Director of Toxicology

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Job Description

Albemarle is hiring for a Director of Toxicology. This position can sit hybrid in one of the below locations:

• Brussels, Belgium
• Budapest, Hungary
• Charlotte, North Carolina - United States
• Frankfurt, Germany
• Fully remote may also be considered

The Director of Toxicology role supports Albemarle's commitment to protecting human health and the environment by enabling informed decision-making for all stakeholders, including workers, customers, governments and regulatory agencies.

Sitting within the Product Stewardship team, the Director of Toxicology plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and regulatory compliance of Albemarle's global product portfolio. This position is responsible for defending and promoting products from a basis of sound toxicology, ensuring alignment with international chemical control laws, and providing expert insight into chemical hazards and risks. Strong interaction with the regulatory experts and the hazard communication team, as well as strong leadership and mentoring of the toxicology group (two staff toxicologists as well as external consultants) are key to this position.

What You Will Do

• Cooperate with business units to identify needs for toxicological and ecotoxicological testing for regulatory purposes and registrations worldwide (e.g., reflect correctly changes in tonnage, uses, impurities)
• Cooperate closely with the EU and US regulatory teams to respond to requests for data submission by authorities in a timely manner
• Develop testing plans and strategies for Albemarle's chemicals, monitor studies, compose summaries and interpret results; this includes acquisition of proposals and quotes from CROs, selection of CRO and reflection of costs in the Product Stewardship budget
• Reflect expected costs related to the toxicology work in the yearly budget plan; active role in budget planning and budget control
• Be involved in the hazard communication and in particular in the creation of safety data sheets and other hazard information for our customers
• Represent Albemarle in negotiations with regulatory authorities, customers and inter-industry working groups
• Cooperate with our External Affairs and Communication team in preparing scientifically robust communication on the hazard and risk of our products
• Strong involvement in and awareness of the status of the search, analysis and evaluation of relevant published information carried out within the toxicology team
• Keep abreast of scientific developments in the area of human and environmental hazard and risk assessment
• Lead and manage toxicology team, providing mentorship and scientific guidance for individuals' growth

What You Bring

Required:

• 10+ years of experience in regulatory toxicology of chemicals
• A PhD in chemistry, biology, medical sciences/medicine, pharmacy, or other related sciences and a post graduate degree in toxicology
• DABT/ERT or similar certification(s) as well as membership in one or several international professional associations (e.g., SOT, ACT)  
• Fluency in English, any other languages being a plus
• Experience with the written defense of products and response/rebuttal of regulatory proposals, such as dossier or substance evaluations, compliance checks, CLH proposals, etc.
• Significant experience with the toxicology and testing aspects of REACH; knowledge in US and international chemical control laws and registration requirements is a plus
• Experience in mammalian toxicology (acute and chronic), DART, genotoxicity, bioaccumulation (mammalian, fish) and NAMS (in vitro testing)
• Experience in ecotoxicology testing and environmental fate studies to supervise those types of studies
• Comfort with a broad portfolio of diverse chemistries, including a wide range of lithium compounds, bromide salts, complex organic brominated compounds, polymers, Grignards, bromine-based biocides
• Knowledge of and experience with the assessment of "difficult substances", ideally substances with a persistent profile, meeting the new CLP hazard classes of, e.g., PBT, PMT or vPvB

Preferred:

• Knowledge and experience with "difficult to test" substances (e.g., superhydrophobic, insoluble in organic solvents, metals) is preferred
• Knowledge in the regulatory requirement and toxicology testing of polymers is an asset
• Working knowledge of software systems used for toxicology, mainly IUCLID and in silico approaches (QSAR)
• Ability to operate autonomously, with a strong sense for initiative, and excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Strong leader and mentor for the toxicology team with a view to enable individual growth and development

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Benefits of Joining Albemarle

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive benefits package

• A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.

We are partners to one another in pioneering new ways to be better for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. When you join Albemarle, you become our most essential element and you can anticipate competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and resources that foster your well-being and fuel your personal growth. Help us shape the future, build with purpose and grow together.