Director, Peptide Therapeutics, Process Chemistry
Location: Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, UK
About Pharmaron
Pharmaron is a global contract research and manufacturing organization (CRO/CDMO) helping pharma and biotech companies bring new therapies to life. With over 25,000 employees worldwide across 28 locations in the UK, US, China, and Singapore, we support drug discovery through to manufacturing with fully integrated high-quality services.
We're proud of the impact we make and just last year, we supported 887 discovery projects, 1,100+ CMC programs, and 1,397 clinical trials across all phases. Our teams are involved in everything from small molecules, ADC's, biologics, and gene therapies and we work with more than 3,300 global customers. To learn more, visit www.pharmaron.com
Build and Lead the Future of Peptide Therapeutics at Pharmaron
Pharmaron is seeking an accomplished and entrepreneurial scientific leader to establish, grow and provide strategic direction for our Peptide Therapeutics business forming part of our existing Process Chemistry business at the Pharmaron Hoddesdon site in the UK.
This is a rare opportunity to build and shape a strategically important capability within a global CRO/CDMO. You will combine deep scientific expertise with commercial insight, operational leadership and a strong understanding of client needs to position Pharmaron as a leading partner for peptide development and manufacturing.
As Director, Peptide Therapeutics, you will define the scientific and commercial strategy for the business, develop differentiated development and manufacturing capabilities, build high-performing teams and create solutions that help our clients advance complex peptide programmes.
If you are passionate about peptide science and excited by the opportunity to build a business, influence global strategy and make a lasting organisational impact, this could be the defining next step in your career.
The Opportunity
You will have responsibility for the strategic direction and growth of Pharmaron’s Peptide Therapeutics offering in Hoddesdon (UK), working across scientific, operational and commercial functions.
Acting as both a senior scientific authority and a business leader, you will identify new market opportunities with Business Development, guide investment in technologies and infrastructure, strengthen client relationships and ensure the successful delivery of peptide development and manufacturing programmes.
You will also lead and develop multiple teams, creating an environment where scientific innovation, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement are actively encouraged.
Your Key Responsibilities
In this influential leadership position, you will:
- Establish and lead the strategic direction of Pharmaron’s Peptide Therapeutics business at the Hoddesdon site.
- Build differentiated scientific, development and manufacturing capabilities aligned with corporate objectives.
- Identify market opportunities and translate these into commercially attractive client solutions in conjunction with Business Development.
- Drive business growth through technical leadership, client engagement and the development of new capabilities.
- Act as the senior scientific leader for peptide-related client interactions, from initial business development activity through to programme execution and delivery.
- Partner with Business Development colleagues to identify, pursue and secure new opportunities.
- Contribute to client meetings, proposals, technical sales activities and bid-defence presentations.
- Develop trusted, professional relationships with clients and ensure that programme progress, technical findings and potential challenges are communicated clearly and effectively.
- Lead, manage and develop multiple scientific teams, creating a culture of innovation, teamwork, engagement and flexibility.
- Take responsibility for team performance, capability development, succession planning and the professional growth of individual team members.
- Work with site and global leadership teams to evaluate strategic investments, technologies and infrastructure needed to support the continued growth of the peptide business.
- Represent Pharmaron as a subject-matter expert at industry conferences, scientific forums and external networking events.
- Support client visits, quality audits and the interpretation of study findings.
- Mentor scientists in Process Chemistry, peptide development and manufacturing best practice, including the application of green chemistry principles.
- Contribute to the overall leadership and effective management of the Process and Analytical Chemistry department.
- Ensure work is performed in accordance with relevant SOPs, corporate policies and regulatory guidance, including applicable GxP and ICH requirements.
About You
You will be an established leader within peptide therapeutics, pharmaceutical development or manufacturing, with the scientific credibility and commercial mindset needed to build a growing business.
You will understand how to turn scientific capability into a compelling client offering and will be comfortable operating across technical, commercial and organisational boundaries.
Essential Experience
You will bring:
- A PhD and/or relevant postdoctoral experience in Organic Chemistry.
- At least ten years’ experience within the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology or CDMO sector.
- Significant experience in peptide research, development and manufacturing.
- Proven experience establishing, building or significantly expanding peptide development or manufacturing capabilities.
- A strong track record of supporting business growth through scientific leadership and client engagement.
- Experience of API manufacture and GMP operations.
- Demonstrable achievement across Process Chemistry, project management and API manufacturing.
- Experience leading multiple teams and developing scientific talent.
- A track record of solving complex synthetic chemistry challenges.
- Experience participating in client and regulatory quality audits.
- Evidence of successfully leading and contributing to multidisciplinary scientific teams.
Knowledge and Capabilities
You will also demonstrate:
- A strong understanding of the peptide therapeutics landscape, including market trends, process technologies, emerging modalities and competitor capabilities.
- The ability to translate scientific and technical capabilities into differentiated, commercially attractive services.
- Excellent knowledge of Process Chemistry fundamentals.
- Strong commercial judgement and an understanding of how delivery excellence creates sustainable competitive advantage.
- Excellent scientific judgement and complex problem-solving capability.
- Strong cross-functional programme and stakeholder-management skills.
- The ability to communicate complex scientific information clearly to clients, colleagues and senior stakeholders.
- Excellent planning, organisational and prioritisation skills.
- A commitment to continuous improvement, quality, safety and regulatory compliance.
- Strong coaching, feedback and performance-management skills.
The ability to influence effectively while welcoming alternative perspectives.
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Your Leadership Style
We are looking for an entrepreneurial and highly collaborative leader who can combine scientific ambition with commercial discipline.
You will be:
- Passionate about building and growing new scientific capabilities.
- Motivated by delivering meaningful outcomes for clients and patients.
- Strategic, perceptive and solution focused.
- Comfortable challenging assumptions and asking the right questions.
- Results oriented, while maintaining exceptional standards of quality and scientific integrity.
- An approachable and credible people leader who leads by example.
- Committed to creating an inclusive, high-performing and collaborative team environment.
- Adaptable and able to respond effectively to changing priorities.
- Conscientious, organised and attentive to detail.
- Committed to the protection of confidential information and intellectual property.
Why Join Pharmaron?
This is not simply an opportunity to inherit an established function. It is an opportunity to build, shape and lead a business with significant strategic potential.
You will have the chance to:
- Define the future direction of Pharmaron’s Peptide Therapeutics business.
- Build new scientific and manufacturing capabilities.
- Influence strategic investment in technologies and infrastructure.
- Develop and inspire multidisciplinary scientific teams.
- Build long-term partnerships with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
- Combine scientific innovation with commercial and organisational leadership.
- Establish a lasting legacy within a growing global CRO/CDMO.
- Contribute to the development and manufacture of therapies with the potential to improve patients’ lives.
Apply Now
If you are an accomplished peptide therapeutics leader with the scientific credibility, entrepreneurial mindset and commercial insight to build a differentiated development and manufacturing business, we would welcome the opportunity to hear from you.
Join Pharmaron and help shape the next generation of peptide therapeutics.
Pharmaron is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and providing equal opportunities throughout the recruitment and employment process.
Package Highlights Include:
- Annual performance-related bonus.
- Pension scheme with employer contribution.
- Option for private medical insurance scheme.
- Life assurance and income protection benefits.
- Generous annual leave entitlement (with options to purchase additional days and transfer remaining days to following year*), plus public holidays.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Professional membership support and continuous learning opportunities.
- Access to Pharmaron's global scientific network and career development pathways.
Collaborative Culture: Thrive in our inclusive and collaborative environment, where teamwork and innovation go hand in hand. Here, your voice matters, and your contributions make a real impact. "Employees Number One" and "Clients Centered" are the core cultural values at Pharmaron. Our culture, which sets Pharmaron apart from other organizations, has evolved from our deep commitment to our employees, partners and collaborators.
Pharmaron is a premier service provider for the life sciences industry. Founded in 2004, Pharmaron has invested in its people and facilities and established a broad spectrum of research, development, and manufacturing service capabilities throughout the entire drug discovery, preclinical, and clinical development process across multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics, and CGT products. With over 25,000 employees and operations in the U.S., the U.K. and China. Pharmaron has an excellent track record in delivering R&D solutions to its partners in North America, Europe, Japan, and China.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, Pharmaron values diversity and inclusion in the workplace, fostering an environment where all individuals are empowered to succeed. Join us in our mission to make a difference in the world of life sciences.
