Job Description:

Chief Technologist - Synthetic Therapeutics (Peptides & Oligonucleotides)

FTC until March 2028 | Glasgow |

£64,394 - £84,394 + £491 Monthly Car Allowance

About the Role:
We are seeking a Chief Technologist - Synthetic Therapeutics to provide strategic technical leadership across peptide and oligonucleotide technologies, helping shape future capability, support commercial growth, and drive innovation in one of the fastest-growing areas of advanced therapeutics.

This is a highly influential role for a recognised subject matter expert who combines deep scientific expertise with strong market awareness and commercial insight. You will help identify future opportunities, advise on technology strategy, engage with customers and partners, and support the development of capabilities that address emerging industry needs.

The successful candidate will act as a senior technical leader across both internal and external activities, supporting business development, customer engagement, technology strategy, and scientific delivery while helping build capability in peptides and oligonucleotides.

What You'll Be Responsible For:

Technical Leadership & Domain Expertise

• Act as the recognised technical authority in peptide and/or oligonucleotide chemistry
• Provide expert guidance across customer programmes, strategic initiatives, and capability development activities
• Support scientists and technical teams with specialist knowledge and technical problem-solving
• Ensure emerging scientific developments are translated into practical and commercially relevant applications

Technology Strategy & Capability Development

• Shape future capability in synthetic therapeutics, identifying technology gaps, market opportunities, and investment priorities
• Inform long-term technology strategy and help develop deliverable plans aligned to business objectives
• Anticipate new developments within peptide and oligonucleotide technologies and assess their commercial relevance
• Support the translation of advanced chemistry into scalable and commercially viable capabilities

Market Engagement & Business Development

• Work closely with commercial and business development teams to identify and develop new opportunities
• Engage directly with customers, industry partners, investors, and stakeholders to understand market needs
• Support proposal development, bid activities, and customer-facing technical discussions
• Contribute to technical and commercial assessments of new opportunities and partnerships

Capability Building & Mentorship

• Mentor scientists and technical teams, helping build expertise across the organisation
• Promote knowledge sharing and capability development across internal and external networks
• Support the development of future scientific leaders and specialists
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning

About You
You are a senior technical expert with deep knowledge of peptides, oligonucleotides, or synthetic therapeutic modalities, coupled with strong commercial awareness and an ability to influence strategic direction.
You'll bring:

• Significant industrial experience within peptides and/or oligonucleotides
• Strong expertise in areas such as:
  • Peptide synthesis, modification, and conjugation
  • Complex or constrained peptides
  • Peptide-drug conjugates
  • Oligonucleotide chemistry
  • Oligo conjugates
  • Modified backbones and delivery-enabled constructs
• A proven track record of translating scientific knowledge into commercially relevant capabilities and opportunities
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, and future industry trends
• Excellent stakeholder management, networking, and influencing skills
• Experience operating at a strategic level within pharmaceutical, biotech, CDMO, or advanced therapeutics environments

Desirable (but not essential):

• PhD or equivalent research background in peptide, oligonucleotide, or synthetic chemistry disciplines
• Experience contributing to technology strategy and capability development
• Existing industry network within peptides, oligonucleotides, or related therapeutic modalities
• Knowledge of broader synthetic therapeutic approaches and emerging modalities
• Membership of relevant professional bodies and active engagement with the wider scientific community

Importantly, this role is not focused on routine GMP manufacturing operations. The emphasis is on strategic technical leadership, market engagement, capability development, and helping define where future investment and technological growth should occur.

Why Join Us?

• Influence the future direction of peptide and oligonucleotide technology development
• Shape capability in a rapidly growing area of advanced therapeutics
• Work with leading scientific, commercial, and industry stakeholders
• Play a key role in identifying and developing future market opportunities
• High-profile position with significant external engagement
• Competitive package including salary up to £84,394 plus monthly car allowance

Location & Working Pattern

• FTC until March 2028 (potential to extend)
• Hybrid working available
• Regular engagement with customers, partners, and external stakeholders
• Travel to industry events, customer meetings, and scientific forums as required

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.