Director of Chemistry R&D

OHR uses primordial chemistry and synthetic biology to fashion strategic chemicals. Our technology enables the creation of carbon chains of deterministic length without cells, co-factors, or typical oil contaminants. With a core value of sustainability, OHR is focused on building resilient supply chains through innovative solutions.

OHR Synbiosis seeks a highly experienced Chemistry Director or Sr. Principal Scientist to lead technical developments and technology transfer across R&D groups and between the broader OHR organization. The candidate will lead development of synthetic chemistry routes of OHR’s Creationary Chemistry TM platform, including: organic chemistry synthetic pathway exploration and discovery, reaction process optimization, catalyst development, analytical methodologies, product application, and external technical partnership management.

• Exemplify excellence in lab safety and chemical hygiene practices.
• Direct research and development on OHR’s Creationary Chemistry TM platform across multiple physical locations. Lead the drive to deliver critical chemicals to public and private customers in need.
• Oversee discovery of organic and synthetic chemistry reactions to create novel synthetic routes leveraging OHR’s proprietary enzymatic intermediates.
• Lead Process Chemistry R&D to design, optimize, and scale catalytic processes, including acid/base catalysis, heterogenous supported-metal and inorganic catalysis, hydrogenation, and hydrodeoxygenation.
• Oversee development of analytical methodologies, in-house and with partners, to build quantitative standing of chemical reactions.
• Build testing and characterization protocols for OHR’s aviation and aerospace fuel product portfolio and additional proprietary emerging product portfolios.
• Design, test, validate, and find partners to scale novel heterogenous inorganic catalysts.
• Develop long-term research and IP strategies to solidify the Creationary Chemistry TM platform.
• Recruit, hire, and build additional talent to strengthen OHR’s chemistry group.
• Oversee technology transfer to OHR’s Manufacturing team and external partners.
• With Project Managers and Executives, implement project management systems to track Chemistry R&D developments and KPIs.

• Doctoral Degree in Chemistry, or equivalent area, from an accredited university.
• Previous Director level experience > 1 year.
• Exemplary past demonstration of lab and workplace safety.
• Direct experience simultaneously leading and guiding multiple technical chemistry research and development teams.
• Direct experience overseeing discovery and development of synthetic chemistry pathways.
• Direct experience overseeing process chemistry and reaction optimization teams.
• Direct experience exploring and selecting or synthesizing and evaluating heterogenous metal catalysts for hydrogenation and reduction chemistry.
• Direct experience discovering or optimizing acid and based catalyzed reactions.
• Direct experience managing development of analytical methods of compound identification and quantification, including utilization of GC-FID, HPLC, LC/MS, GC/MS, NMR, and ICP.
• Experience managing international technical teams or technical partnerships.
• Direct hands-on experience converting established batch reactions to flow/continuous reactions.
• Past experience hiring, training, and managing younger scientists.
• Ability to control ITAR and Export Compliance restricted information.