Lead Chemical Process R&D Scientist / Lead Chemical Process R&D Scientistess

Join Our Team as a Process Chemist

If you're eager to uncover insights that could revolutionize the future of medicine and drive breakthroughs in patient care, Proclinical has an exciting opportunity for you. We are supporting a global pharmaceutical organization in the search for an experienced Process Chemist to lead chemical process development activities for small molecule drug substances in clinical development. This role centers around late-stage process development, scale-up, technical transfer, manufacturing support, and CDMO management.

As a Process Chemist, you will spearhead cross-functional teams and collaborate with external partners to deliver safe, scalable, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead internal and external process chemistry activities across clinical development programs.
• Manage and mentor small teams of process chemists and associates in a matrix environment.
• Oversee route scouting, process optimization, scale-up, and technology transfer activities.
• Coordinate activities with CDMOs to ensure timely delivery of APIs and key intermediates.
• Drive manufacturing readiness and material supply for clinical studies.
• Ensure all activities meet quality, safety, compliance, and sustainability standards.
• Collaborate closely with technical, analytical, regulatory, and manufacturing stakeholders.

Key Skills and Requirements

• Essential:
• PhD (or equivalent research experience) in Synthetic Organic Chemistry.
• 5+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience in chemical process development.
• Proven expertise in late-stage process optimization, scale-up, and manufacturing support.
• Experience leading process chemistry projects and technical teams.
• Strong track record managing external development and manufacturing partners (CDMOs).
• Experience with technology transfer activities and outsourced manufacturing.
• Proficiency with chemistry software, scientific literature searching, and process development tools.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Desirable:
• Experience working within GMP-regulated environments.
• Familiarity with kinetic modeling or scale-up simulation software.
• German language skills.

Additional Information

This is a Basel-based position with limited international travel, involving occasional visits to manufacturing partners in Europe or Asia. You will have the opportunity to work on late-stage clinical assets with significant technical visibility in a collaborative environment that combines internal development and external manufacturing networks.

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Proclinical is a leading life sciences recruiter dedicated to finding exceptional individuals and matching them with the finest positions around the globe. Proclinical is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.