Technical Outsourcing Chemist

We have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Outsourcing Chemist to join our recently expanded Adaptive Chemistry Team (ACT) within Discovery Sciences. In this office based role, you will work with internal and external teams to deliver innovative synthetic routes and processes to provide Drug Substance to drive our preclinical projects.

In addition to its in-house activities, AstraZeneca works with several of the world's leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations (CDMOs), to effectively deliver our rich and exciting pipeline of New Molecular Entities. The position is based at our vibrant AstraZeneca R&D site in Gothenburg, Sweden.

What you'll do? As an experienced chemist you will be responsible for transferring chemistry methods and processes developed internally to our CDMO partners to support external development and manufacture of several of our small-molecule investigative compounds.

To be successful in this role you need to have a strong background in chemistry with hands-on laboratory experience of small molecule synthesis. You will be familiar with the capabilities of leading worldwide CDMOs operating in the Drug Substance Sector and will have prior experience of working with, or working at, these organisations. We particularly welcome applicants with experience at the 100 g to 5 kg scale and those with experience outsourcing chemical research and development.

Typical accountabilities will include:

• Lead multiple outsourced work packages from planning through to delivery, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and quality expectations

• Define the technical scope of outsourced activities, including route and/or process design, development, and manufacture, and lead effective technical transfer to CDMO partners

• Curate and author manufacturing route and process documentation in line with the AstraZeneca Knowledge Management Framework, ensuring effective knowledge transfer within AstraZeneca and across external partners

• Oversee and monitor progress of outsourced work against agreed technical objectives, timelines, and deliverables

• Provide technical troubleshooting and scientific guidance to address day-to-day chemistry challenges encountered by CDMO scientists

• Act as a conduit for AstraZeneca synthetic and specialist expertise into externally executed projects, drawing on areas such as catalysis, crystallisation, process engineering, biotransformation, computational chemistry, process safety, and continuous processing

• Ensure the quality, completeness, and compliance of documentation received from CDMO partners

• Contribute to portfolio management of outsourced projects, including understanding project needs, shaping outsourcing strategies, supporting budget estimates, building realistic cross-functional timelines, and communicating risks, opportunities, progress, and issues to stakeholders

• Develop and refine efficient, consistent ways of working with CDMO partners, and communicate AstraZeneca expectations for technical quality and documentation standards clearly and effectively

• Evaluate the technical performance of CDMO partners and provide clear, constructive feedback, while contributing to continuous improvement in knowledge capture and reuse from outsourced activities

• Provide technical input into proposal review and CDMO partner selection for development and manufacture activities

• Support broader outsourcing operations as required, including proposal submissions, quote receipt and review, and management of time and budget forecasts versus actuals

Essential requirements

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or a closely related discipline + at least 2 years relevant industrial experience (or equivalent such as a BSc plus at least 7 years' relevant industrial experience)

• Strong knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, supported by substantial practical laboratory experience

• Understanding of process chemistry principles and practice, including consideration of route robustness, scalability, safety, and manufacturability

• Ability to define clear scientific objectives, work packages, milestones, and success criteria for outsourced activities, ensuring delivery against programme needs

• Strong ability to review, interpret, and challenge experimental data, including synthetic routes, compound quality, analytical data, reproducibility, and technical conclusions

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders across internal and external interfaces, while maintaining focus on timelines, quality, and scientific objectives

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both internally and externally

• Understanding of intellectual property, confidentiality, and external collaboration requirements, with appropriate handling of sensitive scientific information

• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate scientific and operational risks associated with outsourced chemistry programmes

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to maintain oversight of activities, documentation, decisions, and follow-up actions

• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to establish effective partnerships with external providers and internal stakeholders

What's next? If this sounds like the place and role for you - apply today! We look forward to getting to know you better! Welcome with your application, including your CV and a Cover Letter which presents your key areas of strength and why you should be considered for the role, no later than May 17, 2026.