R&D Scientist

IntelliPro Group Inc.•Richmond, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Seeking a Transformation Lead Scientist to lead end-to-end laboratory and process transformation across Product Integrity, Analytical Sciences, R&D, and Manufacturing Quality laboratories within a highly regulated consumer products environment. This role supports laboratories focused on tobacco, nicotine, aerosol, and next-generation product testing, ensuring analytical and quality operations are efficient, compliant, and scalable. The successful candidate will assess current capabilities across multiple sites while working alongside business-as-usual (BAU) lab operations, driving measurable improvements in throughput, data quality, and regulatory readiness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Microbiology, Analytical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline
Minimum of 5–10 years of hands-on laboratory experience in a regulated environment (e.g., consumer products, pharmaceutical, or similar)
An Associate's degree in a life science field plus 15+ years of laboratory experience
R&D Lab Experience
Metrics
Lab Productivity
Strong scientific and technical foundation in analytical sciences, chemistry, microbiology, or related disciplines, with the ability to understand and troubleshoot complex laboratory workflows
Proven experience in process transformation and operational excellence, including assessing workflows and implementing scalable improvements
Strong data analytics capability with experience defining, tracking, and interpreting key performance metrics (e.g., throughput, error rates, cycle time)
Experience developing or leveraging systems and tools (e.g., LIMS, ELN, dashboards) to capture, manage, and visualize operational data
Effective leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and communicate insights clearly
Solid understanding of regulated laboratory environments (e.g., FDA, ISO, GLP/GMP) with a strong focus on quality, compliance, and documentation accuracy

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Chemistry, Analytical Sciences, Microbiology, or a related scientific field.
Experience in tobacco, nicotine, aerosol, or other regulated consumer product testing environments.
Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation (e.g., chromatography, spectroscopy, or automated lab systems)
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as FDA, ISO, GLP/GMP, and data integrity standards
Experience with digital lab systems and tools (e.g., LIMS, ELN, data visualization platforms)
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional or multi-site initiatives, including process transformation or lab optimization

Responsibilities

Lead process transformation across Analytical Sciences production labs, Foundational Chemistry labs, R&D environments, and Manufacturing Quality Services labs
Map current-state capabilities while operating in parallel with business-as-usual (BAU) activities
Identify gaps, redundancies, and inefficiencies across laboratory operations and service delivery models
Evaluate workflows across multiple sites, teams, and laboratory functions
Develop and implement skills matrices to assess workforce capabilities and identify proficiency gaps
Align resources, roles, and processes to optimize efficiency and scalability across the network
Define and analyze key performance metrics, including samples processed per role, non-conformance/error rates, and time per sample
Leverage data-driven insights to drive process optimization and continuous improvement
Implement scalable solutions that enhance throughput, data quality, compliance, and overall operational performance
Design and implement systems and tools to capture, track, and report key laboratory performance metrics
Establish standardized methods for data collection, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and traceability
Enable real-time or near-real-time visibility into operational performance to support decision-making and continuous improvement