Senior Scientist - Project Leader Solid State Research (FT)

Introduction To Ardena

As a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), Ardena partners with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes—from emerging biotech to global industry leaders—united by the mission to help biopharma innovators navigate drug development with precision, quality, and speed, bringing their molecules from discovery to the clinic and market. Our fully integrated services span drug substance and drug product development, manufacturing, nanomedicine, clinical logistics, bioanalytical services, state research, fill & finish, and CMC regulatory support.

With a rapidly growing international footprint, Ardena is home to over 750 professionals across six strategic locations—Belgium (Ghent), the Netherlands (Oss and Assen), Sweden (Södertälje), Spain (Pamplona), and Somerset, New Jersey (the US). Our open and transparent culture is built on collaboration, ownership, and innovation, guided by our We CARE values. We foster a communicative environment where mutual respect, accountability, and excellence empower our team.

We are looking for skilled and motivated professionals eager to grow their careers in an exciting and fast-paced environment. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting out, Ardena provides a dynamic workplace where you can contribute to meaningful drug development projects, expand your knowledge, and be part of a global team committed to making a difference. As an international organization, we help you navigate a career path that expands your possibilities beyond borders, opening doors to personal and professional growth without limits. Your potential to grow is limitless with us.

If you are ready to take on new opportunities, work alongside industry experts, and contribute to the future of medicine, Ardena is the place for you.
 

• For the Ardena Business Unit based in Oss, we are looking for a 
• Senior Scientist - Project Leader Solid State Research (FT)

What You Will Work On

The Solid-State Research group is located on the Pivot Park in Oss and specializes in the optimization of the drug substance physical forms including salts, polymorphs, amorphous forms, and co-crystals. Our services also include pre-formulation activities and crystallization process development.

Your Role

The Senior Scientist - Project Leaders at Ardena Solid State Research Services are at the heart of the operation. As a Project Leader you are responsible for solid-state projects from start to finish. You will be writing a research proposal addressing the needs of our customers. Once a project has landed, you will be the lead person to execute the project. This includes implementing experiments in the laboratory, collecting and interpreting data, deciding on follow-up experiments and, finally, writing a report for the customer.

During project execution, you will provide the customer with regular updates on the progress and results of the study. You will foster a strong relationship with the clients by demonstrating flexibility and managing expectations. You will keep track of the agreed timelines and make sure that your projects are executed within the agreed budget. Project progression is discussed internally at regular intervals and you are supported by other project leaders/senior scientists including the Director Solid State Research. You report directly to the Director Solid State Research.

The Senior Scientist - Project Leaders work with Scientists and brief them on laboratory experiments required for a project and the conditions and timelines for such work. The Scientists report back to the Project Leader in charge of the project.

The Senior Scientist - Project leaders are also in charge of the internal innovation with the aim to improve existing services and develop new product offerings. The scope for such innovation is solid state research and preformulation, as well as, other services that would complement our current service offerings. Key internal stakeholder for such innovation is the Director Solid State Research and the task will include working with other business units within Ardena.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Leading projects from start to finish within the timeliness
• Planning experiments for the scientists in the lab
• Interpretation and reporting of data with recommendations
• Communicate progress of projects with clients and other stakeholders
• Foster customer relationships by demonstrating flexibility and understanding customer needs
• Support proposal writing for new studies
• Develop and improve service offerings within Solid State Research and the wider Ardena group.

Your Profile

• You have a PhD in Physical or Analytical Chemistry with proven experience in solid state chemistry or relevant work experience
• You have high quality standards and a research minded attitude
• You are a flexible person and you have a true customer focus and result-oriented approach
• You have good communication skills (mainly English) and enjoy working together with others
• You have at least 3 years experience in material sciences (pharmaceuticals)
• You feel comfortable in a dynamic and changing environment
• You are flexible, a problem solver and a team player
• You have an analytical mindset and you are stress resistant
• You work in an organized manner and are able to work on multiple projects at the same time.

What We Offer

At Ardena, we recognize that our people drive our success. We offer:

How To Apply

Want to know more? Contact René Steendam at rene.steendam@ardena.com or call +31645261099.

Ready to start your career path with Ardena? Click the application button and join us in shaping the future of drug development!