Technical Specialist – Project Lead

About CPI

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

Why this role is important for CPI’s work

CPI is looking to recruit several roles at a number of experience levels to join our growing team at the state-of-the-art Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC). Located in Renfrewshire, the MMIC is a collaboration between CPI, the University of Strathclyde, UK Research & Innovation, Scottish Enterprise, and founding industry partners, AstraZeneca and GSK.

Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of oligonucleotide therapeutics in development. Understanding these complex molecules and processes is challenging with huge potential to advance understanding in this area. A new collaborative project at CPI will address this challenge by developing a novel digital tool to allow the simple definition of an oligonucleotide, prediction of impurity profile, identification of impurities from mass spectrometry data, and models describing the relationship between the manufacturing process and product quality.

This role is for a Technical Specialist and we are looking for someone with a proven track record and enthusiasm to lead a team of lab-based scientists to plan, deliver and disseminate this project working with our collaboration partners.

You can read more about the exciting work we are doing on oligonucleotides here.

To see where you would be working and learn more about MMIC, please watch this video:

From unused Scottish land to global health impact: our Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre

Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre set to Transform UK Pharma

Key tasks in the Technical Specialist role will include (but are not limited to) the below:

• Work with the MMIC team to scope and/or lead complex collaborative R&D projects. This could include leading initial activities to agree on the high-level technical scope, define the business case and attract partners for collaborative projects.
• Participate in broader MMIC and CPI activities to identify new business opportunities, attract and retain talent, and build the required skills and capability to deliver the MMIC and CPI technical portfolio.
• Develop and maintain an effective communications framework that ensures that there is open dialogue across your projects and into the overall project programme team which provides regular feedback on work package performance, highlights and escalates key risks, and ensures the right level of engagement from all stakeholders.
• Ensure effective knowledge management within your projects, including clearly documented records of technical data, decisions, methodologies, calculations, and software used in an agreed format.
• Develop links to successfully leverage a strong presence for MMIC in the technology innovation ecosystem of the area to support MMICs future ambitions in the region.
• Comply with CPI procedures, including all relevant Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE), quality, and best practice requirements.

The person we are seeking

To be successful, you need to:

• Have experience in providing technical services to multiple customers.
• Technical expertise in one or more of the following: synthetic chemistry, analytical chemistry (particularly LC-MS), impurity prediction, factorial experimental design, use of automated chemistry equipment.
• Demonstrate a proactive attitude and use of own initiative and judgment.
• Have experience in communication and management of senior external stakeholders.
• Be practiced in process, product, or technology development in the pharmaceutical or fine chemical industries.
• Have an understanding of the complexity of translating ideas into fundable project propositions.
• Able to demonstrate evidence of working in cross-functional, matrix teams building strong networks, and effective knowledge sharing.

It would be great if you also had the following:

• Knowledge and experience of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, EHS legislation, and best practices.
• Significant technical experience in the synthesis, purification, and analysis of oligonucleotides or similar complex molecules.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver in an area outside own specialism with interest and enthusiasm to learn new skills.
• Established academic network in area of technical specialism.
• Experience in leading project teams and use of project management tools.

What does CPI offer you?

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

Additional information

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.