Head of Drug Substance & Analytical Development

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the Peptide Process Development lab in Boston, including hiring and developing a high-performing local team
• Provide global leadership and strategic direction for the Drug Substance function from early discovery to Phase 2
• Lead synthetic route scouting and salt selection, evaluating alternative processes with yield, COGS, manufacturability, and scalability as key decision criteria
• Develop and optimize upstream and downstream process design to establish scalable, cost-effective synthetic routes fit for initial clinical trials and as the foundation for Phase 3
• Drive technology transfer in collaboration with DK drug substance team to external CMOs, ensuring seamless transition from development to production

Requirements

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field, with extensive experience in peptide process development
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing cross-functional or global technical teams
• Deep expertise in solid-phase and/or liquid-phase peptide synthesis, purification, and process optimization across Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical stages
• Broad experience across the full process development cycle, including synthetic route scouting, salt selection, upstream and downstream process optimization, and evaluation of process alternatives with a focus on yield, COGS, manufacturability, and scalability
• Knowledge of process development and technology transfer to GMP manufacturing, including CMO management
• Experience defining manufacturing strategies from early discovery to Phase 2, with an eye toward building a robust foundation for Phase 3 and commercial
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, particularly with Analytical Development and Manufacturing

Qualifications

• Comfort with ambiguity and a bias for action are essential
• Thrive in a dynamic, build-phase environment

Skills

• Scientific excellence in peptide process chemistry
• Leadership presence to inspire and grow a team

Benefits

• Opportunity to establish and lead a Peptide Process Development function from the ground up
• Build a Boston-based lab and team while providing global leadership across Drug Substance
• Central role in enabling Zealand's growing pipeline of peptide therapeutics to reach patients

Pay

TBD

Schedule

TBD

Benefits

TBD

Contact

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter. Applications will be reviewed as they come in.