R&D Lead – join small company with big responsibility!

Location:

Drenthe, Nederland, Netherlands

Salary:

Negotiable

Type:

Permanent

Main Industry:

Search Science Jobs

Other Industries & Skills: 

Chemistry, Physics, Life s

Advertiser:

NonStop Consulting

Job ID:

132443112

Posted On: 

14 November 2025

R&D Lead – Drug Substance Development (Drenthe, The Netherlands)

A unique opportunity for an Organic Chemist with a commercial mindset

Are you an organic chemist who enjoys combining science with strategy, and who thrives in an environment where you can truly make an impact? This role offers the chance to guide R&D activities across multiple international sites, work closely with customers, and help shape the direction of a growing pharmaceutical organisation.

About the organisation

This company is an international CDMO specialising in API development and manufacturing for both human and veterinary medicines. With locations in the Netherlands (Drenthe) and Sweden, they support the full lifecycle of Drug Substance development-from route scouting and early R&D to GMP-scale production. The culture is personal, pragmatic, and collaborative, with plenty of room for ownership and initiative.

The role

As R&D Lead, you will coordinate and structure all R&D activities across the NL site. This is a highly strategic and scientific position-without people management-ideal for someone who enjoys bridging chemistry, business, and execution.

You will assess the feasibility of new CDMO projects, act as the main technical point of contact for customers, and work closely with the Managing Director of Production & Lab. Your decisions will directly influence innovation, technology transfer, and the commercial success of the organisation.

Key responsibilities

Coordinate and structure all R&D projects across multiple sites
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Assess technical feasibility of new CDMO/API projects
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Act as the primary technical lead in client discussions
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Guide project scoping, execution, and delivery timelines
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Shape and execute the R&D strategy aligned with business goals
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Drive innovation in synthetic chemistry, route design, scale-up and manufacturability
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Ensure seamless collaboration between R&D, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory
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Safeguard compliance with GMP, GDP, SHE and quality standards
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Monitor scientific and market trends to identify new opportunities

Who you are

PhD in Organic Chemistry or closely related field
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Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical or CDMO sector
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Strong understanding of API development and manufacturing
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Pragmatic, hands-on, decisive, and commercially minded
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Excellent communicator with a collaborative and social personality
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Fluent in English (Dutch is a plus)
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Preferably located within reasonable distance of the Drenthe site

Why this role stands out

A well-organised, human-scale company with a personal touch
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A role offering true ownership, freedom and impact
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Close collaboration with leadership (reporting to the Managing Director Production & Lab)
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International scope (NL + Sweden) with a variety of technical and strategic challenges
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Plenty of room for professional development and innovation
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Attractive salary, good benefits, 28 holidays, pension scheme, travel allowance and more

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