Lab Operations Director

We are seeking an experienced Business Unit Manager to lead a growing oligonucleotide synthesis and manufacturing operation within a global life sciences organization.

This is a highly technical leadership position with responsibility for the performance, development and growth of an established oligonucleotide business. The ideal candidate will combine deep hands-on expertise in oligonucleotide synthesis with experience leading manufacturing, process development or technical operations teams.

This is not a general laboratory management role.
Direct experience with oligonucleotide synthesis and the underlying chemistry/processes is a key requirement.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to take ownership of a technically sophisticated operation, develop a high-performing team, improve manufacturing processes and capacity, support customer programs, and progressively take on broader business and financial responsibility.

• Oligonucleotide Synthesis & Technical Leadership
• Provide technical leadership across oligonucleotide synthesis and manufacturing activities.
• Apply deep knowledge of solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis and phosphoramidite chemistry to manufacturing and process challenges.
• Oversee and optimize synthesis, purification and downstream processing activities.
• Support scale-up, process development, technology transfer and manufacturing implementation.
• Identify opportunities to improve yield, quality, throughput, cycle time and cost.
• Provide technical direction on equipment, automation and manufacturing technologies.

• Lead day-to-day operations across the oligonucleotide manufacturing environment.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs covering safety, quality, delivery, productivity, capacity and cost.
• Drive Lean, continuous improvement and process optimization initiatives.
• Ensure manufacturing activities operate in accordance with GMP/cGMP, FDA and applicable regulatory requirements
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• Support PPQ, validation, process characterization and change-control activities.
• Work closely with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Commercial and R&D teams.
• Lead, develop and retain a multidisciplinary technical and manufacturing organization.
• Develop scientists, engineers, chemists and manufacturing leaders.
• Build organizational capability as the business scales.
• Establish clear performance expectations and create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

• Take increasing ownership of the Business Unit's financial and operational performance.
• Partner with commercial teams to support existing customers and develop new business opportunities.
• Understand customer requirements and translate them into manufacturing and technical solutions.
• Contribute to pricing, capacity planning, capital investment and business-growth decisions.
• Identify opportunities for new products, services and manufacturing capabilities.

• Develop and execute plans to increase manufacturing capacity and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate new technologies, equipment and processes.
• Support capital expenditure and facility-development initiatives.
• Help define the long-term technical and commercial strategy of the business unit.

• Significant professional experience in oligonucleotide synthesis
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• Strong understanding of phosphoramidite-based solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis
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• Experience with oligonucleotide purification and downstream processing.
• Experience progressing oligonucleotide processes from development into manufacturing/scale-up.
• Experience working within GMP/cGMP-regulated pharmaceutical or life sciences environments
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• Demonstrable experience leading technical, scientific or manufacturing teams.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing process optimization and continuous improvement.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related discipline.

• Experience with DNA/RNA, ASO, siRNA or other therapeutic oligonucleotide products.
• Experience with automated oligonucleotide synthesizers.
• Experience with HPLC-based purification and analytical characterization.
• Experience with process validation, PPQ, technology transfer or process characterization.
• Experience managing manufacturing operations at increasing scale.
• Experience with FDA-regulated API or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Previous budget, P&L,…