Technical R&D – Analytical Project Lead KFR

CTC are specialised industry experts who can help companies source the best talent and provide reliable HR and consulting services, support varied candidates in finding promising career opportunities and offer the latest in skill development training programmes.

Our client is a pioneer in Drug Discovery and Development and one of the front runners in Personalised Healthcare. As the world’s largest R&D spender in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics domain, they work in a vast number of drug discovery & therapeutic areas and are highly recognized internationally.

We are currently looking for a Technical R&D - Analytical Project Lead for a 12-month contract (with possibility for extension) based in Basel, Switzerland.

1 day a week home office possible.

Pharma Technical Development (PTD) is a global team of over 2,000 experts focused on developing innovative medicines to address patients' needs.

Within PTD, Synthetic Molecules Technical Development (PTDC) specializes in drug substance, drug product, and analytical sciences. PTDC is instrumental in advancing the synthetic molecules pipeline, supporting research, early development, and clinical trials through technical innovation and collaboration.

This opportunity lies within analytical development for synthetic molecules, where cutting‑edge techniques like high‑performance liquid chromatography, gas/ion chromatography, and mass spectrometry are employed to develop efficient and robust analytical methods. The goal is to ensure the release of clinical trial products and their eventual commercial supply through a strong control strategy.

• Serve as the Analytical SME/analytical project lead (APL), driving the development of state‑of‑the‑art analytical control packages for synthetic molecules, including direct materials, IPCs, intermediates, and crude APIs.
• Actively contribute to portfolio delivery by ensuring efficient and effective process development analytics, including the adoption of modern techniques like modeling and simulation.
• Coaching technicians and junior scientists on project work and serving as a central point of contact for project‑related information.
• Supervise internal laboratory activities and / or testing activities at CLOs/CDMOs.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with key partners in research and early development, Regulatory, and Quality to ensure seamless project execution and alignment.
• Author, review, and approve critical documents and regulatory dossiers (e.g., QIMPD, NDA) while ensuring compliance with quality standards and data integrity.
• Act as a Chemistry Project Lead (CPL), leading external testing activities at CDMOs or CLOs, and contributing to the hiring and coaching of new colleagues.

• Relevant working/residency permit or Swiss/EU‑Citizenship required.
• A Master’s or Ph.D. in chemistry, pharmacy, or a related field.
• Min. 5 years of professional experience within the analytical development of synthetic molecules drug substances.
• A robust foundation in liquid chromatography (HPLC and UHPLC) with proficiency in various detection methods, including UV, Mass Spectrometry (MS), fluorescence, and charged aerosol detection.
• Solid understanding of analytical chemistry, particularly chromatographic techniques (HPLC, GC), titrations, and various physicochemical methods.
• Excellent collaboration, technical supervision, and project management skills, with a structured and rigorous approach.
• Digital acumen to support digital transformation initiatives; familiarity with statistical analysis of analytical data is also advantageous.
• Excellent command of the English language.
• Proficiency in German is considered a plus.