R&D Lab Director

R&D Lab Director

Chicago, IL

Role Overview

The R&D Lab Director will guide all laboratory activities during a high‑growth period marked by frequent product launches and expanding operational capacity. This individual will oversee parallel development programs, ensure laboratory systems and equipment are optimized for fast‑moving timelines, and build a high‑performing team capable of supporting an ambitious long‑term pipeline. The role requires a strong blend of technical depth, operational discipline, and strategic leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct all laboratory research and development activities to support a high volume of upcoming product introductions, ensuring programs progress efficiently and meet organizational goals.
• Lead formulation development, early‑stage testing, and process optimization efforts across multiple projects running in parallel, maintaining both speed and scientific rigor.
• Build and refine scalable R&D processes that enhance throughput, standardization, and compliance without sacrificing quality.
• Prioritize projects and allocate resources strategically to align lab capacity with broader business and leadership objectives.
• Oversee project planning, timeline development, milestone setting, and ongoing progress tracking to keep numerous initiatives on schedule.
• Identify operational bottlenecks or risks early and make data‑driven decisions to remove obstacles and maintain program momentum.
• Manage laboratory infrastructure, including equipment readiness, maintenance, calibration, qualification, vendor engagement, and documentation in alignment with regulatory expectations.
• Hire, mentor, and manage a multidisciplinary team, fostering strong communication, accountability, technical excellence, and continuous development.
• Serve as the primary connection between lab operations and leadership teams, translating strategic goals into actionable lab deliverables while communicating updates clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ensure full compliance with GMP, GLP, FDA regulations, and internal quality standards while maintaining a safe work environment and supporting audits, inspections, and documentation accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific field.
• 7+ years of experience in pharmaceutical R&D, including at least 3 years leading laboratory teams or managing lab operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent development programs and rapid product launch cycles.
• Hands‑on experience with pharmaceutical laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Strong leadership, communication, prioritization, and operational decision‑making skills.