Product Development - Formulation Team Lead

Team Manager – Associate Director/Director 

Early Product Development and Manufacture, Pharmaceutical Sciences 

Location: Macclesfield, UK 

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to lead formulation science that accelerates first-in-human and proof-of-concept medicines? Based in Macclesfield, you will guide a team focused on oral solid dosage forms for Phase I and II, including enabling formulations for poorly soluble compounds—work that directly influences how quickly patients see the benefit of breakthrough therapies.

You will set direction and deliver results in an environment that blends hands-on formulation with digital, predictive and automated approaches. Partnering across disciplines and with strategic external collaborators, you will help compress development timelines while raising scientific rigor. How will you shape a strategy that builds capability today and sets a new bar for tomorrow?

Accountabilities:

Team Leadership and Development: Lead, coach and inspire a high-performing team of formulation scientists; build an inclusive environment that grows expertise, engagement and impact.

Portfolio Strategy and Delivery: Maintain oversight of project demands; allocate resources based on risk, priority, expertise and experience; ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of Phase I/II formulations and clinical supplies; review and approve documentation for regulatory submissions and knowledge management.

Formulation Design and Innovation: Design and develop oral solid dosage forms with a focus on enabling strategies for poorly soluble compounds; apply scientific principles and biopharmaceutics understanding to translate molecules into robust investigational products.

Strategic Leadership and Influence: Contribute to departmental goals as part of the leadership group; set and implement strategy for accelerated development of oral solid dosage forms, including capability building and strategic partnerships.

Technical Governance and Compliance: Uphold SHE and Quality standards; ensure risk assessments are completed; investigate quality events; establish and track improvement and action plans.

Digital, Automation and Predictive Science: Lead cross-functional improvement projects to embed digital ways of working, automation and predictive science that sharpen decision-making and increase development efficiency.

Cross-Functional and External Collaboration: Partner closely with analytical sciences, clinical supply, process engineering, regulatory and external CDMOs/CROs to remove barriers, manage interfaces and deliver business value.

Essential Skills/Experience:

- A proven record of delivery in pharmaceutical development with deep experience of developing oral solid dosage forms in early clinical phase and an understanding of line of sight to late stage and commercial development.

- Demonstrated expertise in developing drug products of poorly soluble compounds, including enabling formulations.

- Demonstrated success leading teams of scientists - coaching and mentoring individuals and building inclusive and high-performing teams.

- Proven ability to lead through influence in a global, crossfunctional setting and to deliver through others.

- Experience of defining and implementing forward-looking science and technology strategies, preferably including elements of novel digital, predictive science and automation approaches.

- Excellent communication, collaboration & networking skills with the ability to influence and engage colleagues and stakeholders in new initiatives.

- Knowledge of and practical experience of quality, SHE and regulatory requirements.

- Experience in resource planning and to balance portfolio capacity and timelines preferred.

- BSc, MSc, PhD or equivalent in pharmaceutical science, chemical engineering or related fields with at least 10 years’ experience within the industry.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

- Experience delivering Phase I/II oral solid dosage clinical supplies under GMP and transferring processes to clinical manufacturing.

- Expertise with enabling technologies such as amorphous solid dispersions, lipid-based systems, nano-milling and salt/cocrystal selection.

- Proficiency with design of experiments, process modeling and biopharmaceutics risk assessment, including dissolution and absorption modeling.

- Hands-on experience with automation platforms, high-throughput screening, LIMS/ELN and data analytics for formulation decision-making.

- Track record of partnering with CDMOs/CROs, managing external budgets and establishing capability-building collaborations.

- Familiarity with PAT and in-line/at-line analytics to accelerate development and strengthen process understanding.

- Experience building and scaling inclusive, high-performing teams across multiple sites.

Why AstraZeneca:

Join a place where scientific curiosity meets bold execution—where formulation scientists, data experts and engineers sit together to test hypotheses, review dissolution profiles alongside in-silico predictions and make fast, well-evidenced decisions that move molecules forward. We combine deep disease understanding with digital, data science and AI to better predict clinical success and shorten the path to patients. You will be trusted to explore, supported to learn and surrounded by partners from academia, biotechs and across our global network. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we expect thoughtful challenge as we aim for the greatest and swiftest impact on disease.

Lead the next wave of oral solid dosage innovation for poorly soluble molecules—submit your application to turn science into medicine faster!