Associate Principal Scientist / Principal Scientist

Role Associate Principal Scientist / Principal Scientist

Location Alderley Park, Cheshire, England

Job Type Permanent

Salary £45,000 - £60,000 (Salary based on experience)

Date posted 9th December 2025

Start date ASAP

The Company

[Employer hidden] is the fastest growing Indian Contract Research & Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CRDMO). It works with innovator biotech and pharmaceutical companies globally to accelerate their discovery, development and commercialisation of small molecules for a healthier tomorrow.

With more than 3000 staff globally, R&D facilities in Boston, Manchester & Hyderabad, and large-scale commercial manufacturing in Bidar, India, Sai today works with 18 of the top 25 pharma companies globally, as well as many leading smaller biotechs.

In 2020, the company opened its centre of excellence for process chemistry and analytical development at the Alderley Park Science Park in Manchester. The site today has >60 multi-disciplinary scientists (chemists, analysts and engineers).

On December 18, 2024, [Employer hidden] was listed in the Indian Stock Exchange (Ticker: SAILIFE) following an IPO that was oversubscribed by >10 times.

Non-GMP manufacture of kg quantities of intermediates and APIs is currently possible within our bespoke Scaleup laboratory facility and a GMP Kilo-lab facility was brought online in 2023 capable of kg quantities of GMP API suitable for early phase clinical studies. Developed processes are frequently transferred to Sai’s manufacturing sites in India for further scale-up when required.

This role is a great opportunity to execute/lead analytical projects, across a diverse portfolio in both the UK and India. You will also get to work closely with some of the most innovative biotech and pharma companies on their most important programs.

The role will be based in Alderley Park, Cheshire, UK and will require right to work in the UK. Occasional travel, domestic and international to India is optional.

The Role

• You will join a team that identifies, develops and optimises synthetic routes to small molecule drug substances (APIs), supporting both early and late phase development.
• To lead and guide the analytical development and delivery on complex chemistry projects as part of multidisciplinary teams and provide analytical expert advice to Process Chemistry colleagues.
• To support chemistry projects, through analytical lab-based work to design, develop, validate and carry out technical transfer of analytical methods including release analysis (non-GMP, GLP or GMP).

To provide support to analytical instrumentation.

Essential Requirements

• Higher or bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or related scientific discipline.
• A minimum of five years’ relevant industrial experience
• A strong background in Analytical Chemistry combined with demonstrated in-depth, hands-on expertise in LC/GC and experience of other analytical methodologies utilised to characterise APIs, intermediates and raw materials.
• Experience in other analytical methodologies such as techniques for identity or form determination (e.g. NMR, MS, IR, XRD).
• Strong scientific track record.
• Analytical project leadership experience.
• Experience in regulatory requirements for the development and validation of LC/GC methods for content and the separation of impurities and degradation products in APIs including trace level analysis.
• Experience in out of specification and atypical result investigations.

Desirable Requirements

• Understanding of GMP quality standards.
• Demonstrated analytical expertise supporting early, mid or late-phase route and process development of APIs, intermediates and raw materials.
• Experience in contracting analytical testing with third parties and leading communications with customers.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Developing, troubleshooting and validating analytical methods.
• Planning and executing analytical work to meet project timelines with minimal supervision.
• Working within multi-functional project teams operating to tight deadlines.
• Able to work effectively to GMP quality standards.
• Lead the analytical aspects of projects both at Alderley Park and with analysts in India.
• Lead a team of analysts to plan, supervise and execute analytical work to meet project timelines.
• Interface with clients to communicate data, results and conclusions

Key attributes

• Learning agility in the utilisation of new techniques to support projects.
• Ability to solve complex scientific problems.
• Excellent communication, both verbal and written with the ability to accurately detail laboratory experimentation in an electronic notebook and write clear and concise project reports and slides as required.
• A team player
• Conscientious with a can-do attitude with good attention to detail.
• Experience in the use of IT packages such as Word and Excel, as well as in Analytical Data systems such as Empower 3 or UNIFI. Understanding and experience of LIMS would also be advantageous

The Offer

• A competitive Salary and Benefits package including company pension, health and life insurance, 25 days holiday per year and enhanced family leave.
• Work in a state-of-the-art facility on one of the country's leading Biotech & Life Science Parks.
• Flexible working hours and conditions to suit the right candidate.

Next steps

Please send your CV and cover letter to [contact hidden]

As an Equal Opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

Please note that [Employer hidden] Ltd is unable to sponsor the visas for any candidates for the above role.