Sr. Director Process and Analytical Development (BioProcess Sciences) at Thermo Fisher Scientific

St Louis, Missouri, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Biopharmaceuticals, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical ServicesIndustries

Requirements

Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related scientific field; Master’s degree with extensive relevant experience will be considered. Bachelor’s degree required
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in biologics process development, with a strong track record in CDMO or biopharmaceutical environments
Demonstrated success in leading large, multidisciplinary scientific teams across analytical, upstream, and downstream functions
Deep technical expertise in biologics development, including cell culture, purification, analytical method development, and tech transfer
Proven ability to scale scientific organizations while maintaining quality, compliance, and innovation
Strong business and financial competence, including experience in overseeing P&L, planning resources, and budgeting operations
Experience leading client-facing programs as an executive sponsor or senior collaborator, focusing on customer happiness and delivery excellence
Skilled in organizational design, talent development, and succession planning to build resilient, future-ready teams
Skilled at inspiring change and continuous improvement in complex, matrixed environments
Excellent communication and executive presence, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization and with external partners
Familiarity with regulatory expectations (e.g., FDA, EMA) and quality systems in a GMP environment
Passion for scientific innovation and a dedication to advancing life-saving therapies through collaborative leadership
Experience in MSAT or operations preferred

Responsibilities

Ensure on-time delivery, technical excellence and quality for customer projects: act as executive sponsor, aligning internal teams, managing milestones, proactively mitigating risks, and maintaining transparent client communication—from kickoff through closeout and post-project support
Provide strategic and operational leadership for the BPS organization, including hiring, staffing plans, organizational design, succession planning, and career development
Lead and mentor senior leaders and their teams, conducting performance reviews, goal setting, and mentoring to promote accountability, growth, and high morale
Coordinate team structure and resourcing to balance cross-functional needs across analytical, upstream, and downstream functions
Establish clear goals, measurements, and performance indicators; track progress, recognize achievements, and address any areas needing improvement promptly
Promote a high-performance culture by encouraging collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and technical excellence across all levels
Ensure consistent communication: run leadership meetings, town halls, and forums that keep everyone aligned, informed, and engaged
Act as a change agent—advocating for new tools, processes, and standard methodologies with visible support and training
Collaborate with HR and functional leadership to recruit top talent, manage organizational health, and scale the team responsibly
Provide mentorship and development opportunities to build bench strength and improve resilience
Manage analytical, upstream, and downstream process development teams for Thermo Fisher’s CDMO

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Analytical DevelopmentUpstream ProcessingDownstream ProcessingBioProcess DevelopmentMammalian Cell LinesCDMOStrategic LeadershipOrganizational DesignSuccession PlanningPerformance ManagementRisk MitigationProject ManagementChange ManagementTeam Mentoring

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the location for this position?

The position is located in St. Louis, Missouri.

What education is required for this role?

A Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, or a related scientific field is required; a Master’s degree with extensive relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree will also be considered.

What experience is needed for this Sr. Director role?

Candidates need 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in biologics process development, with a strong track record in CDMO or biopharmaceutical environments, and success leading large multidisciplinary teams across analytical, upstream, and downstream functions.

What does the company culture emphasize for this team?

The culture promotes high performance through collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, technical excellence, accountability, growth, and high morale, with regular leadership meetings, town halls, and forums to keep teams aligned and engaged.

What makes a strong candidate for this position?

Strong candidates have deep technical expertise in biologics development including cell culture, purification, analytical method development, and tech transfer, plus proven ability to scale scientific organizations while providing strategic leadership, hiring, mentoring, and risk mitigation.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Provides life sciences products and services

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a variety of products and services that support scientific research and healthcare, including laboratory equipment, reagents, and software solutions. Their products are used in applications like protein biology, real-time PCR, and sequencing, serving clients such as academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies. Unlike competitors, Thermo Fisher emphasizes customer support and education, helping clients optimize their experiments. The company's goal is to be a leading provider of life sciences solutions that contribute to a healthier and safer world.

Waltham, MassachusettsHeadquarters

1956Year Founded

$17MTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

Biotechnology, HealthcareIndustries

10,001+Employees

Risks

Increased competition in single-use bioprocessing may impact market share.

Sale of anatomical pathology business could create a temporary product gap.

Investment in miDiagnostics may face regulatory challenges affecting returns.

Differentiation

Thermo Fisher offers a comprehensive range of life sciences products and services.

Their well-known brands include Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, and Invitrogen.

They provide strong customer support and educational resources to optimize client workflows.

Upsides

Expansion of biologics production facility enhances capacity for precision biologics monitoring.

Investment in miDiagnostics aligns with demand for rapid diagnostic solutions in BioPharma.

Collaboration with Mainz Biomed positions them in the growing cancer detection market.

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