Senior Chemist II

The role of Senior Chemist II requires skills in both practical and theoretical synthetic organic chemistry. The role is primarily laboratory based, conducting syntheses on existing products and devising and implementing syntheses for new products. A particular focus is driving improvement to our existing procedures with a view to maximising yields, increasing reproducibility, scaling and reducing manufacturing costs.

Key Responsibilities

• Completion of scheduled work on time (as per Chemistry Schedule), within budget and within specification.
• Right first time (rework reduction, RFT).
• On‑Time Delivery in Full (OTIF).
• Underlying chemical and physical principles understood prior to assigned work.
• All reactions monitored effectively to avoid work‑up of incomplete reactions.
• All batch failures and unexpected results reported immediately to the Chemistry Manager.
• Identify and communicate opportunities for improving chemical procedures.
• Complete custom synthesis/NPI projects efficiently and effectively.
• Contribute to writing and revising documented procedures.
• Maintain complete and accurate records of work.
• Take responsibility for specified area of the business.
• Plan and manage CI (continuous improvement) projects.
• Support development of new products.
• Accurately record, interpret and report all generated data.
• Stay up to date with relevant literature and technical developments.
• Review, optimise and define manufacturing instructions to drive continuous improvement.
• Comply with all relevant environmental, health and safety regulations.

Key Performance Indicators

• Right first time (RFT).
• Delivery to plan (DTP).
• Productivity (number of batches completed per chemist per week).

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in Chemistry.
• Minimum 10 years industrial experience or relevant postdoc.
• Project management experience.
• Experience working in a quality‑led laboratory environment.
• Batch manufacture from experience on product development projects.
• Experience on contract/custom synthesis projects.
• Experience in process improvement projects including scale‑up.
• Experience in new product development projects.
• Desirable knowledge of oligonucleotide synthesis.

Knowledge and Experience

• Synthetic organic chemistry.
• Setting up and working up reactions.
• Purification of materials (column chromatography, crystallisation, precipitation, distillation).
• Analysis by TLC, HPLC, LCMS, NMR.
• Process improvement projects.

Person Specification

• Enthusiastic team player with exceptional communication skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Flexibility to changing operating conditions.
• Methodical and reliable, highly organised.
• Approachable and helpful.
• Proactively resolves tough situations and pushes through solutions.
• Commercial awareness and ambition for personal and business growth.
• Ability to coach and develop less experienced chemists.

Equal Opportunities

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.