Technical Program Lead - Continuous Improvement (CI)

A pharmaceutical company in Pennsylvania is actively seeking a new Technical Program Lead for the Continuous Improvement (CI) Program to serve as the senior technical authority responsible for guiding, coordinating, and elevating all scientific, process, and operational activities across three major workstreams.

Responsibilities:

• Provide high-level oversight across all workstreams, ensuring scientific rigor, cross-functional communication, and milestone attainment


• Support the Program Sponsors by advising on technical risks, strategic decisions, resource needs, and escalation issues.


• Coordinate with the manufacturer's Technical and Quality Leads to maintain consistent alignment on priorities, execution, and issue resolution


• Guide Sub-Team Leads and SMEs across all workstreams (Execution / Robustness, Deviation Reduction, Supply Chain Optimization)


• Provide subject-matter leadership in identifying, prioritizing, and resolving manufacturing challenges and recurring deviations


• Leverage first-principles understanding, mechanistic chemistry, and FMEA-based risk management


• Act as the primary scientific liaison between both technical teams, ensuring seamless execution across organizational boundaries


• Facilitate Steering Committee updates and provide clear status reporting


• Build strong, trustworthy working relationships with manufacturer subject matter experts, quality partners, and leadership


• Utilize extensive CDMO management experience to strengthen external partnerships and ensure reliable delivery performance

Qualifications:

• 15 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Chemical Development, Scale-Up, and Commercial Marketing


• Scientific training with preference to fields focused in Organic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline


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  Proven expertise in:

  
  
  
  
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    Process chemistry and multistep API synthesis

    
    
  
  
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    FMEA / risk analysis / QbD methodologies

    
    
  
  
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    Technical troubleshooting and process robustness

    
    
  
  
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    CDMO oversight across US, Europe, and Asia

    
    
  
  
  
  


• Demonstrated history of successfully leading multi-functional technical teams


• Strong communication and strategic leadership capabilities


• Experience leading or contributing to Governance Frameworks, Operations Steering Committees, or Cross-company programs


• Familiarity with Supply Chain optimization for Chemical Raw materials and API intermediates