Head of Chemistry
Posted 5 hours 40 minutes ago by Sage Global Services Limited
APC was created out of a passion for science and research. In 2011, Dr. Mark Barrett and Prof. Brian Glennon of the UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering in Dublin, Ireland, embarked on a mission to disrupt the pharma and biotech industries with a hyper-focused, accelerated approach to drug process development. Foregoing outside investment, APC has grown organically to become a global powerhouse in process development, partnering with companies large and small to bring medicines to market at unprecedented speed.
Our science and technology driven solutions have pioneered innovation in the sector, and we now partner with 8 of the top-10 pharma and 5 of the top-10 biotech firms in the world. From our world class facility, our highly capable and qualified team delivers specialised chemical and process engineering solutions. Powered by novel technology and world class scientific research, we help companies accelerate the development & launch of their medicines.
We are seeking a scientific leader to join our organization as Head of Chemistry, a pivotal role to lead a team of 30+ scientists driving innovation from early phase development through MSAT services. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, process development, and pharmaceutical CMC with a proven ability-familiarisation with crystallisation also desirable. The candidate will have a proven ability to build and inspire high performing teams. This role is designed for a scientist who not only understands molecular construction at a fundamental level, but who can translate that understanding into scalable, regulatory aligned, commercial ready processes. Core activities will include people management/development/recruitment and training.
You will lead a technical discipline responsible for delivering high quality laboratory research that directly supports the development and commercialisation of medicines. Your experience will span the critical space between discovery and commercial manufacturing. You will understand what it takes to support teams to deliver strong development data packages built using deep pharmaceutical CMC expertise to ensure scientific integrity, regulatory confidence, and operational excellence.
Your technical breadth may include modalities, such as small molecules, ADCs, peptides, and oligonucleotides. Across these modalities, you bring proven capability in areas such as synthetic route design, impurity control strategies, crystallisation science, solid form development, process robustness, and scalable manufacturing support.
As a strategic leader, you will strengthen existing services, define new services and champion operational excellence. If you are passionate about scientific rigor, continuous improvement, and people development, we invite you to lead our chemistry vision into its next phase of growth.
Purpose of the role- Lead and develop a high performing technical team, driving both operational excellence and people growth in a collaborative, science focused environment.
- Shape the future of service delivery and asset management for cutting edge medicine projects, with influence over strategy, innovation, and discipline growth.
- Enjoy dynamic responsibilities from internal project leadership and on site client interactions to safety, culture and continuous improvement, working cross functionally with expert colleagues.
- The Head of Discipline is also responsible for their portfolio of services (improve existing services and identify new services) to support the growth of the medicine accelerator client base.
- This role requires someone who is passionate about talent, technical impact, and leadership-offering structured development, recognition, and the opportunity to shape the next generation of people and science within TMA.
- Develop strategic vision, identifying future skills and asset requirements for the discipline in collaboration with Business Unit Director. Develop plans to implement the vision
- Support resolutions with client delivery when required.
- Act as footprint owner for assigned areas, assign equipment and area owners and ensure tasks are complete
- Support commercial visit, by taking a lead role in client visit tours and technical preparations.
- Support new business sales process, as main point of contract for commercial organization for discovery sessions, proposal technical content, deliverables and resource plans.
- Support the creation of Sales & Marketing collateral
- Oversee operational excellence for the Discipline
- Influence business processes to be practical for the team
- Govern discipline as per operational KPIs (Safety, Quality, People, Cost, etc.)
- Lead people in line with the values of APC and develop people within the function discipline so they can deliver excellent science to all projects
- On board new personnel and integrate them speedily to be effective in APC/VLE via buddy system, training plan etc.
- Develop and maintain a skills matrix for the discipline and deploy training and recruitment solutions as required to address gaps.
- For each team member, set objectives, manage performance and give feedback, have monthly 1:1s, create a development plan over time that includes CPD. Complete the PM review, calibration, salary letter and promotions processes for all team members
- Hold monthly staff meetings to promote 2 way communication including APC/VLE and function discipline direction, priorities etc.
- Ensure implementation of HR policies and guidelines as regards the team including recognition
- Provide leadership and guidance to discipline team members, ensuring performance management, career development, and succession planning.
- Foster a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Maintain accurate and reliable people records
- Support discipline delivery to Projects/APC business through proactive people resourcing to projects and (in partnership with Client Delivery Team)
- Ongoing monitoring of discipline performance within projects through feedback loops with Medicine Leads. Prompt escalation / resolution / prioritisation of issues
- Coordinate recruitment and onboarding for discipline specific roles.
- Create and manage shift schedules (as required) to ensure adequate coverage for projects and operational needs while ensuring all safety protocols are adhered to
- Support the Medicine Lead and Project Managers to align discipline resources with project timelines.
- In partnership with BU Director, Associate Directors of Medicines, COO and CTO, develop and implement improvements to existing discipline functional service offering and lead the identification of new services to support the growth of the business.
- Owns business case for Capex
- Oversee the maintenance and lifecycle management of discipline specific assets
- Ensure compliance with asset integrity standards and regulatory requirements
- Implement strategies for asset optimization
- Set and maintain the Safety and Quality culture of the discipline
- PhD in relevant function OR
- BSc/MSc/BE in relevant function.
- Minimum of 4 years' industry experience in technical and people management (if PhD qualified); or
- Minimum of 7 years' industry experience in technical and people management (if Degree qualified)
- Experience in line management and developing team member's skills and overseeing training programmes.
- Experience in performance management and conflict resolution
- Proven track record in internal and external technical communication.
- Experience in strategy development and stakeholder management
- Excellent collaborative leadership and people management style
- Passion for the discipline and commitment to the success of APC
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to work cross functionally
- Excellent organisational and planning skills with an ability to prioritise and to meet set deadlines
If you believe you have the capability required and the interest in being part of this dynamic rapidly growing organization, we would like to talk to you.
The closing date for applications is 6th March 2026
APC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all employees. All employment decisions at APC are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regards to gender, ethnicity, age, religious belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other status protected by Irish law.