R&D Associate

Nestabotanicals; India; On-site; INR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive package with performance-linked component

Training budget for GMP/Safety

Job summary

Nestabotanicals in Palampur/Dharamshala is looking for an R&D Associate with expertise in Ayurvedic formulation. In this role, you will own the development of formulations and manage tech transfers that are vital for product scaling.

You will collaborate across various departments, ensuring product compliance with AYUSH standards while designing innovative herbal solutions. Candidates must hold a B.Pharm or M.Pharm with 2-3 years of experience. Join us to contribute to a holistic approach to health and wellness!

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of relevant experience in Ayurvedic formulation.
• Strong understanding of emulsions, gels, and stability protocols.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design robust formulations and run lab trials.
• Create stability protocols and ensure alignment with quality standards.
• Support tech-transfer for pilot/plant scaling.

Skills

Pharmaceutics/Ayurvedic pharmaceutics

Emulsions/Gel systems

Documentation (GMP mindset)

Structured experimentation (DOE)

Education

B.Pharm / M.Pharm (Ayurveda)

Tools

pH meter

Brookfield viscometer

Homogenizers

Stability chambers

Centrifuge tests

UV-Vis/colorimeter

Job description

R&D Associate — Ayurvedic Formulation (2–3 Years)

Department: R&D • Formulation • Tech Transfer

Location: Palampur/Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh (on-site)

Eligibility: B.Pharm / M.Pharm (Ayurveda) • 2–3 years’ relevant experience

Employment Type: Full-time

Rooted in Himachal, we transform Himalayan, estate-grown botanicals into clean, compliant products for India and global markets (US, EU, Australia). Inside our AYUSH-licensed facility, we blend Ayurveda × modern chemistry, documented SOPs, and GMP discipline—so ideas become export-ready products that uplift our local ecosystem.

Role Purpose

Own end-to-end development for assigned projects: design robust formulations, run lab trials/DOE, validate stability, and deliver tech-transfer packs that scale smoothly to pilot and plant. You’ll be the hub between Formulation, QA/QC, Production, Packaging, and Supply Chain.

Key Responsibilities

Formulation & Method Development

Design emulsions, gels, oils, hydrosols, surfactant systems, and wellness lines with Ayurvedic actives/extracts.

Plan and execute DOE, optimize sensorials/rheology, and define critical process parameters (CPPs).

Write and maintain MPD, specs, and version-controlled lab notebooks.

Stability, Safety & Compliance

Create stability protocols (accelerated/real-time), execute pulls, trend data, and drive CAPA where needed.

Coordinate preservative strategy and basic micro-hygiene practices with QC/Micro.

Ensure alignment with AYUSH/BIS/GMP and internal quality gates.

Translate lab formulas to pilot/plant with complete tech-transfer packs (BMR/BPR, SOPs, CPPs/CTQs).

Support first-time-right (FTR) batches, line trials, and packaging compatibility.

Documentation & Regulatory Support

Generate specifications/CoA templates, artworks/INCI inputs with Regulatory.

Log deviations, manage change controls, and close CAPA within SLAs.

Evaluate new RMs/PMs, coordinate CoAs/technical dossiers, and lead cost-in-use/value engineering without sacrificing quality.

Guide freshers/Jr Associates on lab discipline, testing, and documentation.

Run weekly cross-functional huddles to unblock timelines.

Tools & Instruments You’ll Use/Interface With

pH meter, Brookfield viscometer, homogenizers, stability chambers, centrifuge tests, UV-Vis/colorimeter (where available), basic packaging tests; coordinate with QC for HPLC/GC/micro as required.

First 90 Days (Onboarding Plan)

Weeks 1–2: SOP/GMP refresh, project handovers, lab readiness, safety certifications.

Weeks 3–6: Formulation trials + DOE on 1–2 SKUs; draft specs & initial stability.

Weeks 7–12: Pilot scale-up, packaging compatibility, tech-transfer documents; prepare for first plant batch.

KPIs (Measured Quarterly)

On-Time Project Delivery (OTP): ≥90% to agreed milestones

Stability Pass Rate: ≥95% at checkpoints

Documentation Accuracy: 100% complete/ALCOA+ compliant

Change Control Turnaround: within SLA

Cost/Value Engineering: ≥3 validated improvements per year (quality-neutral or better)

What You’ll Bring

Strong grasp of pharmaceutics/Ayurvedic pharmaceutics, emulsions/gel systems, and preservative approaches.

Habit of structured experimentation (DOE), clean documentation, and GMP mindset.

Comfortable on the shop floor; proactive, coach-like collaborator.

Nice to Have (Trainable)

Basic statistics for DOE/trend charts, Excel/Sheets templates, exposure to BIS/AYUSH dossiers, familiarity with claim-support literature.

On-site, standard factory hours; occasional support for pilot/plant runs.

PPE, hygiene protocols, and SOP discipline are mandatory.

Growth Path

Competitive package with performance-linked component.

Training budget (GMP/Safety), documented growth paths, and access to Himalayan ingredient pilots.

Local accommodation guidance; employee purchase program on select products.