Associate Principal Scientist

Are you ready to lead the introduction of new drug substance manufacturing technologies that move breakthrough molecules into early clinical studies? Do you see yourself setting the standards that enable safe, compliant scale-up while accelerating material to patients who need it most? This role sits at the heart of our Large-Scale Lab in Macclesfield, where innovative science meets disciplined manufacturing to deliver clinical trial supply with precision and pace.

You will join our Early Chemical Development team, working across a diverse portfolio of small molecules and emerging modalities. As a scientific leader in our Specials and Production section, you will establish and continuously improve the business processes that enable New Product Introduction and GMP operations at scale. Your impact will be tangible: every robust process you design, every training you deliver, and every technology you implement will help transform promising science into real-world medicines.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with analytical, process chemistry, engineering, and quality experts, as well as external partners and regulators. You will be empowered to think differently, bring forward new ways of working, and champion the adoption of novel technologies that increase speed, compliance, and reliability across our manufacturing capability.

Accountabilities:

• Manufacturing Technology Enablement: Establish and refine new manufacturing technologies within the Large-Scale Lab to deliver high-quality drug substance for early clinical studies, ensuring rapid and reliable supply.
• Process Ownership and Compliance: Maintain end-to-end oversight of core business processes (New Product Introduction, Materials Management, Production Standards, Cleaning, Process Risk Assessments) so that operations remain safe, efficient, and compliant.
• Documentation and Controls: Own the documentation and procedures that define and control manufacturing (batch records, product labels, waste labels), ensuring clarity, traceability, and audit readiness
• SHE and GMP Leadership: Ensure all Safety, Health & Environment and GMP assessments are completed with actions implemented before execution; uphold and improve standards through visible leadership in the manufacturing asset.
• Training and Coaching: Promote, train, coach, and mentor colleagues on business processes and best practices, building capability and consistency across teams.
• Regulatory Engagement: Contribute as a Subject Matter Expert during internal and external regulatory inspections, demonstrating control, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Technology Scouting and Adoption: Seek out, evaluate, and implement new technologies and novel product platforms; track and interpret evolving regulations and industry trends to future-proof our capabilities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with process chemistry, engineering, analytical sciences, and quality to integrate development learnings into scalable, GMP-ready processes; align delivery to project timelines and scientific rigor
• Continuous Improvement: Use risk-based thinking and operational insights to optimize throughput, reduce variability, and enhance right-first-time performance across clinical manufacturing.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Minimum BSc/BEng level education in a relevant discipline (for example Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering,) and a significant number of years’ experience working within a CMC development and/or manufacturing organisation.
• Significant experience within a pharmaceutical drug substance or fine chemical manufacturing organisation.
• The role holder should have a thorough working knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that industry standards are applied, as well as possess an understanding of other relevant developments in Industry
• A strong understanding and practical experience of the principles and management of SHE and cGMP.
• Experience of technical supervision, coaching and mentoring or leading teams of people on scientific projects
• Strong stakeholder management, collaboration and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent communication and strategic influencing skills across interfaces of discipline, culture and diverse individuals within our exciting department.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Demonstrated strong scientific leadership
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex situations and provide clear strategic direction
• Experience GMP Drug Substance Manufacturing for Early Clinical Study supply.
• Ability to think and operate across functional boundaries, challenge the status quo and seek opportunities for business improvement
• Proven problem solver with in-depth technical skills

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Join a company where curiosity meets action and science meets delivery. Here, you will collaborate with talented people across disciplines and with external partners, leveraging modern digital, data and automation tools to solve complex manufacturing challenges that directly impact patients. We bring unexpected teams together to spark ideas, value kindness alongside ambition, and back bold thinking with the resources to make it real. Your leadership in our Macclesfield campus will help turn rigorous chemistry and engineering into reliable clinical supply—advancing medicines that can change lives worldwide.