24/7.

Well-being support and initiatives.

Cycle to work scheme.

About Discovery
Discovery from Charles River is industry-proven in the successful development of novel therapies, with over 350patents and 80preclinical drug candidates delivered to our sponsors in the past 17 years. Backed by more than 650 scientists, our comprehensive, integrated portfolio employs the latest technology and platforms to provide chemistry, biology, and pharmacology services that support clients from the earliest stages of hit identification all the way through to IND. Our client-focused, collaborative approach creates true partnerships that anticipate challenges, overcome obstacles, and move us forward together on the journey of getting new drugs to market.

About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

At Charles River Laboratories, we recognize and recruit all talent. We are a company committed to the principle of diversity and inclusion and work daily in this direction.