Director, Formulation Development

Empower Pharmacy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

401(k) matching

Wellness perks

IV therapy

Compounded medications

Job summary

JobRx, Inc. is seeking a Director, Formulation Scientist in Houston, TX, to lead formulation innovation and technical strategy. In this pivotal role, you will influence product quality and regulatory compliance while overseeing the formulation development from concept to transfer. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in pharmaceutical formulation and demonstrate leadership within highly regulated environments. You will leverage AI tools to optimize processes, improve efficiencies, and ensure compliance, contributing to the growth and success of our expanding portfolio.

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years of progressive formulation development experience.
• Experience leading formulation strategy and commercialization.
• Proven ability to leverage AI and digital tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation strategy across sterile and nonsterile pipelines.
• Direct scientific governance frameworks ensuring formulation consistency.
• Oversee formulation development from feasibility through commercial readiness.

Skills

Pharmaceutical formulation development

Leadership

AI analytics

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Process optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline

Tools

AI tools

Predictive analytics platforms

Job description

Location: Houston, TX

Posted: May 14, 2026

Req# 6156

Area: R&D

Position Summary

The Director, Formulation Scientist drives formulation innovation, technical strategy, and commercial readiness across Empower's expanding 503A and 503B portfolio, directly influencing product quality, regulatory compliance, operational scalability, and revenue growth. This leader owns formulation development from concept through transfer, overseeing scientific rigor, cross‑functional execution, risk mitigation, and accelerated delivery within a hyper‑growth, highly regulated environment. The role leverages AI as a multiplier to improve experimentation speed, predictive modeling, documentation quality, knowledge management, and data‑driven decision making across development activities.

Responsibilities

Formulation Strategy

• Portfolio Leadership: Lead formulation strategy across sterile and nonsterile pipelines, aligning scientific priorities with commercial demand, operational capabilities, and regulatory expectations within Empower's 503A and 503B environment. Use AI enabled analytics to improve formulation predictability, technical decisions, and resource prioritization while partnering with leadership, manufacturing, and quality teams to balance innovation, compliance, scalability, patient safety, and growth objectives.
• Innovation Planning: Establish formulation roadmaps supporting pipeline expansion and differentiated product development across regulated pharmaceutical operations. Integrate AI assisted modeling, literature mining, and digital experimentation tools to strengthen formulation design, reduce development risk, and improve speed to market while evaluating novel excipients, delivery systems, and technologies aligned with quality and regulatory expectations.
• Scientific Governance: Direct scientific governance frameworks ensuring formulation consistency, technical rigor, documentation integrity, and compliant development practices. Build scalable review mechanisms supporting rapid decision making and accountability throughout development lifecycles. Utilize AI driven trend analysis, data visualization, and knowledge management systems to strengthen oversight, identify risks, and improve formulation quality, reproducibility, and process efficiency.

Technical Execution

• Development Oversight: Oversee formulation development from feasibility through commercial readiness, ensuring alignment across research, manufacturing, analytical, and quality teams. Apply AI supported analytics to optimize formulations, improve batch consistency, accelerate troubleshooting, and maintain compliance, documentation integrity, and patient safety.
• Process Optimization: Lead formulation optimization initiatives focused on scalability, manufacturability, stability, and operational efficiency. Utilize AI enabled process intelligence, predictive monitoring, and data analysis to improve robustness, reduce variability, and support sustainable manufacturing performance.
• Technical Problem Solving: Resolve complex scientific, operational, and quality challenges impacting formulation performance and commercialization timelines. Integrate AI powered analytics and simulation tools to accelerate issue resolution, improve development outcomes, and maintain compliance, product quality, and operational continuity.

Cross Functional Leadership

• Stakeholder Alignment: Build partnerships across quality, manufacturing, regulatory, analytical, and commercial teams to ensure coordinated formulation execution. Leverage AI enhanced collaboration and reporting tools to improve decision making, visibility, accountability, and alignment with Empower's strategic and compliance objectives.
• Talent Development: Recruit, develop, and retain high performing scientific talent within Empower's fast paced, highly regulated environment while promoting accountability, technical excellence, and continuous learning.
• Executive Communication: Deliver data driven updates and strategic recommendations regarding formulation progress, technical risks, and operational readiness. Apply AI enabled reporting and forecasting tools to improve communication clarity, accelerate decision making, and support long term business growth.

Quality And Compliance

• Compliance Leadership: Ensure formulation activities comply with regulatory requirements, internal quality systems, and industry standards supporting Empower's 503A and 503B operations. Utilize AI driven compliance monitoring and audit tools to strengthen oversight, inspection readiness, and patient safety.
• Risk Management: Lead scientific and operational risk management activities supporting formulation development, scale up, and manufacturing readiness. Apply AI enabled analytics and scenario modeling to identify vulnerabilities, improve mitigation planning, and protect product quality, compliance, and business continuity.
• Documentation Excellence: Establish documentation practices ensuring accuracy, traceability, and inspection readiness across formulation activities. Leverage AI assisted authoring and digital knowledge systems to improve documentation quality, accelerate approvals, and strengthen access to critical development information.

Operational Advancement

• Scalability Initiatives: Drive scalable formulation and process strategies supporting product launches, operational expansion, and manufacturing efficiency. Utilize AI powered analytics and forecasting tools to improve scalability decisions, optimize resources, and support high performance across evolving production environments.
• Technology Integration: Champion advanced technologies, digital platforms, and AI enabled capabilities that strengthen formulation development and operational performance. Partner cross functionally to integrate automation, predictive analytics, and connected data systems improving efficiency, collaboration, and decision quality.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead continuous improvement initiatives enhancing scientific execution, operational discipline, and development efficiency. Apply AI driven analytics and workflow optimization tools to identify opportunities, eliminate inefficiencies, and reinforce Empower's commitment to innovation, compliance, quality, and operational excellence.

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep expertise in pharmaceutical formulation development, technology transfer, process optimization, regulatory expectations, and scalable manufacturing operations within highly regulated environments.
• Proven ability to leverage AI enabled analytics, predictive modeling, and digital tools to improve formulation outcomes, accelerate decision making, and strengthen operational performance.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and executive communication skills with success aligning cross functional teams and resolving complex technical challenges.
• Strong analytical thinking and continuous improvement mindset with experience implementing structured problem solving, risk management, and scientific governance practices supporting innovation and compliance.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum ten years of progressive formulation development experience with demonstrated leadership supporting complex scientific and cross functional initiatives.
• Proven experience leading formulation strategy, technology transfer, process optimization, and commercialization within highly regulated manufacturing or pharmaceutical environments.
• Demonstrated success building high performing technical teams, driving scalability, and delivering measurable business impact within fast paced organizations.
• Experience utilizing AI enabled technologies, advanced analytics, or digital scientific platforms to improve development efficiency and operational execution preferred.

Key Competencies

• Customer Focus: Builds trust through customer‑centric solutions
• Strategic AI: Guides responsible AI adoption and adaptation
• Optimizes Work Processes: Drives efficiency with continuous improvement
• Collaborates: Partners effectively to achieve shared goals
• Resourcefulness: Secures and deploys resources efficiently
• Manages Complexity: Simplifies and solves complex challenges
• Ensures Accountability: Delivers on commitments with integrity
• Situational Adaptability: Adjusts approach to shifting conditions
• Communicates Effectively: Tailors messages to diverse audiences

Values

• People: Empowering people defines who we are
• Quality: Excellence in every product, every time
• Service: Serving others is our highest purpose
• Innovation: Advancing care through technology and discovery

Employee Benefits, Health, and Wellness

We offer comprehensive benefits to support your health, well‑being, and future, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, 401(k) matching, wellness perks, IV therapy, and compounded medications. Learn more: https://careers.empowerpharmacy.com/benefits/

Physical Requirements

While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to remain in a stationary position for a significant portion of the workday and frequently use hands and fingers to handle or feel in order to access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. Employees are regularly required to move about the office and around the corporate campus. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.