Lead Scientist, Drug Formulation & Scale-Up (Durban)

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement savings plan with company M

Career advancement in Durban

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a dynamic Lead Scientist in Durban to spearhead pharmaceutical development and scale-up initiatives. You will guide formulation strategies, optimize processes, and ensure regulatory readiness across preclinical and clinical supply.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or Master’s with 7+ years in pharma R&D, proven leadership, and strong cross-functional collaboration to drive projects through the development pipeline in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field.
• 7+ years in pharma R&D focusing on formulation and manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead R&D teams and manage complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage teams of scientists and technicians involved in pharmaceutical formulation and process development.
• Oversee design and execution of studies for drug product development, stability, and characterization.
• Develop and optimize manufacturing processes for preclinical and clinical supply, ensuring scalability.
• Ensure all development activities comply with cGMP guidelines and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with analytical development, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs teams.
• Provide scientific and technical expertise, troubleshoot development challenges, and contribute to strategic R&D planning.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory knowledge

Drug development knowledge

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a dynamic Lead Scientist in Durban to spearhead pharmaceutical development and scale-up initiatives. You will guide formulation strategies, optimize processes, and ensure regulatory readiness across preclinical and clinical supply.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or Master’s with 7+ years in pharma R&D, proven leadership, and strong cross-functional collaboration to drive projects through the development pipeline in a fast-paced environment.