Team Lead, Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Company Description

Detect’s mission is to empower human health with rapid, low-cost diagnostics that can be performed by anyone in under an hour. We are using this technology to help end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Detect is a well-funded, rapidly growing health-tech company founded by award-winning scientist and highly successful serial entrepreneur, Dr. Jonathan Rothberg. Detect is a member of 4Catalyzer, an incubator of biotech and med device companies who have collectively raised over $700 million in funding to date. 

Joining Detect is the opportunity to redesign the future of healthcare through the power of technology. Embark on a journey with us to maximize global impact, motivated by the idea that our products will change the lives of millions along with the people you love.

Job Description

We have an exciting leadership opportunity at Detect’s main campus in Guilford CT, where we are seeking a Team Leader with a background in Synthetic Organic Chemistry who is motivated to lead and shape an interdisciplinary team to develop molecular tools to realize new products which will enable people to better understand their health in the comfort of their home.

Previous experience as a Team Lead or Manager is not essential; we welcome candidates that are excited to roll up their sleeves and dive into technical problems, adapt to new challenges, want to join our vibrant and dynamic culture here at Detect, and can attract the same to their team.

As part of our team, your core responsibilities will be: 

• Develop, lead, and mentor a diverse, interdisciplinary team to:
• Design custom small molecules
• Synthesize oligonucleotides and peptides
• Use conjugation techniques to functionalize materials, polymers, and other macromolecules
• Think outside of the box and leverage our interdisciplinary team to solve problems
• Think outside of the box and leverage our interdisciplinary team to solve problems
• Lead by example 
• Promote a culture of creativity, curiosity, and inclusion 
• Drive toward scientific excellence, collaborate across scientific disciplines, and demonstrate a desire for continuous self-improvement and development 
• Deploy, champion, and encourage your team to deliver change through adopting new technologies or methodologies to catalyze innovation
• Occasionally lead or oversee project teams 
• Present plans and execute on deliverables to relevant stakeholders
• Foster external research collaborations and networks
• Offer, when appropriate, hands on aid within the functional area

Qualifications

Baseline skills/experiences/attributes:

• PhD degree in Organic Chemistry or closely related discipline
• 3 years related industrial experience
• Detailed knowledge of organic chemistry, new synthetic methodologies, and new technologies including 1 or more of the following:
  
  • Development of fluorescent/fluorogenic/luminescent molecules
  • Oligonucleotide synthesis
  • Peptide synthesis
  • Bioconjugation
  • Development of non-canonical amino acids
• Knowledge of, and adherence to, required quality and safety standards
• High level of personal and independent productivity
• Decision making and problem-solving skills
• Practical ability and analytical data interpretation skills
• Evidence of ability to effectively contribute to multidisciplinary scientific teams
• Excellent communication and influencing skills

Ideally, you also have these skills/experiences/attributes (but it’s ok if you don’t!):

• Experience managing or leading people, including team members’ development
• Deep understanding of organometallic chemistry
• History of developing molecules designed to augment protein design

You Deeply Identify with Core Detect Values:

• Put people first. Our colleagues and our customers come first. We respect each other and celebrate our diversity. We take joy in each other’s success, and succeed or fail as a team
• Eye of the owner. We have an ownership mindset and take responsibility for all of our decisions. No problem is someone else's problem. We are frugal and use company resources as if they were our own
• No genius without grit. As innovators, we fail often but fast. We are tenacious. We push through adversity and keep getting up. We are problem solvers and always find a way
• Err on the side of doing. We are scrappy and biased toward action — everyone is an individual contributor. We allow intuition to guide us when we have imperfect information
• Move fast by working smart. We are inventors. We focus, plan, pursue, and adjust to make big things happen in a fraction of the time others can. We disagree and commit
• Always be frank. We celebrate openness and diversity of opinion. We are transparent and candid but compassionate in our feedback, and are always honest to ourselves and our customers

Additional Information

We offer great perks: 

• Fully covered medical insurance plan, and dental & vision coverage - as a health-tech company, we place great worth on our teams’ well-being
• Competitive salaried compensation - we value our employees and show it 
• Equity - we want every employee to be a stakeholder
• Pre-tax commuter benefits - we make your commute more reasonable 
• 401k plan - we facilitate your retirement goals
• The opportunity to build a revolutionary healthcare product and save millions of lives! 

Detect does not accept agency resumes.

Detect is an equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or Veteran status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.