Director and Research and Development

Director of R&D – Nucleic Acid Technologies

Our client is seeking an experienced Director of Research & Development to lead the development, scale-up, and commercialization of advanced nucleic acid-based products, with a focus on DNA and RNA technologies.

This is a senior leadership role for a scientifically rigorous, commercially minded R&D leader who can take products from concept through development, transfer, and launch. The successful candidate will bring deep technical expertise in molecular biology or related fields, strong experience in regulated life sciences environments, and a proven ability to lead cross-functional programs involving R&D, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and commercial teams.

The Role

As Director of R&D, you will lead application and product development initiatives across nucleic acid technologies. You will oversee scientific strategy, experimental design, product optimization, scale-up, and technology transfer, ensuring that innovation is aligned with business goals, customer needs, regulatory requirements, and manufacturing realities.

You will also build and mentor a high-performing R&D team, creating a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, and practical execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead R&D programs focused on nucleic acid technologies, including DNA and RNA applications.

• Drive application and product development from early-stage concept through commercialization.

• Oversee experimental design, data analysis, interpretation, and technical decision-making.

• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and commercial teams to transition products from R&D into production.

• Guide process scale-up and technology transfer, optimizing for quality, efficiency, cost, and manufacturability.

• Ensure products, processes, and documentation comply with relevant ISO standards and quality systems.

• Maintain strong documentation practices, including SOPs, technical reports, development records, and regulatory support materials.

• Lead multiple concurrent projects while meeting demanding product development and launch timelines.

• Monitor scientific, technical, and market trends to identify new opportunities in nucleic acid-based technologies.

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a capable R&D team, fostering innovation, ownership, and high standards.

Required Experience

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related life sciences discipline.

• Minimum of 10 years’ relevant industry experience in biological R&D.

• Proven expertise in nucleic acid technologies, including DNA and RNA product development and applications.

• Strong track record in application development, product development, and commercialization.

• Experience leading complex R&D programs and cross-functional teams.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in regulated life sciences environments, such as diagnostics, therapeutics, biotechnology, or related fields.

• Successful track record of launching nucleic acid-based products.

• Experience working in cleanroom environments, including contamination control, aseptic techniques, and environmental monitoring.

• Knowledge of ISO standards and quality systems, including ISO 13485, ISO 9001, and cleanroom classifications such as ISO Class 5–8.

• Hands-on experience with manufacturing processes, scale-up, and production transfer.

• Familiarity with automation, high-throughput systems, or bioinformatics tools.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a senior R&D leader who combines scientific depth with commercial pragmatism. You will be comfortable operating at both strategic and technical levels, able to set direction while still understanding the details that determine whether a product can be successfully developed, manufactured, and launched.

You will bring structure, pace, and scientific discipline to complex development programs, while helping build an R&D function capable of delivering high-quality, market-ready products.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to take a leading role in the development of innovative nucleic acid-based technologies, working at the intersection of scientific innovation, product development, manufacturing, and commercialization.

For an experienced R&D leader looking to shape product strategy, build high-performing teams, and bring advanced DNA and RNA technologies to market, this role offers significant scope, visibility, and impact.