Associate Scientific Director, Chemical Process Development

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

The Process Chemistry function plays a central role in designing safe, efficient, robust, and sustainable manufacturing processes. By combining deep scientific expertise with enabling technologies and strong cross-functional partnerships, CPD delivers transformative innovation across the pipeline.

The Associate Scientific Director is a strategic scientific leader responsible for driving drug substance development strategies, influencing cross-functional decisions, and delivering high-impact outcomes across a diverse portfolio.
 

Position Summary

The Associate Scientific Director provides scientific and strategic leadership for drug substance programs spanning early- to late-stage development across modalities including small molecules and other synthetic assets. This role is primarily focused on program leadership and strategy, with selective hands-on scientific contribution to address critical technical challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific & Program Leadership

• Lead chemical and process development strategy for drug substance programs across a portfolio that may include small molecules, ADCs, and other synthetic modalities, spanning early- and late-stage development.
• Provide strategic oversight of route design, process development, and manufacturability, while contributing hands-on scientific input where needed to resolve critical technical challenges.
• Apply first-principles approaches to assess and mitigate risks, defining mitigation strategies and making critical scientific recommendations at key program milestones
• Represent drug substance development strategies in cross-functional CMC teams, ensuring alignment across analytical chemistry, engineering, regulatory affairs, and supply chain

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Set clear priorities and objectives for the team in alignment with portfolio goals and CPD's broader organizational strategy
• Mentor and develop scientists across CPD Chemistry, contributing to a culture of scientific excellence and continuous learning
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance team environment built on psychological safety, accountability, and collaboration

Innovation & Organizational Contribution

• Propose and lead departmental initiatives that improve scientific workflows, sustainability practices, and operational efficiency
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with external academic institutions and industry partners to accelerate scientific advancement
• Represent CPD Chemistry's capabilities at internal reviews, scientific conferences, and through peer-reviewed publications

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a key scientific voice in cross-functional CMC teams and broader enterprise forums
• Partner with CPD functional areas — including analytical chemistry, engineering, and drug substance supply — to deliver on CPD's integrated vision
• Collaborate with CPD and chemistry organization leadership to drive strategic alignment across the portfolio

Qualifications & Experience

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or a related field with a track record of academic excellence.
• 8 or more years of relevant industry experience in process chemistry, chemical development, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated track record of leading scientific projects from conception through delivery with measurable outcomes
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to lead complex projects independently and influence decisions across matrixed teams and governance forums.
• Prior experience managing, mentoring, or developing scientists in an industrial setting
• Strong scientific foundation in process chemistry, including route assessment, process understanding, and risk-based decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with accountability, agility, and integrity in a fast-paced, portfolio-driven environment
• External presence in the organic chemistry or broader scientific community through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and/or professional engagement is preferred.

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

New Brunswick - NJ - US: $163,610 - $198,254 Princeton - NJ - US: $163,610 - $198,254

The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. 

Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
 

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.

• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.

​Work-life benefits include:

Paid Time Off

• US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)

• Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays

Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.

All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.

*Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection.

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at TAEnablement@bms.com. Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response. Inquiries related to the status of your application should be directed to Chat with Ripley.

R1602351 : Associate Scientific Director, Chemical Process Development