Lead Chemist

Job Purpose

The role of Lead Chemist requires skills in both practical and theoretical synthetic organic chemistry. The role is primarily laboratory based, conducting syntheses on existing products, troubleshooting, improving existing procedures and devising and to a lesser extent implementing syntheses of new products. In collaboration with the Chemistry Manager, the Lead chemist will drive improvements to existing procedures with a view to maximizing yields, increasing reproducibility, scaling and reducing manufacturing costs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Chemistry projects from a technical perspective where applicable design new synthetic routes, improve existing routes, conduct syntheses, troubleshoot and optimise problem steps.
• Liaise with Customer Service and Project Coordinator to provide lead times and updates of customer related projects.
• Take the lead on troubleshooting chemistry related technical issues.
• Support the Technical Support Team to provide solutions to customers
• Provide written reports to include updates in terms of timeline, chemistry, budget etc. for distribution to Senior Management and / or customers.
• Support the Project Coordinator with management of projects technical evaluations, kick off, close out meetings etc.
• Provide technical support to the Chemistry Team to ensure successful completion of all projects e.g. scale up, custom synthesis, PD, contract manufacture, NPD and others as required.
• Provide technical support to the Chemistry Team where issues arise during the manufacture of catalogue and contract products.
• Contribute to the manufacture of catalogue reagents, often within tight deadlines
• Accurate and timely recording, interpretation and reporting of all generated data.
• Comply with all relevant environmental, health and safety regulations and the Quality Management System.
• Support Management with EH&S risk assessments from a technical perspective.
• Support Management in ensuring all work areas are kept clean, tidy and compliant with EH&S at all times.
• Support Chemistry Management team in developing the team
• Support Chemistry Management in ensuring the Chemistry schedule is on track
• Keep up to date with relevant current literature and technical developments related to Nucleic Acid Chemistry, reagents, oligonucleotides and their applications.
• Contribute to overall departmental planning

The job holder will be able to demonstrate the following behaviours in line with LGC’s values:

Passion:Going above and beyond whilst caring about the results

Curiosity:Thinking how to make things better and challenging the way we do things while showing integrity and respect.

Integrity:Being open and honest with colleagues, customers and suppliers

Brilliance:Having high standards in everything we do. Being innovative and exceeding expectations

Respect:Always communicating and understanding your colleagues whilst being selfless by taking the time for others.

• MSc or equivalent in a Chemistry related qualification and a minimum of 10 years relevant industrial experience or 15 years relevant industrial experience with no formal education.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in:

• Synthetic organic chemistry, ideally with nucleotide and phosphoramidite chemistry experience
• Purification techniques such as column chromatography, crystallisation, precipitation, distillation
• Analysis by TLC, HPLC, LCMS, NMR with respect to small molecules and preferably oligonucloetides

• Project management experience, preferably with PRINCE 2 qualification
• Experience working in a quality led laboratory environment e.g. ISO9001:2015
• Batch manufacture from 10 g to 1 kg
• Experience working on and managing the following project types

• Process Development (PD) including scale up and optimisation
• Custom Synthesis and / or New Product Development and subsequent transfer to manufacturing

• Experience of customer interactions with respect to technical updates / presentations and / or project updates
• Desirable knowledge of oligonucleotide synthesis and their applications
• Experience in supervising and developing less experienced chemists