Job Description

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Laboratory Setting, Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.), Will work with hazardous/toxic materials

Job Description

Staff Scientist – Pharma

We have successfully supported the top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 750 biotechs, spanning 2,700 clinical trials across 100+ countries in the last 5 years.

At PPD, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life - enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

We provide our teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while taking science a step beyond through research, development and delivery of life-changing therapies. With clinical trials conducted in 100+ countries and ongoing development of novel frameworks for clinical research, our work spans laboratory, digital and decentralized clinical trial services.

Your determination to deliver quality and accuracy will improve health outcomes that people and communities depend on – now and in the future.

Location/Division Specific Information

Our PPD® Laboratory Services team has a direct impact on improving patient health through the expertise of scientists, industry thought-leaders and therapeutic guides. As the world leader in serving science, our laboratory professionals bring their commitment to accuracy and quality to deliver groundbreaking innovations.

This role is based in the Pharma team at our GMP Analytical testing laboratory in Athlone, Ireland where you will work on a validations focused group.

Job Summary:

The Staff Scientist is a senior scientific expert who provides technical leadership within the laboratory. Combining hands-on laboratory work with expert scientific oversight, this role leads complex, non-routine analytical activities and helps strengthen the laboratory’s technical capabilities.

As a recognised Subject Matter Expert (SME), the Staff Scientist may lead analytical method development, validation and transfer activities, or provide specialist expertise in specific analytical technologies. The role is focused on solving complex scientific challenges, making sound technical decisions and ensuring work is performed to a high scientific and regulatory standard.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for complex, non-routine analytical activities, including method development, establishment, validation and transfer.
• Serve as a senior technical authority and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for one or more analytical technologies, platforms or scientific disciplines.
• Guide scientific decision-making, including experimental design, execution strategy, data analysis and interpretation.
• Design, execute and oversee complex laboratory experiments and analytical development activities, maintaining an active hands-on laboratory presence.
• Review and approve technical documentation, including analytical methods, protocols, reports and quality records, ensuring scientific quality, regulatory compliance and data integrity.
• Lead the scientific resolution of complex technical issues, atypical results and escalated investigations, including root cause analysis and identification of appropriate corrective actions.
• Lead or provide technical oversight across multiple non-routine and method-establishment programs, guiding Senior Scientists and other technical contributors.
• Act as a technology SME to advance laboratory capabilities, optimise analytical methods and establish scientific best practices.
• Mentor and develop scientists, strengthening technical expertise, critical thinking and scientific judgement across the laboratory.
• Support laboratory leadership in identifying and developing high-potential technical talent.
• Champion a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, quality and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Laboratory Leadership, Quality and Program Management to align technical execution with program objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Represent the laboratory as a senior technical expert in client discussions, providing guidance on analytical methods, data interpretation and technical strategy.
• Provide expert scientific, technical and regulatory recommendations to internal teams and clients.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 8+ years of relevant industry experience
• Strong hands-on experience with HPLC, and other analytical testing

Knowledge, skills and attributes:

• Expert knowledge of analytical testing techniques, laboratory instrumentation and method execution within a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to design, execute and oversee complex analytical activities, including method development, establishment, validation, transfer and investigations and in adherence to the associated regulatory and ICH requirements
• Advanced troubleshooting, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to identify root causes and implement robust, sustainable solutions.
• Deep subject matter expertise in one or more analytical methods, assays, platforms or technologies, with the ability to apply this expertise across multiple programs.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills, including evaluation of trends, outliers and complex or atypical data.
• Strong understanding of GMP, data integrity, quality requirements and regulatory expectations, with a commitment to scientific rigor.
• Ability to provide scientific and technical leadership, guiding experimental design, execution strategy and technical decision-making.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop scientists, strengthening technical capability, scientific judgement and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex scientific information clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across Laboratory, Quality, Program Management and client teams.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex technical priorities.
• Proficiency with relevant laboratory data systems and digital tools, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, professional development and scientific excellence.

Why Join Us?

When you join Thermo Fisher Scientific, you become part of a global team that values passion, innovation, and a commitment to scientific excellence. You’ll work in an environment where collaboration and development are part of the everyday experience—and where your contributions truly make a difference.

Apply today to help us deliver tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

We welcome and encourage applicants from outside of Ireland. We can provide support with immigration and visa needs for successful applicants and dependents, tax consultations and other basic destination services. All other relocation costs are at the expense of the applicant.