Senior Analytical Chemist-Drug Discovery

RTI International (RTI) is both a global research institute and a leading international development organization based out of North Carolina. At RTI, you will find work you believe in, tackling some of the most complex global challenges of our time. Our mission is to impact the wellbeing of 1 billion people by 2030 through science-based solutions in climate, education, health, and equity. Our staff promote meaningful change around the world helping people live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives.

If you are looking for an opportunity to make a real difference, RTI is the place for you. Join us in our commitment to teamwork, belonging, and the passion to change the world.

We are currently seeking a Senior Analytical Chemist for a position in its Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) unit providing project management and regulatory (FDA GLP, cGMP) analytical support to existing government and commercial research programs. 

The Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) is a multi-disciplinary center comprised of chemists and pharmacologists working together to discover new therapeutics in a non-profit setting. Our work is funded by federal agencies, such as the NIH and FDA, through grants and contracts in addition to various commercial entities. CDD is currently seeking to grow its federal and commercial computational chemistry offerings, which creates the need for a Computational Chemist to join our team of established researchers

We are seeking a skilled scientist to play a key role in government-funded programs focused on the development, maintenance, and analysis of drugs and natural products supporting research and medications development for substance use disorders.

As a Senior Analytical Chemist, you will lead complex research projects, overseeing all aspects of planning, coordination, and execution. You will manage daily operations, ensuring seamless interdepartmental collaboration and supervising project staff, including hiring, training, and mentoring teams. Regular assessments of project execution will help identify areas for improvement, ensuring efficiency and compliance within GxP or other regulated environments through proper record-keeping.

Your role will involve analyzing results, synthesizing findings within the context of existing knowledge, and delivering high-quality study reports and project documentation. Additionally, you will take the lead in preparing complex proposals of significant technical, financial, or strategic importance. Maintaining frequent communication with sponsors, collaborators, contractors, and project teams is essential for success. You will also leverage and advance state-of-the-art methods and technologies to develop well-structured, timely project deliverables that meet the highest professional standards.

Additional responsibilities will include:

• Develop and validate analytical methods for pharmaceutical drug substances and products.
• Design and oversee stability studies in compliance with FDA guidance.
• Prepare and characterize reference standards.
• Conduct quality control testing and establish specifications for drug substances and products.
• Develop Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) documentation for regulatory submissions, including DMFs, INDs, and NDAs.

To be successful in this role, you will possess:

• Experience with handling and analysis of controlled substances
• Experience with natural products under regulated conditions
• Experience with equipment and software validation
• Experience writing or contributing to government proposals or grants
• Experience with personnel management and laboratory supervision
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and teaming skills
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s level degree and 12 years of directly related experience, or: Master’s level degree and 10 years of directly related experience, or: PhD and 6 years of directly related experience.
• Demonstrated experience performing a full range of chemical analyses and tests with strong understanding and hands-on experience with chromatography technologies including HPLC-UV/PDA and GC/FID. chromatography separations
• Demonstrated experience with development and analysis under regulatory compliance (FDA GLP, cGMP).
• A demonstrated track record of leading complex projects.

For San Francisco, CA USA Job Postings Only: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Further information is available here.

RTI accepts applications to our job openings from candidates with criminal histories or conviction records in accordance with all applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

For Applicants in Massachusetts Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

The anticipated pay range for this role is listed below. Our pay ranges represent national averages and may vary by location as a geographic differential may be applied to some locations within the United States. RTI considers multiple factors when making an offer including, for example: established salary range, internal budget, business needs, and education and years of work experience possessed by the applicant. Further, salary is merely one element to our offer.

At RTI, we demonstrate our commitment to rewarding individual and team achievement through a total rewards package. This package includes (among other things) a competitive base salary, a generous paid time off policy, merit based annual increases, bonus opportunities and a robust recognition program. Other benefits include a competitive range of insurance plans (including health, dental, life, and short-term and long-term disability), access to a retirement savings program such as a 401(k) plan, paid parental leave for all parents, financial assistance with adoption expenses or infertility treatments, financial reimbursement for education and developmental opportunities, an employee assistance program, and numerous other offerings to support a healthy work-life balance.

Salary : $100,000 - $130,000