Time commitment: c. 1-2 days per month (including Board meetings + ad hoc communication)

Remuneration: £1,000 - £1,500 per day

Eramol, founded in 2017 by two Qualified Persons (QPs), is a rapidly-growing contract manufacturer of clinical trial medicines with a global reach. The company, holding MHRA licenses for Good Manufacturing Practice, operates in the UK and Dublin, serving a diverse clientele, including pharmaceutical giants, biotech startups, and universities. With a commitment to people development and a team of 41 FTEs and five contractors, Eramol has seen significant growth, projecting a turnover increase from ~£1m in 2020 to £6.5m in 2023.

Eramol has secured significant market share in the small-scale contract manufacturing services aimed at early-phase clinical trials across the UK, EU, US and Australian markets. Its highly adaptable manufacturing clean rooms and processing equipment provides agility in its turnaround times to customers. Eramol's strategic initiatives focus on expanding services and achieving a projected turnover of £20m by 2029. The company has successfully broadened its client base, ventured into controlled substance manufacturing for psychedelic research, and invested in new facilities and software systems to support its organic growth. 

Operating under Eramol Group Holdings Ltd, with subsidiaries in the UK and Ireland, the company has maintained a profitable trajectory without external investment or bank loans. The founders, with equal shares in the holding company, navigate the evolving landscape of pharmaceutical manufacturing with a keen eye on strategic growth and financial sustainability.

At Eramol, both co-founders lack prior formal board experience but possess substantial technical and operational expertise, which has been instrumental since the company's inception. Recognizing knowledge gaps in strategy creation, execution, board management, and corporate governance processes, they acknowledge the need for additional senior leadership and board-level support to fortify the foundation for future growth.

At this stage, a NED is deemed essential to support the board, assume Chair functions, and allow co-founders to focus on growth plans, particularly existing process improvements and the new sterile manufacturing facility. The absence of a NED could hinder the realization of Eramol's ambitious growth plans. The NED's role extends to managing the board, fostering independent challenge and oversight, and ensuring robust corporate governance. This strategic support enables the co-founders to step back from day-to-day management, assuming a forward-looking, strategic role in driving the company's success.

The new NED will:

• Provide independent oversight and challenge to enhance corporate governance arrangements
• Support the establishment of corporate governance policies, procedures, and culture within Eramol
• Manage formal board activities and board members, ensuring documentation and justification of decisions
• Offer guidance to co-founders for future investments, such as AIMs listing or capital raise, to make Eramol 'investment ready'
• Provide guidance to set and execute company strategy for the senior management team and wider business
• Support the management of strategic and business risks
• Offer expert input and judgment on current gaps or areas for enhancement across Eramol's business
• Assist co-founders with potential medium and longer-term exit strategies and associated options / risks
• Support with C-suite appointments (CFO & CEO) in the medium term

The ideal Non-Executive Director for Eramol should possess pharmaceutical industry expertise, particularly in clinical contract manufacturing, development, and supply. Experience in collaborating with co-founders for the scale-up of ambitious companies, along with a broad network in Contract Development & Manufacturing Organisations (CDMO), would be highly beneficial for Eramol.

The new NED is crucial in preparing Eramol for future investments, whether through acquisition, loans, or an AIM listing. Their role extends to making the company 'investment ready,' navigating potential financial paths, and contributing to long-term strategic goals.

The preferred candidate can bring a diverse set of functional skills, including but not limited to sales, finance, or marketing. Eramol is open to any functional expertise; what's important is their experience in setting up boards, decision-making processes, and networking with other companies for relevant introductions. In terms of the role and responsibilities, the new NED will be leading the Board, therefore prior Chair experience is preferable but not essential.

Eramol would like the new NED to start within Q1 2024. This will supplement a Site Director role that is currently being recruited into a new senior role who will lead the business reporting into the co-owners.

The Eramol board comprises of its two sole shareholders and co-founders Peter Mollison & Eric Che. 

This role is remunerated at c. £1,000 - £1,500 per day and reasonable, pre-agreed, travel expenses will be reimbursed.

There is a range of 6-10 Board meetings per annum. The time commitment is expected to be c. 1-2 days per month.

Eramol is based in Sevenoaks and there is a preference for meetings to be ‘in-person’, although a hybrid model may be acceptable for an outstanding candidate.