Lead Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybride; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 800 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Salary incentives

Healthcare benefits

Paid vacation

Professional development

Advanced equipment access

Collaborative culture

Retirement fund

Wellness program

Résumé du poste

Placements24 in Rustenburg, North West, seeks a Lead Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to drive development from concept to scale-up. You will lead a team across solid dosage forms, injectables, and topicals, shaping product strategies in a GMP-driven environment.

The role requires a Master’s/PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field, 7+ years’ experience, and strong leadership with hands-on scale-up and regulatory documentation expertise. Relocation to Rustenburg is expected.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Expertise in at least one dosage form area (e.g., oral solids, injectables).
• Strong GMP knowledge and application in development/manufacturing.
• Experience with scale-up principles and technology transfer.
• Excellent leadership and communication abilities.
• Willingness to relocate to Rustenburg site.

Responsabilités

• Lead formulation development for solid oral dosage forms, injectables, and topicals.
• Develop and optimize scalable manufacturing processes for drug products.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies and physicochemical characterization of APIs/excipients.
• Design stability studies to assess shelf-life and degradation pathways.
• Prepare technical reports, development protocols, and regulatory submission documents.
• Collaborate with analytical development, manufacturing, QA, and regulatory teams.
• Mentor junior scientists and troubleshoot issues during development and scale-up.
• Stay updated on advancements in formulation science and regulatory guidelines.

Connaissances

Leadership & team management

Project management

Communication

Problem solving

Regulatory writing

Formation

Master's or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related

Outils

DSC

TGA

XRPD

Particle size analysis

Description du poste

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly expanding pharmaceutical company, is looking for an experienced and innovative Lead Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join their dynamic research and development team in Rustenburg, North West. This senior role is critical for the advancement of our pipeline of novel drug delivery systems and formulations. You will be responsible for leading formulation development activities, from early-stage concept through to process scale-up and technology transfer. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in pharmaceutics, solid dosage forms, sterile injectables, or other relevant drug delivery technologies. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the company's product development strategy and contribute significantly to bringing life-changing medicines to patients. We pride ourselves on a culture of scientific excellence and collaboration, providing a stimulating environment for career growth. Join us in Rustenburg and be at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation. Your leadership in formulation science will be key to transforming promising drug candidates into safe and effective therapies. We are seeking a hands‑on leader with a strong scientific foundation and excellent project management skills to drive our formulation development efforts forward. The Rustenburg facility boasts advanced formulation and analytical equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of pharmaceutical formulation development for new drug candidates, including solid oral dosage forms, parenteral products, and topical formulations.
• Develop and optimize robust and scalable manufacturing processes for drug products.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies, including physicochemical characterization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients.
• Design and execute stability studies to assess product shelf-life and identify degradation pathways.
• Prepare and review technical reports, development protocols, and regulatory submission documents (e.g., IND, NDA).
• Collaborate with analytical development, manufacturing, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs departments.
• Troubleshoot formulation and process-related issues encountered during development and scale-up.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior formulation scientists and technicians.
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in pharmaceutical formulation science, drug delivery technologies, and relevant regulatory guidelines.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant industry experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Proven experience in the development of various dosage forms, with specific expertise in at least one area (e.g., oral solids, injectables).
• Strong understanding of GMP regulations and their application in formulation development and manufacturing.
• Experience with common pharmaceutical characterization techniques (e.g., DSC, TGA, XRPD, particle size analysis).
• Familiarity with process scale-up principles and technology transfer.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a systematic approach to development.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to mentor junior staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience in preparing scientific reports and regulatory documents.
• Willingness to relocate to or work from our Rustenburg site.

Benefits

• Attractive salary package with performance incentives.
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits.
• Paid vacation and public holidays.
• Professional development opportunities, including training and conference attendance.
• Access to advanced formulation and analytical equipment.
• A collaborative and innovation-driven work culture.
• Retirement fund.
• Employee wellness program.
• Opportunity to shape the future of pharmaceutical products.