Senior Director, Scientific Affairs

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc; Exton (PA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Hybrid work model

Continuous learning & development

Job summary

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. seeks a Senior Director of Scientific Affairs to lead scientific leadership and external engagement across packaging, containment, elastomers, and materials.

You will translate complex science into strategic guidance, support product positioning, and drive evidence-based communications globally. You will collaborate with Product Management, Marketing, R&D, Quality, Regulatory, and other functions, shaping standards and external partnerships while leading a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Preferred Master’s degree, Ph.D., Pharm.D., or equivalent advanced scientific degree.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive scientific leadership experience including global teams and external engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead Scientific Affairs and Scientific Communications aligned with business strategy and portfolio roadmap.
• Provide guidance on pharmaceutical packaging, containment, materials science, and regulatory expectations.
• Translate scientific insights into recommendations for product innovation and positioning.
• Represent the organization externally through conferences, publications, webinars, and thought leadership.
• Develop scientific materials, narratives, publications, and training content.
• Coach and develop a high performing global Scientific Affairs team.

Skills

Scientific leadership

External engagement

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory understanding

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry or related scientific field

Master’s or Ph.D. preferred

Job description

Title: Senior Director, Scientific Affairs

Requisition ID: 75741

Date: Sep 21, 2026

Location

Exton, PA, US, 19341 Exton, PA, US, 19341

Department: Scientific Affairs

At West, we’re a dedicated team that is connected by a purpose to improve patient lives that has been at the center of our Company for more than a century. Our story began when Herman O. West solved the problem of supplying penicillin in mass quantities to the US Government during World War 2. Through our work to deliver thousands of life‑saving and life‑enhancing injectable medicines to millions of patients daily, West’s indelible mark on the healthcare industry has just begun. A name started our story. How will yours help write our future?

There’s no better place to join an inclusive community of professionals with opportunities for lifelong learning, growth and development. Supported by benefit programs, we empower the physical, mental, emotional and financial health of our team members and their families.

We believe in giving back to help those in need in the communities where we live and work. And are equally committed to creating a healthier environment and planet through our sustainability efforts.

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Scientific Affairs is responsible for leading the Scientific Affairs and Scientific Communications functions, advancing the organization’s scientific leadership, credibility, and external engagement in support of the Elastomers and Primary Containment (E&PC) business strategy. This role serves as a senior scientific leader across pharmaceutical packaging, containment, elastomers, materials, regulatory expectations, and emerging industry trends, and is charged with delivering scientific insights that inform new product offers, build external KOL credibility, and ensure West’s scientific leadership.

The role partners closely with Product Management, Marketing, R&D, Technical Customer Support, Quality, Regulatory, and others to translate scientific insights into actionable business strategy, customer‑facing scientific content, technical thought leadership, and evidence‑based product positioning. The Senior Director will lead a team focused on scientific excellence, customer impact, cross‑functional collaboration, and global consistency in scientific communications and engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the Scientific Affairs and Scientific Communications functions, establishing scientific strategy, domain science focus areas, priorities, and operating plans – including external engagement plans – aligned with business strategy and objectives, product portfolio roadmap, customer needs, and market opportunities.
• Serve as a senior scientific leader and, if and where appropriate, subject matter expert, providing guidance on pharmaceutical packaging, containment, elastomers, materials science, regulatory expectations, and emerging industry trends.
• Translate scientific, technical, regulatory, and customer scientific insights into actionable recommendations that support new product innovation, differentiation, and long‑term business strategy – establishing West’s scientific leadership and elevating the industry standard.
• Partner with Product Management, Marketing, Technical Customer Support, R&D, Quality, and Regulatory Affairs to support strategic customer engagements and communicate the company’s scientific value proposition.
• Represent the organization externally – including with scientific staff – through industry conferences, technical forums, publications, webinars, customer engagement, and scientific thought leadership activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers, industry and standards organizations, academic partners, and external experts to strengthen scientific credibility, and market and regulatory influence.
• Develop and implement strategies to influence standards organizations and the industry, pulling together employees with seats on standards organizations boards/committees through an enterprise “community of practice,” and ensuring a strategic One West approach externally.
• Lead the development of scientific materials, technical narratives, publications, presentations, white papers, and training content that support scientific leadership, customer education, product positioning, and market adoption.
• Provide scientific input into product claims, technical documentation, launch materials, and commercial enablement resources to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with approved messaging.
• Identify opportunities to generate and communicate scientific evidence – through internal and external laboratories – that supports product performance, customer applications, regulatory understanding, and competitive differentiation.
• Own the governance and lifecycle management of scientific content and claims to ensure that all scientific communications are accurate, consistent, evidence‑based, current, and delivered in formats that meet evolving customer needs.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to assess customer challenges, market needs, technology trends, and scientific gaps that may influence product strategy, innovation priorities, or lifecycle management.
• Provide scientific perspective to support product launches, customer programs, strategic initiatives, issue resolution, and business development opportunities.

Additional Responsibilities

• Build and maintain close relationship with other internal technical organizations, especially R&D and Technical Customer Service.
• Lead, coach, develop, and build a high‑performing Scientific Affairs and Scientific Communications team, fostering scientific rigor, collaboration, accountability, external engagement, and customer‑focused execution.
• Establish goals, priorities, metrics, and processes to ensure effective delivery of Scientific Affairs and Scientific Communications programs, including engagement and positioning within relevant standards‑setting organizations.
• Ensure activities are conducted in alignment with company policies, quality expectations, compliance requirements, and applicable standard operating procedures.

Education

• Required: Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific or technical field (or equivalent experience)
• Preferred: Master’s degree, Ph.D., Pharm.D., or equivalent advanced scientific degree in a relevant discipline

Work Experience

Minimum of 12 years of progressive scientific, technical service, medical affairs, or scientific affairs leadership experience, including leadership of global teams and external scientific engagement in the pharmaceutical packaging, drug delivery, medical device, biotechnology, life sciences, and/or related healthcare industries.

Additional Requirements

• Experience leading scientific, technical, or cross‑functional teams in a global or matrixed organizations
• Experience engaging with customers, industry groups, scientific forums, regulatory stakeholders, or external technical audiences
• Proven ability to develop and communicate complex scientific and technical information for internal and external audiences
• Scientific and technical expertise relevant to pharmaceutical packaging, containment systems, drug delivery systems, materials, biologics, injectable medicines, or related healthcare technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific information into business‑relevant strategic insights, customer solutions, and portfolio recommendations – driving to elevate the industry standard.
• Ability to understand customer needs, market dynamics, regulatory considerations, and quality expectations within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex scientific concepts clearly to executive, commercial, standards organization, and customer audiences.
• Experience developing scientific publications, technical presentations, white papers, webinars, conference materials, or customer‑facing scientific materials – and coaching teams to develop this content.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders, customers, and cross‑functional stakeholders through scientific credibility, data‑driven recommendations, and strategic thinking.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and build high‑performing teams in a global, matrixed environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, balance strategic and tactical work, and operate effectively in a fast‑paced, customer‑focused environment.
• Strong collaboration skills with experience partnering across Commercial, Product Management, R&D, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Technical Customer Support, and Marketing.
• Able to be aware of all relevant standard operating procedures as per company policy as they are related to the position covered by this Job Description.
• Able to comply with the company’s safety and quality policies at all times.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, drug delivery, packaging, containment, or life sciences markets
• Advanced scientific degree, such as Ph.D., Pharm.D., or equivalent, in a relevant discipline.
• Experience supporting product launches, lifecycle management, customer technical strategy, or innovation programs.
• Ability to understand evolving global regulatory expectations, quality systems, and industry standards relevant to pharmaceutical packaging, drug delivery, medical devices, or injectable medicines.
• Experience representing an organization at external scientific forums, industry associations, standards groups, or customer advisory engagements.
• Global mindset with experience working across regions, cultures, customer segments, and healthcare markets.
• Customer‑first mindset with the ability to connect scientific expertise to customer value, patient impact, and business growth.

Travel Requirements

20%: Up to 52 business days per year

Physical Requirements

Sedentary-Exerting up to 10lbs/4kgs of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

What We Offer

This is a hybrid position requiring the team member to be onsite a minimum of 3 days per week This position offers relocation assistance Inclusive & Collaborative Culture: A global workforce that values diversity, equity, and inclusion—where all voices are heard and respected in a supportive environment. Global Career Opportunities: With facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia‑Pacific, employees have opportunities for international exposure and cross‑functional collaboration. Continuous Learning & Development: Opportunities for professional growth through training programs, tuition assistance, leadership development, and skill‑certification initiatives.

West is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Where permitted by law, an offer of employment with West Pharmaceutical Services, or any of its subsidiary or affiliate companies, is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of background screening.