Team Leader - Process R & D

Role Overview

Position Title : Team Leader - Process R&D

Role Band : L1

Location : Hyderabad

Purpose : Lead the design, development, and scale-up of safe, robust, and cost-efficient chemical processes that meet client specifications for quality, yield, and timelines.

Objective : Ensure on-time delivery with scientific rigor, data-driven decision-making, and measurable value addition across route selection, optimization, and tech transfer.

Minimum Requirements

Education : PhD in Organic Chemistry with 10 + years of experience (Mandatory)

Business / Domain Understanding : Strong grasp of CDMO workflows, client expectations, IP awareness, and drug discovery / development interfaces (non-GMP to GMP handoffs).

Areas of Responsibilities (AOR)

AOR 1 : Project Execution and Delivery

Plan and distribute daily / weekly experimental work, track plans vs. actuals and de-risk critical path tasks.

Review and interpret complex analytical datasets (e.g., HPLC / UPLC, GC, LC–MS, NMR) for mass balance, assay, purity, and chiral integrity; ensure data integrity and scientific traceability.

Coordinate with SCM, ARD, SHE, and E&M to align material availability, method readiness, safety clearances, and equipment uptime.

Forecast and ensure timely procurement of raw materials, solvents, and consumables with suitable alternates.

AOR 2 : Process Development, Troubleshooting, and Value Addition

Anticipate chemistry and scale-up risks; resolve issues using literature (Reaxys, SciFinder) and structured experimentation (e.g., DoE, mechanistic probes).

Map impurity genesis, fate, and purge; implement control strategies via reagent / solvent selection, stoichiometry, temperature profiles, and workup design.

Improve routes for safety, robustness, and COGS (e.g., step telescoping, solvent swaps, greener reagents, reduced PMI / E-factor).

Develop crystallization strategies (solvent / anti-solvent screening, seeding, supersaturation control) for polymorph selectivity and particle-size control; minimize column chromatography.

AOR 3 : Team and Laboratory Management

Provide day-to-day scientific mentorship; conduct technical reviews and ensure high-quality ELN documentation.

Build team competencies in key unit operations (e.g., hydrogenations, low-temperature chemistry, moisture / air-sensitive handling, continuous / flow where applicable).

Enforce GLP / SLP, PPE compliance, chemical hygiene, waste segregation, and instrument calibration; maintain audit readiness.

Escalate instrument downtime, safety hazards, or deviations impacting delivery or safety to the Group Leader promptly.

AOR 4 : Client Communication and Proposal Preparation

Prepare high-quality technical updates, data packages, and final dossiers with clear narratives, risks, and mitigation plans.

Lead / participate in client calls; communicate progress, deviations, and next-step experiments with timeline and resource implications.

Support proposals with feasible synthetic routes, preliminary control strategies, and realistic costing / throughput estimates within required TAT.

AOR 5 : Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE)

Comply fully with SHE guidelines; conduct risk assessments (e.g., thermal / pressure hazards), and define safe operating spaces.

Drive continuous improvement via incident / near-miss analysis, CAPA implementation, and periodic safety audits.

AOR 6 : People Management

Create a collaborative, high-performance environment with clear objectives and feedback.

Identify training needs, develop skill matrices and IDPs, and ensure completion of mandatory training.

Ensure smooth administration and adherence to organizational policies and procedures.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Technical Expertise : Deep command of synthetic organic chemistry, route scouting, and lab-to-pilot scale-up principles.

Analytical Literacy : Proficient interpretation of NMR, LC–MS, HPLC / UPLC, GC, KF, and related in-process controls to drive decisions.

Literature and IP : Expert use of Reaxys and SciFinder; strong patent and prior-art orientation for route / source ability.

Software and Documentation : Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, Excel; disciplined ELN practices and data management.

Leadership : Proven ability to lead and develop 7–10 scientists / RAs; strong prioritization and resource levelling.

Communication : Clear scientific writing and presentation for internal stakeholders and external clients.

Problem Solving : Hypothesis-driven experimentation, DoE mindset, and data-driven optimization with clear acceptance criteria.