Senior Scientist, Process Chemistry

Pharmaron is a global CRO helping pharma and biotech companies bring new therapies to life. With over 25,000 employees worldwide across 28 locations in the US, UK and China, we support drug discovery through to manufacturing with fully integrated, high-quality services.

We’re proud of the impact we make and just last year, we supported over 780 discovery projects
, 1,000+ CMC programmes
, and 1,000+ clinical trials across all phases. Our teams are involved in everything from small molecules to biologics and gene therapies, and we work with more than 3,000 global customers
. To learn more, visit

Pharmaron is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist, Process Chemistry to join our expanding Process Chemistry team in Hoddesdon.

Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship or support with work permit applications for this position. Applicants must therefore already have the unrestricted right to work in the UK and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.

Our Process Chemistry group delivers complex pharmaceuticals for clinical trials and marketed products working with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners across the globe. Working at the forefront of API development, our team designs routes and discovers new reactions, then turns them into robust and commercially viable manufacturing processes. We do this using the latest technology for robotics-enhanced reaction screening, machine learning models and other statistical tools, and in close collaboration with other scientific teams in the Pharmaron network across the UK, US, and China.

In this role, you will lead scientific activities within a variety of projects, applying your expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and process development to solve challenging technical problems. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, contribute to client interactions, and play an important role in the successful delivery of pharmaceuticals from laboratory development through to pilot plant manufacture.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast-growing global organisation and contribute to the development of innovative therapies that improve patients' lives.

You will:

• Design and execute complex synthetic chemistry programmes to support API development.
• Lead process development and optimisation activities from laboratory scale through to GMP manufacture.
• Apply scientific expertise to solve challenging chemistry and scale-up problems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver project objectives and client expectations.
• Contribute to technical strategy and decision-making across project teams.
• Support client interactions by presenting scientific updates and recommendations.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement within process chemistry operations.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to team development.

• Design and deliver experimental programmes focused on route development and process optimisation.
• Interpret complex reaction data and develop scientifically sound solutions.
• Lead laboratory investigations and troubleshooting activities.
• Support scale-up and technology transfer activities into pilot plant and GMP manufacturing environments.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports and project documentation.
• Communicate scientific progress to internal stakeholders and external clients.
• Ensure compliance with GMP requirements and company quality standards.
• Identify and implement opportunities for operational and scientific improvements.
• Contribute to the development of new technologies and capabilities within Process Chemistry.

• PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry or relevant discipline; may have post-doctoral or industry experience.
• Proven knowledge and experience of retrosynthesis, reaction optimization, catalysis, and multi-step organic synthesis.
• Ability to analyse reactions and elucidate structures using a variety of techniques.
• Strong track record of achievement demonstrated through publication in leading journals, presentations at scientific conferences, or inventorship on patents.
• Exposure to the principles, tools, and practice of process chemistry is advantageous but not necessary.

• Deep understanding of synthetic organic chemistry and reaction mechanisms.
• Excellent scientific communication and technical writing skills.
• Ability to manage priorities in a complex and multi-faceted project and work as part of a team.
• Strong…