Group Leader, Oligonucleotides Chemistry

Position Overview

The Group Leader, Oligonucleotides Chemistry will oversee NATi's oligonucleotide chemistry capabilities spanning pre-clinical synthesis, separation, and analytical characterization workflows. Beyond establishing robust SPOS-based workflows, this role is instrumental in expanding the oligonucleotides platform into next-generation chemistries, novel constructs, and differentiated oligonucleotide formats. This group leader operates in a dual capacity - a strategic scientific leader and a hands-on expert at the bench guiding a growing team, internal stakeholders, and external partners.

The successful candidate will drive end-to-end oligonucleotide generation to support multiple discovery programs, collaborate closely with delivery, analytical, biology and preclinical teams, and contribute to pipeline advancement toward drug candidate selection.

• Establish, optimise, and scale high-throughput SPOS workflows for small- and mid-scale synthesis of ASOs, siRNA, SSO, RNA editors, and emerging constructs including non-canonical chemistries and next-generation amidites.
• Expand oligonucleotide platform capabilities beyond established modalities by evaluating, integrating, and validating new chemistries, scaffolds, conjugation strategies, and delivery-enabled formats.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for synthesis, processing, purification, and analytical characterisation to ensure high-quality and reproducible results.
• Lead through hands-on experimentation while providing scientific direction, prioritisation, and troubleshooting for team members and project stakeholders.
• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of research associates and scientists; coach junior scientists across levels on experimental design, execution, data interpretation, and scientific thinking.
• Serve as Lead Oligonucleotide Chemist on multidisciplinary project teams with responsibility for oligo design, synthesis strategy, manufacturability assessment, and optimisation toward drug candidate nomination.
• Possess and/or develop robust understanding in cardiovascular, metabolic, muscle and/or ophthalmological disorders.
• Collaborate closely with bioconjugation chemists to develop a seamless workflow for generation of conjugated oligonucleotides (e.g., peptides, antibodies, lipids, sugars) for in vitro/in vivo studies.
• Strategically leverage CRO partners for routine, non-IP-sensitive activities, while maintaining core IP-generating chemistry and novel construct design in-house.
• Play a key role in expanding NATi's intellectual property (IP) portfolio through generation of new chemical compositions and drug candidates; support IP filing by preparing technical documentation, coordinating patent submission, and collaborating with legal teams to safeguard proprietary technologies.
• Prepare appropriate summary reports and presentations to update NATi leadership and stakeholders.

• Establish, optimise, and scale high-throughput SPOS workflows for small- and mid-scale synthesis of ASOs, siRNA, SSO, RNA editors, and emerging constructs including non-canonical chemistries and next-generation amidites.
• Expand oligonucleotide platform capabilities beyond established modalities by evaluating, integrating, and validating new chemistries, scaffolds, conjugation strategies, and delivery-enabled formats.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for synthesis, processing, purification, and analytical characterisation to ensure high-quality and reproducible results.
• Lead through hands-on experimentation while providing scientific direction, prioritisation, and troubleshooting for team members and project stakeholders.
• Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of research associates and scientists; coach junior scientists across levels on experimental design, execution, data interpretation, and scientific thinking.
• Serve as Lead Oligonucleotide Chemist on multidisciplinary project teams with responsibility for oligo design, synthesis strategy, manufacturability assessment, and optimisation toward drug candidate nomination.
• Possess and/or develop robust understanding in cardiovascular, metabolic, muscle and/or ophthalmological disorders.
• Collaborate closely with bioconjugation chemists to develop a seamless workflow for generation of conjugated oligonucleotides (e.g., peptides, antibodies, lipids, sugars) for in vitro/in vivo studies.
• Strategically leverage CRO partners for routine,…