Technical Advisor, Advanced Supply Chain Solutions ( Fixed Term)

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 126,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare options

Retirement savings

Paid time off

Job summary

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) seeks a Technical Advisor to apply chemical manufacturing and supply‑chain expertise to donor‑funded projects.

This non‑laboratory role will deliver evidence‑based assessments, identify risks, and recommend feasible mitigation options, including alternative routes and advanced manufacturing approaches. You will collaborate with chemists, data scientists, and project leaders to ensure timely, high‑quality deliverables within established budgets and quality

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with 2+ years in API or fine chemicals.
• Proven scientific and technical writing ability.
• Experience with literature searches and evidence synthesis.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop technical assessments, risk profiles, and reports for technical audiences.
• Work with chemists and data scientists to align with project goals and timelines.
• Plan and deliver technical workstreams within scope and budget.
• Prepare SOPs, protocols, and project documentation.
• Review records and documents.

Skills

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry

Industrial API experience

Technical writing

Data synthesis

Independent work

Education

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry

M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry with 5 years experience

Job description

Description

Who is USP?

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is an independent scientific organization that collaborates with the world’s leading health and science experts to develop rigorous quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. At USP, we believe that scientific excellence is driven by a commitment to fairness, integrity, and global collaboration. This belief is embedded in our core value of Passion for Quality and is demonstrated through the contributions of more than 1,300 professionals across twenty global locations, working to strengthen the supply of safe, high-quality medicines worldwide.

At USP, we value inclusive scientific collaboration and recognize that attracting diverse expertise strengthens our ability to develop trusted public health standards. We foster an organizational culture that supports equitable access to mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities. Our partnerships, standards, and research reflect our belief that ensuring broad participation in scientific leadership results in stronger, more impactful outcomes for global health.

USP is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer (EEOE) and is committed to ensuring fair, merit‑based selection processes that enable the best scientific minds—regardless of background—to contribute to advancing public health solutions worldwide. We provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and uphold policies that create an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

Brief Job Overview

USP seeks a scientific and technical expert with demonstrated experience in active pharmaceutical ingredients, fine chemicals manufacturing, and associated supply chains, combined with strong technical writing capabilities. This non‑laboratory, individual contributor role will apply expertise in pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chains to evaluate manufacturing processes, assess supply vulnerabilities, analyze technical and market information, and develop practical, evidence‑based recommendations for essential medicines. The role will analyze APIs, key starting materials, and excipients; identify manufacturing and supply vulnerabilities; and translate findings into technically sound recommendations, including alternative synthetic routes and advanced manufacturing approaches. The advisor may support multiple donor‑funded projects and will be responsible for high‑quality technical deliverables completed in accordance with project timelines and applicable quality management procedures.

THIS IS A 2 YEARS FIXED TERM POSTION

How will YOU create impact here at USP?

As part of our mission to advance scientific rigor and public health standards, you will play a vital role in increasing global access to high‑quality medicines through public standards and related programs. USP prioritizes scientific integrity, regulatory excellence, and evidence‑based decision‑making to ensure health systems worldwide can rely on strong, tested, and globally relevant quality standards.

Additionally, USP’s People and Culture division, in partnership with the Equity Office, invests in leadership and workforce development to equip all employees with the skills to create high‑performing, inclusive teams. This includes training in equitable management practices and tools to promote engaged, collaborative, and results‑driven work environments.

This role strengthens USP’s ability to identify and address pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply‑chain vulnerabilities affecting essential medicines and products. By translating complex chemical, manufacturing, market, and supply‑chain information into clear risk assessments and actionable recommendations, this role will support evidence‑based decision‑making, technically credible interventions, and high‑quality delivery across multiple projects.

The Technical Advisor has the following responsibilities:

Technical Assessment and Analysis

• Collect, validate, and analyze complex chemical, manufacturing, and supply‑chain data to identify risks, gaps, and technically relevant conclusions.
• Evaluate API and KSM manufacturing processes, sourcing structures, supply‑market dynamics, and cost drivers; conduct chemical‑process technoeconomic analyses; and identify opportunities to improve supply resilience and manufacturing feasibility
• Conduct structured literature and database reviews to assess manufacturing processes, synthetic routes, suppliers, technologies, and relevant technical evidence.
• Integrate data and scientific judgment to assess manufacturing and supply risks and recommend technically feasible mitigation options, including alternative synthetic routes, process improvements, or advanced manufacturing approaches.

Scientific Writing and Project Delivery

• Develop clear, evidence‑based technical assessments, risk profiles, scientific reports, briefing materials, and recommendations tailored to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Contribute pharmaceutical manufacturing and donor‑funded expertise by working closely with chemists and data scientists to align with project goals and meet required implementation timelines.
• Plan and deliver assigned technical workstreams and deliverables in accordance with project scope, quality requirements, timelines, and budget parameter.
• Collaborate with supply‑chain specialists, data scientists, project leaders, and other technical experts to integrate scientific findings into project‑level risk assessments, recommendations, and implementation approaches
• Prepare SOPs, protocols, reports, and related project documentation.
• Review records and documents.

Who is USP Looking For?

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated understanding of our mission, commitment to excellence through inclusive and equitable behaviors and practices, ability to quickly build credibility with stakeholders, along with the following competencies and experience:

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with minimum 2 years of industrial research experience in API or fine chemical industries; or M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry with minimum 5 years of industrial research experience in API or fine chemical industries.
• Demonstrated scientific and technical writing experience, including the ability to synthesize evidence and develop clear technical assessments, reports, and recommendations.
• Experience conducting independent literature searches, database reviews, and evidence synthesis related to pharmaceutical manufacturing, synthetic routes, suppliers, or technologies.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a matrixed team environment.

Additional Desired Preferences

• Donor‑funded project experience.
• Flow chemistry and PAT.
• Data science/cheminformatics.
• Broader pharmaceutical/fine‑chemicals market and supply‑chain knowledge.

Benefits

USP provides the benefits to protect yourself and your family today and tomorrow. From company‑paid time off and comprehensive healthcare options to retirement savings, you can have peace of mind that your personal and financial well‑being is protected.

Compensation:

Base Salary Range: USD $ 126,250 – $176,509.00 annually.

Target Annual Bonus: % Varies based on level of role.

Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate’s skill set, experience, qualifications, equity, and other job‑related reasons.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.

Job Category Technical Programs

Job Type Full-Time