Charles River is seeking an ambitious, innovative and highly motivated drug hunter to join our Chemistry management team within Early Discovery as a Director of Chemistry, based at our facility in Harlow, UK. The required candidate will be a dynamic leader who is passionate to succeed and able to provide scientific and strategic leadership at a department level, to enable the delivery of high quality medicinal and synthetic chemistry, from target validation through to clinical candidate nomination and beyond, in partnership with clients. The Director will be heavily involved in shaping and implementing future strategy in Chemistry and will have the opportunity to influence more broadly, working with peers in other disciplines and cross site. They will be instrumental in building and managing high-performing, collaborative, inter-disciplinary teams through effective line management and scientific project oversight. The ideal candidate will be an experienced medicinal chemist with well-developed people skills, and a proven track record of working across disciplines to advance compounds towards the clinic. As a positive role model, a key attribute will be a demonstrated ability to push the boundaries and inspire others.
Main Responsibilities
• To provide line leadership of multiple Chemistry teams, working with Group Leaders to drive high performance through effective objective setting, coaching, motivating, engaging and empowering staff at all levels. A passion for personal development of self and others will be required.
• To act as an integral member of the cross site Senior Chemistry Management Team, contributing to:
• Actively monitoring the project portfolio, ensuring high scientific quality and effective delivery on project objectives
• Driving the scientific direction and strategic vision for the Chemistry department
• Proactively identifying new areas for growing capabilities and/or to make process efficiency gains and implementing solutions
• Promoting high scientific visibility of capabilities internally and externally
• Resource and budget management
• Influencing and driving recruitment strategy
• Ensuring high standards of health and safety
• To provide scientific oversight in multiple integrated projects. Guiding and mentoring project leaders in aspects of scientific strategy and decision making, management of resources and finances, client interactions and collaboration across disciplines and sites within the wider Charles River organisation to achieve project goals.
• To independently manage all business aspects of client relationships, including acting as Charles River representative on Joint Steering Committees.
• To identify and implement new technologies and creative approaches to increase effectiveness, engaging support and working with others across Early Discovery.
• To take a leading role in coordinating business development activities, providing scientific support to Business Development colleagues, reviewing and overseeing preparation of scientific proposals, proactively seeking to grow existing business and presenting capabilities to potential new clients.
• To communicate clearly and effectively at a strategic level, interfacing positively with clients and other senior managers across Early Discovery and presenting new initiatives internally to gain buy in.
• To lead interactions with strategic partners and integrate these relationships within Charles River’s offering to clients.
• A PhD in Chemistry and broad expertise in drug discovery covering different therapeutic areas and project phases, multiple target classes and gene families, ideally with >15 years industry experience.
• An experienced line manager who has successfully motivated, developed and mentored scientists and managers with a range of experience, with examples of impact on personal development goals. Experience of recruitment, talent management and succession planning would also be ideal.
• Evidence of impact on process and strategy at a departmental level, delivering change by influencing others as part of a senior management team
• A dynamic and flexible approach towards achieving objectives, with exceptional problem solving skills, sound scientific judgement and high quality decision making which has impacted on the direction and delivery of projects or departmental initiatives.
• Strong track record of scientific leadership and strategic impact in projects, as evidenced by delivery of multiple pre-clinical candidates, project milestones, publications and/or co-inventorship on multiple patent applications.
• An interest in new technologies and disruptive approaches, with evidence of instilling an ethos of continuous improvement and innovation in others, to define future direction.
• The ability to write comprehensive, high quality project proposals involving multiple disciplines to challenging deadlines.
• Experience of planning and managing resources and finances within an acceptable budget which may include compiling business cases to support capital expenditure
• Experience of managing health and safety objectives and ensuring compliance to industry standards
• The ability to act proactively and make decisions for yourself and multiple teams which positively impact departmental and project goals.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills with the ability to inspire others.
• Evidence of external networking, for example through conference presentations, active participation with professional bodies, conference organising committees etc.
