Senior/Executive Director, Process and Formulation Development

Liquidia Corporation; Morrisville (NC); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) Savings Retirement Plan

Comprehensive medical benefits

Job summary

Liquidia Corporation, based in Morrisville, seeks a Senior/Executive Director of Process and Formulation Development to lead the optimization and scale-up of pharmaceutical processes. This role involves collaboration with external partners and ensuring compliant manufacturing practices.

The ideal candidate will have 15+ years of experience, strong expertise in Design of Experiments, and a solid understanding of quality assurance principles. Liquidia offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical process development.
• Strong expertise in process characterization and pharmaceutical manufacturing scale-up.
• Excellent technical writing and report authoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead oversight of external partners in drug product processes.
• Provide technical oversight of technology transfer to CMOs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure alignment on program timelines.

Skills

Design of Experiments (DoE)

Statistical analysis

Pharmaceutical formulation

Problem-solving ability

Strong communication skills

Education

Ph.D., M.S., or B.S. in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry

Tools

DoE software

Job description

Liquidia is deeply passionate and committed to the discovery, engineering, and development required to bring novel therapies to patients who need them most, and to the healthcare providers who care for them. Our current drive is toward improving the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We will continue to combine our proprietary, innovative PRINT Technology with new and established medications, offering the potential for both better precision and improved clinical outcomes. Our team members include some of the industry’s top scientists, clinicians, business strategists, engineers, and pharmaceutical executives. We work together to help people lead longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Job Summary:

The Senior/Executive Director of Process and Formulation Development reports to the VP, CMC R&D and is responsible for leading the development, optimization, and scale-up of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and drug product formulations through external partners. This role provides strategic and technical leadership in translating laboratory/clinical-scale processes to commercial manufacturing, including oversight of technology transfer activities to contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) focused on Liquidia’s liposomal treprostinil clinical program. The Senior/Executive Director ensures robust, scalable, and compliant processes through the application of scientific principles, Design of Experiments (DoE), and Quality by Design (QbD) methodologies.

Responsibilities

Process & Formulation Development

• Lead and provide oversight of external partners in drug product and manufacturing processes from late-stage development through commercialization.
• Oversee the design, execution, and interpretation of formulation and process development studies.
• Develop and characterize critical process parameters (CPPs) and critical quality attributes (CQAs).
• Apply Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistical tools to optimize processes.

Outsourced Manufacturing & Tech Transfer

• Provide technical oversight of outsourced manufacturing operations for a liposomal drug product including mixing, extrusion, filtration, sterile processing, and filling operations.
• Evaluate process scalability and troubleshoot manufacturing issues.
• Provide technical oversight of technology transfer to CMOs.
• Develop and review transfer documentation including batch records and process descriptions. Partner closely with technical interface with external partners.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with, Manufacturing, Program Management, External Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality Assurance to ensure alignment on program timelines, priorities and deliverables.

Requirements

• Ph.D., M.S., or B.S. in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or a related scientific or engineering field.
• Demonstrated experience with scaling manufacturing processes and technology transfer to CMOs.
• Strong expertise in Design of Experiments (DoE), statistical analysis, process characterization, CPP development, pharmaceutical formulation, and manufacturing scale-up. Deep understanding of GMP, QbD, and process validation.
• Excellent technical writing and report authoring skills.
• Proven problem‑solving ability, strategic thinking, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, concise status updates to cross‑functional stakeholders at all levels.

Experience

• Minimum 15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical process development and/or formulation development.
• Demonstrated competency with Design of Experiments (DoE) software and Quality by Design (QbD) principles applied to pharmaceutical development in line with ICH guidelines.
• Experience in Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) or liposomal formulation development is highly preferred.
• Proven track record of overseeing external partners in manufacturing process/formulation development for late-stage development of pharmaceutical drug products.

Liquidia offers a competitive compensation package as well as a comprehensive benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, 401(k) Savings Retirement Plan, ESPP, Unlimited Paid Time Off and more!

Liquidia is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Recruiting Agencies, Please Note:

Liquidia will not accept unsolicited assistance from recruiting/search agencies for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by recruiting or search agencies to any employee at Liquidia via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search/recruitment agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Liquidia. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Liquidia as a result of the referral or through other means.