BlueChew · 17 hours ago
R&D Lab Director
Elmhurst, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
7+ years expMeds.com is a rapidly growing consumer technology firm focused on innovative healthcare solutions. The R&D Lab Director will lead laboratory operations during a period of expansion, overseeing multiple development programs and managing an R&D team to support new product launches.
Computer Software
Responsibilities
Lead R&D activities supporting the launch of a large portfolio of new products over multiple years
Manage formulation development, testing, and early-stage scale-up for numerous projects in parallel
Establish repeatable, scalable R&D processes that enable speed without compromising quality or compliance
Drive prioritization decisions to align lab capacity with business and executive objectives
Own project planning, timelines, and milestones across a high volume of simultaneous R&D initiatives
Develop and maintain clear tracking systems for progress, dependencies, risks, and deliverables
Proactively identify bottlenecks, resource constraints, and risks, and make informed decisions to keep projects on schedule
Provide accurate forecasts and status updates to executive leadership
Budget management: a core responsibility of the department leader to ensure costs remain proportionate and well controlled
Oversee daily operation, maintenance, calibration, and qualification of lab equipment and pharmaceutical machinery
Ensure machinery readiness to support accelerated development and increased throughput
Lead equipment selection, upgrades, vendor coordination, and validation activities
Maintain equipment documentation, logs, and SOPs in compliance with GMP and regulatory standards
Build, manage, and develop a high-performing R&D team including scientists, technicians, and lab staff
Set clear expectations, assign priorities, and ensure accountability across projects
Coach team members on technical excellence, productivity, and cross-functional collaboration
Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management as the organization scales
Act as the primary liaison between executive leadership and the R&D lab team
Translate high-level business goals into executable lab priorities and timelines
Communicate complex technical information clearly to non-technical stakeholders
Partner closely with Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Telehealth Operations teams
Make timely, data-driven decisions in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
Ensure compliance with GMP, GLP, FDA, and applicable pharmaceutical regulations
Support audits, inspections, and internal reviews in collaboration with Quality and Regulatory teams
Enforce safety standards, documentation practices, and continuous improvement initiatives
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Biology, or a related field
7+ years of pharmaceutical R&D experience, including 3+ years in a lab management or leadership role
Proven experience managing high volumes of concurrent R&D projects and product launches
Hands on experience with pharmaceutical lab equipment and machinery
Strong track record of leading teams, managing performance, and making sound operational decisions
Exceptional organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Preferred
Experience in telehealth, health tech, or direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical environments
Background in formulation development, product lifecycle management, and technology transfer
Familiarity with rapid product launch models and scaled R&D operations
Experience implementing project tracking tools, lab management systems, or process automation
Benefits
100% company-paid Medical, Dental, Vision premium coverage, plus Short-Term Disability and Life Insurance
401K with company match
Paid time off and company-paid holidays
Enjoy free daily lunch
Company
BlueChew
BlueChew is a telehealth service that provides chewable tablets that help men achieve longer-lasting and stronger erections.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageRecent News
2025-11-07
Company data provided by crunchbase