At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Your Role: Senior Research Scientist, Synthetic Molecule API Development
As a Sr. Research Scientist in Synthetic Molecule API Development, you will play a vital role in our global team, driving new chemical entities (NCEs) towards commercialization. You will leverage your expertise in API route development and regulatory requirements to lead projects with CDMO partners. You will deliver innovative technical solutions and cultivate strong strategic relationships to bring products to the global market.
You will report to the Senior Director of Global API Development, based in Indianapolis, USA.
Your Responsibilities:
- Lead the development of robust, safe, and cost-efficient commercial routes for synthetic molecules (including peptides). Drive technical solutions by resolving chemical process challenges at CDMO partners during the scale-up, tech transfer, and registration campaigns. Secure intellectual property by identifying patentable innovations and supporting patent filings.
- Support evaluation and selection of CDMOs for API development and manufacturing with a focus of partners in ASIA/Pacific. Provide technical oversight of CDMO partners, managing work packages and budget forecasting to ensure the delivery of project milestones in cooperation with alliance management and procurement functions.
- Conduct CDMO on-site visits to verify quality standards, process safety, and timelines while cultivating productive and long-term business collaborations.
- Collaborate closely with internal analytical development, formulation development, and other cross-functional partners to ensure the timely delivery of API quantities for development programs. Act as a point of contact to manage projects and work packages and communicate status to the global project teams.
- Prepare and review registration-relevant documentation to support global regulatory submissions and market authorizations. Ensure all API development activities comply with regulatory requirements and cGMP standards.
- Provide expert API opinions and technical guidance to support business development and licensing initiatives, including due diligence support.
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
- Education: PhD in organic chemistry or chemical engineering, or related scientific fields (5+ years industry experience); or an M.S. degree (10+ years industry experience).
- Technical Expertise: Strong expertise in route selection, process development/optimization, and process tech transfer.
- Experience: Proven experience working with CDMOs and a solid understanding of cGMP production that meets regulatory requirements.
- Language: Fluent in English and Chinese (spoken and written) to facilitate communication between global teams and local partners.
What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (preferred qualifications):
- Advanced education or working experience in Chemical Engineering.
- Education in peptide synthesis or experience working with synthetic peptide drug development.
- Expertise in solid state property characterization and data interpretation.
- Experience with statistical tools and principles (e.g. design of experiments)
Additional Information:
- Travel: 20%
- Location: China – Shanghai office
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
#LI-EG2
#LI-Onsite
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
Skills Required
- PhD in organic chemistry or chemical engineering (or related) with 5+ years industry experience; OR M.S. with 10+ years industry experience
- Strong expertise in route selection, process development/optimization, and process tech transfer
- Proven experience working with CDMOs and solid understanding of cGMP production and regulatory requirements
- Fluent in English and Chinese (spoken and written)
- Advanced education or working experience in Chemical Engineering
- Experience in synthetic peptide drug development or peptide synthesis
- Expertise in solid state property characterization and data interpretation
- Experience with statistical tools and principles (e.g., design of experiments)
Elanco Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Elanco and has not been reviewed or approved by Elanco.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off options are broad, including PTO, flexible leave, and the ability to purchase additional vacation. These provisions are highlighted as supportive of work-life balance.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, and vision alongside company-paid life, disability, and wellness support. Pet insurance and assistance programs reinforce a comprehensive wellbeing offering.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings include a U.S. 401(k) and, for some employees, access to a defined benefit pension. These programs add meaningful long-term value to total rewards.
Elanco Insights
What We Do
At Elanco, we work to improve the health of animals through innovative products and services for pets and farm animals around the world. As a global animal health company, we provide solutions that empower our customers to advance a vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life. Since 1954, Elanco has committed to empowering veterinarians, farmers, and all those who care for animals with the tools they need to help animals live healthy lives. Healthier animals are the key to making our lives better - This is the fundamental belief uniting all global Elanco employees. That’s why we are committed to the idea that our business can be a unique force for good for all in society. Through our Elanco Healthy Purpose™ framework of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments, we focus on delivering sustainable solutions to advance the well-being of animals, people and the planet. This program also enables our employees around the world to take paid time off to make an impact as a volunteer, offering their time or talent to give back to our customers, causes and communities. #ElancoHealthyPurpose #WeAreElanco
