Senior Pharmaceutical Scientist

Placements24; Kimberley; Hybrid; CAD 109,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Generous leave

Conference attendance

Advanced lab facilities

Remote-friendly

Job summary

Our client, a leading innovator in the pharmaceutical industry, seeks a Senior Pharmaceutical Scientist to join the R&D team. The role is based in Kimberley (Northern Cape region) with remote-eligibility and travel to the local research hub as needed, contributing to formulation design, pre-clinical testing, analytical method development, and regulatory documentation.

You will guide drug development from discovery through late-stage trials, work with chemists, biologists, and operations, and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development and drug delivery systems.
• Proven expertise in analytical techniques (HPLC, GC, MS, spectroscopy).
• Experience with drug development from discovery to late-stage clinical trials.
• Strong regulatory understanding for drug development and manufacturing.
• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and experimental design skills.
• Proficiency in literature review and data interpretation.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize pharmaceutical formulations for new drug candidates.
• Conduct pre-clinical studies, including drug characterization, stability testing, and bioavailability assessments.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for drug substance and drug product characterization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including medicinal chemists, biologists, and clinical operations.
• Investigate and troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing process issues.
• Prepare scientific reports and regulatory submission documentation.
• Stay current with literature and industry trends in pharmaceutical R&D.
• Participate in scale-up of drug development from lab to pilot plant and commercial manufacturing.
• Ensure all research activities comply with GLP, GMP and SOPs.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to a culture of scientific excellence.

Skills

Analytical techniques

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Regulatory knowledge

Experimental design

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the pharmaceutical industry, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Pharmaceutical Scientist to join their research and development team. This position, based in the Kimberley, Northern Cape region, offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the discovery and development of novel pharmaceutical products. You will be involved in all stages of drug development, from formulation design and pre-clinical testing to process optimization and scale-up. The ideal candidate will possess a strong scientific background, extensive experience in pharmaceutical R&D, and a passion for scientific inquiry and innovation. As a remote-eligible role, it provides flexibility for candidates who can work independently and contribute effectively to a virtual team environment, while maintaining connection to the local research hub.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize pharmaceutical formulations for new drug candidates.
• Conduct pre-clinical studies, including drug characterization, stability testing, and bioavailability assessments.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for drug substance and drug product characterization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including medicinal chemists, biologists, and clinical operations.
• Investigate and troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing process issues.
• Prepare scientific reports, documentation for regulatory submissions, and presentations.
• Stay current with scientific literature, emerging technologies, and industry trends in pharmaceutical R&D.
• Participate in the scale-up of drug development processes from laboratory to pilot plant and commercial manufacturing.
• Ensure all research activities are conducted in compliance with regulatory guidelines (e.g., GLP, GMP) and company SOPs.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to a culture of scientific excellence and innovation.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development and drug delivery systems.
• Proven expertise in analytical techniques relevant to pharmaceutical characterization (e.g., HPLC, GC, MS, spectroscopy).
• Experience with drug development processes from discovery to late-stage clinical trials.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements for drug development and manufacturing.
• Excellent problem‑solving, critical thinking, and experimental design skills.
• Proficiency in scientific literature review and data interpretation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple research projects in a remote setting.
• Resides within or can effectively operate remotely with occasional travel to Kimberley, Northern Cape.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for annual bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan with employer match.
• Generous paid time off and holiday leave.
• Opportunities for professional development, including attendance at scientific conferences.
• Access to advanced laboratory facilities and cutting‑edge technologies.
• Collaborative research environment fostering scientific discovery.
• Flexible remote work options.