Associate Director​/Director, Technical Operations - Drug Substance; Molecules

Axsome Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company leading a new era in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) conditions. We deliver scientific breakthroughs by identifying critical gaps in care and develop differentiated products with a focus on novel mechanisms of action that enable meaningful advancements in patient outcomes. Our industry‑leading neuroscience portfolio includes FDA‑approved treatments for major depressive disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine, and multiple late‑stage development programs addressing a broad range of serious neurological and psychiatric conditions that impact over 150 million people in the United States.

Together, we are on a mission to solve some of the brain’s biggest problems so patients and their loved ones can flourish. For more information, please visit  and follow us on Linked In and X.

Axsome Therapeutics is seeking an Associate Director/Director, Technical Operations – Drug Substance (Small Molecules) to provide technical leadership across the development and commercial lifecycle of small‑molecule drug substance programs. This role is responsible for supporting and overseeing drug substance manufacturing activities, including technology transfer, process validation, continued process verification (CPV), and post‑approval process changes at internal and external manufacturing sites. The successful candidate will serve as a key technical leader within CMC, partnering closely with external CDMOs and internal cross‑functional teams (QA, QC, Regulatory, R&D, and Supply Chain) to ensure robust, compliant, and efficient manufacturing operations.

This position reports into senior CMC leadership and plays a critical role in ensuring technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across Axsome’s drug substance portfolio. The role is based at Axsome’s HQ in New York City with a three‑day per week onsite requirement. Fully remote candidates cannot be considered.

• Lead and support day‑to‑day technical operations for commercial drug substance manufacturing in compliance with cGMP, FDA, EMA, and ICH guidelines
• Prepare, review, and approve technology transfer documentation, validation protocols, and final reports for new and existing products
• Provide technical leadership for process performance qualification (PPQ), scale‑up activities, and manufacturing readiness at internal and external sites
• Develop, review, and maintain Continued Process Verification (CPV) programs, including statistical trending, control charting, and process capability analysis
• Apply advanced statistical tools to assess process capability, identify trends, and drive data‑driven continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead and support investigations related to OOS/OOT results, deviations, and non‑conformances, including root cause analysis and CAPA implementation
• Perform risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for process changes, equipment modifications, and supplier or raw material changes
• Support drug substance process development, optimization, troubleshooting, and technical transfer for mid‑to‑late‑stage development programs
• Author and review Module 3 sections of regulatory submissions, including post‑approval changes related to scale, equipment, materials, and manufacturing processes
• Provide technical oversight and management of external CDMOs, ensuring alignment with quality, regulatory, and project timeline expectations
• Collaborate with QA, QC, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, and Supply Chain to resolve technical issues and ensure operational excellence
• Initiate and approve change controls, SOPs, and supporting GMP documentation as required
• Maintain current technical knowledge by evaluating and implementing new technologies, industry best practices, and regulatory expectations
• Design and lead technical investigations, interpret complex data sets, and provide clear recommendations for troubleshooting and next steps

• BS, MS, or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related technical discipline
• MS or PhD with 6–8+ years of…