Senior Scientist - Speciality Biopharma

Job Description
Are You Ready to Make an Impact at RSSL?
Join Our Mission to Transform Lives Through Science, Innovation and Collaboration
At Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), we lead the way in scientific analysis, research, consultancy, and training. We provide services to the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries, as well as our parent company, Mondelez International. RSSL is dedicated to delivering world-class scientific solutions and outstanding customer service.
Recognised for our excellence, we were awarded CRO of the Year at the 2023 OBN Awards, adding to our previous accolades Employer of the Year, Enlightened Employer and Women in Business.
If you are passionate about driving innovation and making a real impact, RSSL is the place for you!
At RSSL we are customer focused, science led and results driven. The RSSL Biologics laboratory performs a wide range of analytical analyses for a variety pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.
The role of Senior Scientist II is to provide technical leadership within the Biologics laboratory. This is a key role in ensuring high quality and compliant science is maintained, whilst also striving for new and innovative approaches. The applicant will have the opportunity to work with RSSLs growing Biopharmaceutical and GCT client base, by ensuring that projects are performed and supervised effectively and accurately within agreed timescales and to appropriate quality standards.
This role focuses on complex method development and validations using techniques such as Cell based Bioassays, ELISA, SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, enzyme and protein assays. The applicant will also oversee routine and investigative analyses. The applicant should have an ability to interpret and apply pharmacopeial monographs, regulatory guidelines (such as ICH guidelines) for proteins as well as their application into supporting new therapeutic modalities such as RNA and cell and gene therapies.
Client contact and administrative support for laboratory management is also essential.
Primary Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Always provide high quality customer service by ensuring effective organisation of assigned workload, integrity of analytical data generated and timely/accurate provision of results.
• Provide expert Technical direction within own area of expertise across departments.
• Analysis - Interpretation & Troubleshoot - Perform a range of analysis independently as required. Self identify Out of Specification results and identifies remedial action for OOS. Able to undertake literature search and develop methods based on fundamental research based on commercial demands. Contribute to Lab admin & housekeeping/ Lab Organisation - you will be responsible for organising and assigning laboratory administration tasks. Plan workload for complex projects for a team
• Perform/oversee complex method development and write/review validation/verification protocols and reports.
• Perform data checking and provide interpretation of results for all Biologics routine and non-routine testing.
• Authorise CoA on LIMS for GMP and non GMP work
• Expert user of specific software and proficient in the use of generic and specific software packages require for the role: for example, Laboratory's LIMS system, Q-Pulse
• Lead and direct technical training including technical supervision of junior staff in developing their lab-based skill, understanding and interpretation.
• Mentor junior scientists in method troubleshooting.
• Support the Biologics laboratory advance the technology where appropriate and present business cases to the leadership team.
• Lead Operational excellence drives within the Speciality Biopharma laboratories to support efficient ways of way of working for analysts and optimisations to procedures.
• Support Team Leader of Biologics in delivering any agreed proposed changes to the building and laboratories to contribute towards the future growth of the team.
• Project Champion and lead the technical priorities generated and assigned annually by the Speciality Biopharma Section Leader
• Contribute to the RSSL internal Technical Network and lead the growth of the Speciality Biopharma sector of the network on behalf of the Biologics.
• Enable the delivery of sustainability with a best-in-class Science lens Coordinate with sustainability lead to address issues facing the business

Leadership, Communication & Influence

• Work as part of an efficient analytical team
• Liaise with clients, business development and internal stake holders to ensure effective communication of project proposals and results.
• Provide expert advice and lead client and stake holders meetings as required.
• Contributes to technical strategies & influences senior management.
• Contribute to commercial strategies in relation to technical growth.
• Support the commercial and marketing team in the generation of marketing and technical materials to show case RSSL's first in class service.
• Technically support strategic direction of the innovation pipeline at RSSL, providing technical input, facilitating innovation and strategic projects.
• Support CAPEX investment with the Strategic growth of the company.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders in grant and research opportunities when required
• Keep current on developments inside and outside of the company that are pertinent to the job and activity efforts through continuous education and training.

Quality, Environment, Health & Safety

• Work to the highest standards of safety and quality by ensuring that appropriate COSHHs, risk assessments and SOPs are understood and followed.
• Complete assigned quality actions in a timely manner, including review and approval
• Write and approve SOPs and Test Methods
• Generation and approval of Risk Assessments and COSHH
• Understand and provide technical regulatory leadership in client audits.
• Maintain a clean, tidy and safe working environment.
• Understand and work to the requirements of GMP and UKAS.
• Ensure training records are accurate
• Support QAU as technical lead for client and internal audits

What you will bring
A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career and the following experience and knowledge:

• Educated to Degree or PhD in a relevant scientific discipline or equivalent relevant experience in a laboratory.
• Proven track record of relevant laboratory experience.
• In-depth knowledge of both technical area of expertise & business environment including regulatory requirements
• Analytical technology in your area of expertise and the desire to develop in-depth and broader technical expertise
• In-depth knowledge of both technical area of expertise & business environment including regulatory requirements
• Scientific understanding and the ability to independently conduct chemical analysis in relevant area
• Verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build your network and technical credibility with external clients and internal teams
• Problem solving and planning resources to maintain a consistent workflow to deliver projects
• Organizational skills, including time management and priority setting

More about this role
Work schedule: 100%
No Relocation support available
Business Unit Summary
Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) is a cutting-edge contract research organisation (CRO), providing research, analysis and consultancy to the food, consumer goods and life science sectors. Whether we are creating new products, validating medicines or solving investigations, we take pride in being a leader in our field, serving clients from across 70 countries. Enriched by our parent company, Mondelēz International, our team are committed to transforming lives through science, innovation and collaboration.
Curious about us and want to learn more?
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RSSL is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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Job Type
Regular
Analytical Science
Science & Engineering