Job Vacancy: Biopharmaceutical Formulation Leader

 

BACKGROUND TO THE SITUATION

Position Profile – THIS VACANCY IS NOW CLOSED

The role is initially for 18 months within the formulation activity of the programme “R3 – RNA Readiness and Response”, which is funded jointly by Wellcome Leap and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The R3 program has two goals: one, to increase exponentially the number of biologic products that can be designed, developed, and produced every year, reducing their costs and increasing equitable access; and two, to create a self-sustaining network of manufacturing facilities providing globally distributed, state-of-the-art surge capacity to meet future pandemic needs.

Aqdot is part of the “Biofoundry in a box” project team, which received the largest single grant ($15.8M). Aqdot’s role is to apply supramolecular chemistry to enable effective, safe, low-cost and stable formulations co-designed to work with the small-scale, high-output, continuous-flow based units to be designed for localised manufacture, globally.

This Biopharmaceutical Formulation Leader role will involve leading the project activities in Aqdot’s Cambridge laboratory. The Leader will collaborate with Cameron Alexander, Professor of Polymer Therapeutics in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham, where a second Aqdot, R3-funded, PDRA will be located. Other R3 project partners include researchers at Imperial College and Kings College London who will produce different RNA types for different applications (vaccines, anti-cancer) for different delivery mechanisms (intra-muscular, nasal or intra-ocular). The formulations are to be formed by continuous-flow processes, with engineering and design led by Kings College London and Centillion Ltd.

The role will require visits to project partner locations for meetings and experiments. In addition to Aqdot’s apparatus (zeta potential, DLS, LC, UV-vis and organic synthesis), Nottingham has additional characterisation capability (e.g. AFM, CAT-SEM), and there is potential to be involved with biological assays at King’s College London and Imperial College London.

About Aqdot

Aqdot is a chemtech company based in Cambridge, UK. Its core platform technology – exploiting the properties of cucurbiturils (CBs) as supramolecular hosts – has applications ranging from Home Care to Life Sciences. The Biopharmaceutical Formulation Leader’s role will be to provide scientific leadership and administrative support for Aqdot’s involvement in the R3 project.

The Aqdot team has a strong inclusive and proactive culture. The company has undergone transformation from internal invention (generating a large suite of patents) to commercialisation and collaboration, with partners to create new products that add value to consumers and the supply chain. Aqdot has just completed an over-subscribed funding round with two major multinational specialty chemical companies as strategic investors (Ingevity and Clariant). Additionally, Aqdot has been a recipient of grant funding to enable it to develop technologies, ranging from manufacturing process improvement and scale-up to benign but effective anti-viral technologies, including against SARS-CoV-2.

Aqdot is an agile organisation with an outstanding can-do ethic. The Aqdot team is diverse and welcoming. We are guided by values that were agreed “bottom-up”: teamwork, fearless leadership, integrity, performance focus, and safety/responsibility.

The Role – Biopharmaceutical Formulation Leader

LOCATION: Cambridge, UK
REPORTING LINE: Leadership Team Member
START DATE: As soon as possible
DURATION / CONTRACT: 18 months initially.

Reporting to the Strategy and Innovation Director, the Biopharmaceutical Formulation Leader will have the following responsibilities

• Lead activities of the supramolecular RNA-delivery system formulation in Aqdot.
• Proactively participate in the evaluation of polymer/CB–RNA complexes
• Proactively grow the collaborations within the R3 project to assist in developing Aqdot products from concept to scale-up. Focus on areas of formulation and claims substantiation.
• Collaborate effectively with University of Nottingham to optimise the activities of the Aqdot PDRA with Professor Cameron Alexander.
• Preparation of research reports by collecting, analysing, and summarising data; give presentations for both internal and external audience.
• Preparation of technical, financial and other reports as required by the R3 project.
• Contribute to regulatory activities required for the safe use of Aqdot technology.
• Maintain awareness of IP opportunities for Aqdot technology and prepare patent documents.

Other:
Contribute to other Aqdot bioscience-related activities, e.g. safe anti-allergen and anti-viral products, development of supramolecular hydrogels.

PROFILE:

• PhD thesis awarded, ideally with further experience in a relevant biopharmaceutical area.
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to analyse and interpret data; interpret reports; evaluate and criticise prior data; and ability to bring new insights.
• Experience of developing and characterising pharmaceutical formulations.
• Interest in the chemistry-biology interface.
• Motivated by transforming great science into societal benefits.
• Effective communicator at all levels in an organisation.
• Able to enthuse and inspire colleagues and collaborators to meet the goals of critical projects in timely fashion.
• Competent in meeting administrative requirements necessary for grant participants.

Leadership
• Generates alignment amongst teams.
• Contributes to a high performing, fearless, results-orientated culture.
• Hands-on and entrepreneurial in style, comfortable with getting involved in all areas of the project.

Likely background and personal characteristics
• Intellectually strong and comfortable with complex problem solving.
• Naturally engages with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Embraces opportunities for personal development.

TO APPLY:

This vacancy is now closed.

Job Vacancy: Junior Technologist

 

BACKGROUND TO THE SITUATION

Job Vacancy: Junior Technologist: Position Profile
An exciting opportunity has arisen with Aqdot for a Junior Technologist to join the group. This key role will be a fundamental part of the organisation’s growth strategy. The Junior Technologist will report into the Process & Technology Lead/Regulatory & Innovation Lead and will support and lead key manufacturing, process development or product changes and innovation

TITLE: Junior Technologist

LOCATION: Unit 2 Iconix Park, London Road, Cambridge CB22 3EG with potential travel to manufacturers located in the UK, Europe and RoW

REPORTING LINE: Regulatory & Innovation Lead or Process & Technology Lead and Head of Operations as required

ROLE: Support and Deliver Manufacturing and Process Development Changes / Support
and deliver product regulatory and Innovation changes

Reporting to the Process & Technology Lead / Regulatory & Innovation Lead, the Junior Technologist will have the following responsibilities:

• Strong technical skills in chemistry/chemical processes to operate in a lab and plant environment; hands on chemistry/laboratory knowledge to test, run, trial processes, run analytics

• Support, and or lead, product development/integration, customer delivery and product & process introduction.

• Strong working knowledge of fundamentals; Mass/Energy balance, Process KPI’s, basic processing technologies (synthesis, isolation, drying, PSD adjustment etc) and process engineering principles.

• Ability to collate, create, understand, interpret, and use process and analytical data to drive process improvement and efficiency gains – attention to detail.

• Supports manufacturing issues and technically troubleshoots to ensure continuity of supply

• Supports / leads implementation of changes into the supply chain

• As required works closely with R&D and commercial leads ensuring customer needs are met ensuring smooth introduction into the operations team

• Working directly with relevant teams to integrate new production processes or improvements with existing or new manufacturers.

• Ensure quality processes are adhered/enforced to maintain GMP for processes and supply chain

• Ensure safe working practices within lab and manufacturing environments.

PROFILE:

Experience

EXPECTED:

• Graduate / 1-2 years experience in a relevant Industrial Chemistry, Production, Process Development or Technology

• Strong academic background in industrial chemistry, process engineering or similar

• Ability to create, interpret and use datasets to develop knowledge based solutions.

• Project delivery / skills to adhere to self and project timelines and deliverables

• Ability to work across cross functional teams, bringing ideas and delivery together

• Keen attention to detail ensuring robust processing adhering to quality aspects

• Deep practical understanding of H&S

• Strong People and Leadership experience

DESIRED:

• Hands on laboratory/manufacturing/production based experience

• Experience/Knowledge of process and product development (technology transfer and scale up would be an advantage)

• Knowledge of current and new chemical process unit operations

• Knowledge/Experience of analytical techniques, e.g. HPLC.

Functional leadership

• Strong communication skills and ability to communicate effectively at all levels; verbally, in writing and in a group setting.
• Ability to work well in inter-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrates and promotes openness; welcoming; listening to and accommodating others’ input.
• Excellent team worker.
• Strong influencing and interpersonal skills, at all levels and across all functions within and outside the organisation.
• Flexible, attention for detail.
• Result focussed, Reliable/consistent, Structured/Organized
• Pro-active, sharp/critical/challenging
• High degree of emotional intelligence.
• Seeking responsibility and accountability.

General leadership / Team

• Supports development and implementation of the broader company strategy
• Leads project and development activities
• Builds successful, technical and commercial relationships with key Aqdot partners
• Goals and delivery orientated with a strong customer focus

Likely Background & Personal Characteristics

• Alignment with the Aqdot values.
• A keen desire to grow and excel in a production or process development role and seeking an opportunity to grow the company.
• Inquisitive nature, wanting to understand and drive new product concept developments. With an understanding of the dynamic interaction between product and process requirements.
• Strong “can do” approach high energy, passion, resilience and commitment to drive growth.
• Strong interpersonal skills – the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders of all levels, in addition to external partners.
• Is of the highest integrity, honesty and courtesy.

Qualifications

• A science/engineering background qualification, e.g. HND / Masters Degree from a technical College / University.
Or
• Equivalent industrially gained, and demonstrated, experience in a lab/production/FMCG environment

TO APPLY:

Please send your CV to info@aqdot.com.

Job Vacancy: Analytical Technologist / Lead

 

BACKGROUND TO THE SITUATION

Job Vacancy: Analytical Technologist Lead: Position Profile – THIS VACANCY IS NOW CLOSED
An exciting opportunity has arisen with Aqdot for an Analytical Technologist/Lead to join the group. This key role will be a fundamental part of the organisation’s growth strategy. The Analytical Technologist will report into the Regulatory and Innovation Lead and will responsible for product quality analytical testing and product method development.

TITLE: Analytical Technologist/Lead

LOCATION: Unit 2 Iconix Park, London Road, Cambridge CB22 3EG with potential travel to manufacturers located in the UK, Europe and RoW

REPORTING LINE: Regulatory & Innovation Lead and Head of Operations as required

ROLE: Quality analytical testing and product method development

Reporting to the Regulatory and Innovation Lead, the Analytical Technologist/Lead will have the following responsibilities:

• Strong technical skills in a laboratory chemistry environment; hands on chemistry/laboratory knowledge to test, run, trial processes, run analytics

• Basic, or enhanced knowledge, of analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, Particle size analysis, NMR etc. Keeps updated with latest techniques and updates methods and techniques as required.

• Ensures laboratory analytical equipment is maintained, calibrated and kept up to date, ensuring continuity of testing capability.

• Ability to collate, create, understand, interpret and use process and analytical data to develop robust product analytical methods and data.

• Ensure validated and qualified methods are in place and auditable

• Ensure robust data systems are in place to ensure reproducible results and audit ready

• Trains others to run methods to ensure continuity of testing

• Ensures mitigation plans exits to facilitate testing

• Supports, or leads, the quality lead in quality investigations, ensuring accurate data and new investigational data as required

• In support of the quality lead ensures all products conform to quality specification and periodic conformance checks.

• Works closely with R&D and commercial leads ensuring new products or requirements are correctly transferred, e.g. new methods, stability data

• Supports the operations function in delivering key stability data testing (internal and external) and delivery of required conditions and packaging requirements

• Ensure quality processes are adhered/enforced to maintain GMP for processes and supply chain

• Ensure safe working practices within lab and manufacturing environments.

PROFILE:

Experience

EXPECTED:

• Graduate / 1-2 years experience in a relevant Analytical / Laboratory environment
• Strong academic background in analytical / industrial chemistry, HND or similar
• Practical understanding of analytical techniques and basic method development
• Project delivery / change management skills to adhere to self and project timelines and deliverables
• Ability to work across cross functional teams, bringing ideas and delivery together
• Keen attention to detail ensuring robust processing adhering to quality aspects
• Deep practical understanding of H&S in Industrial and laboratory settings
• Strong People and Leadership management experience

DESIRED:

• Experience of analytical environment and product development (industrialisation and commercialisation would be an advantage)
• Experienced in analytical techniques, method development and validation and calibration methodologies.
• Understanding of Regulations and application to product and regional needs
• Hands on laboratory/manufacturing/production based experience – learn and can do attitude

Functional leadership
• Strong communication skills and ability to communicate effectively at all levels; verbally, in writing and in a group setting.
• Ability to work well in inter-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrates and promotes openness; welcoming; listening to and accommodating others’ input.
• Excellent team worker.
• Strong influencing and interpersonal skills, at all levels and across all functions within and outside the organisation.
• Flexible, attention for detail.
• Result focussed, Reliable/consistent, Structured/Organized
• Pro-active, sharp/critical/challenging
• High degree of emotional intelligence.
• Seeking responsibility and accountability.

General leadership / Team
• Supports development and implementation of the broader company strategy
• Leads project and development activities
• Builds successful, technical and commercial relationships with key Aqdot partners
• Goals and delivery orientated with a strong customer focus

Likely Background & Personal Characteristics
• Alignment with the Aqdot values.
• A keen desire to grow and excel in a production or process development role and seeking an opportunity to grow the company.
• Inquisitive nature, wanting to understand and drive new product concept developments. With an understanding of the dynamic interaction between product and process requirements.
• Strong “can do” approach high energy, passion, resilience and commitment to drive growth.
• Strong interpersonal skills – the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders of all levels, in addition to external partners.
• Is of the highest integrity, honesty and courtesy.

Qualifications
• A life sciences background qualification, e.g. HND / BSc / Masters Degree from a technical College / University.
Or
• Equivalent industrially gained, and demonstrated, experience in a lab/production/FMCG environment

TO APPLY:

This vacancy is now closed.

Contact us

If you’d like to know more about our supramolecular solutions and how we can help your business and brand please get in touch.