Senior/Principal Scientist - preclinical CMC Drug Substance

Roche fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, representing the communities we serve. When dealing with healthcare on a global scale, diversity is an essential ingredient to success. We believe that inclusion is key to understanding people’s varied healthcare needs. Together, we embrace individuality and share a passion for exceptional care. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love.

That’s what makes us Roche.

In Roche’s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organization (pRED ), we make transformative medicines for patients in order to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicines. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

This position is located in preclinical Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (pCMC), a department within the Small Molecule Research organization in pRED Therapeutic Modalities (TMo). We pave the path to bring drug candidates from early research into development in a diverse, ambitious and innovative environment. We collaborate actively with our discovery and development partners' functions providing cutting-edge technologies and scientific excellence to transform molecules into future medicines. We are CMC experts and build our strength on a broad diversity of technical expertise in chemistry, formulation design, material science and analytical chemistry, delivering and innovating in the space of small molecules, peptides and nucleic acid-based medicines.

Role Mission

We are offering an outstanding opportunity as Senior/Principal Scientist in the Drug Substance team dedicated to develop and optimize organic synthesis, scale up and supply of small molecules. In this role, you will be part of a team enabling early toxicological and clinical studies by developing synthetic routes for drug substances in a fast paced environment.

Your Impact

• You develop synthetic routes suitable for early toxicological and clinical supplies in a fast paced environment. You are accountable for the scientific and technical excellence of the work performed.

• You represent pCMC in global research project teams. As pCMC project leader, you orchestrate all preclinical CMC activities (internal and external) and ensure an efficient project transfer to our Pharma Technical Development colleagues.

• You participate in the assessment of business development opportunities.

• You enhance scientific excellence by identifying relevant portfolio and industry trends and by staying abreast of recent advances on small molecules chemistry, process R&D and supply. You build internal and external relationships to maintain a strategic understanding of the process R&D technology environment and recommend priorities.

Your Profile

• You have a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry and more than 5 years of relevant professional experience in chemical process R&D that allows you to expertly lead chemical process R&D efforts.

• You possess a sound understanding of the drug development process and an excellent knowledge of key scientific, technical and safety aspects used to synthesize new small molecule drug candidates in a kilo laboratory or pilot plant environment.

• You have excellent retrosynthesis skills and know how to apply them to design and optimize synthetic routes. You enjoy working in teams and in the lab.

• You are resourceful and creative in problem solving and like working in a collaborative and inclusive manner. You thrive in a dynamic environment which gives you full accountability for your own contributions, development and decisions.

• You have a keen interest in continuously building a deep understanding of the organization and a personal network, and the ability to connect to colleagues in various parts of the organization to reach shared goals.

Our commitment

Roche commits to recognising talent and aptitude. We prioritise encouraging and supporting our employees on their personal journeys by providing a safe, creative space to help them reflect, make decisions and grow in their career.

We are confident that we find the most innovative solutions by gaining different perspectives, asking and answering hard questions, and challenging the status quo. Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious yet enthusiastic way; we are devoted to building a team that represents a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more .

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.