R&D Laboratory Director

Join our pharmaceutical client as their inaugural Laboratory Director, Research & Development, and help establish/guide laboratory R&D operations from the ground up. The individual will be responsible for enabling parallel development workstreams, ensuring scientific rigor, operational efficiency, and regulatory alignment as the business accelerates its product roadmap.

This is an onsite leadership position and is ideal for someone who enjoys being deeply embedded with their team and laboratory operations.

Requirements of the Laboratory Director, Research & Development:

• Bachelor’s degree in a life science, engineering, or chemistry-related discipline

• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated R&D settings

• Proven laboratory leadership experience (minimum 1 years managing teams or functions)

• Track record of supporting multiple active development programs at once

• Strong hands-on understanding of formulation, testing, and lab-based workflows

• Ability to balance speed, structure, and compliance in fast-moving environments

• Experience in consumer-oriented healthcare, digital health, or technology-enabled models is a plus

• Background spanning early development through later-stage readiness is preferred

Responsibilities of the Laboratory Director, Research & Development:

• Establish and lead laboratory R&D operations supporting frequent product introductions

• Guide formulation development, analytical work, and early manufacturability considerations

• Design and implement scalable lab systems, workflows, and documentation practices

• Set priorities, timelines, and execution plans across overlapping development efforts

• Anticipate constraints and risks, adjusting resources and strategy to maintain momentum

• Oversee laboratory assets, including equipment selection, validation, upkeep, and vendors

• Build, mentor, and manage a multidisciplinary scientific team

• Convert high-level business goals into clear laboratory deliverables

• Collaborate closely with quality, regulatory, operations, manufacturing, and supply partners

• Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable regulatory and safety standards and support inspections