Lead Scientist - Pharmaceutical Development

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,959,000 - 3,102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Remote work infrastructure support

Generous PTO & sabbaticals

Professional development budget

Autonomy in remote leadership

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Scientist to drive pharmaceutical development initiatives in a fully remote role. You will guide projects from early research through clinical development, ensuring robust and scalable manufacturing processes.

This remote leadership position offers flexibility and a significant impact on novel therapeutics. The role requires a PhD and at least 7 years in pharmaceutical formulation and process development, with strong regulatory knowledge and the

Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical formulation & process development.
• Knowledge of drug delivery systems, manufacturing technologies, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading cross-functional project teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation development of new drug candidates (small molecules and biologics).
• Design and optimize manufacturing processes for clinical and commercial supply.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies, stability testing, and characterization.
• Oversee scale-up from laboratory to pilot and manufacturing scales.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs, QA, and manufacturing teams.
• Mentor junior scientists and technicians.

Skills

Leadership

Formulation

Process Development

Regulatory Knowledge

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and visionary Lead Scientist to drive pharmaceutical development initiatives. This is a fully remote position, offering the opportunity to work from anywhere while leading critical aspects of drug formulation and process development. You will be responsible for guiding projects from early-stage research through to clinical development, ensuring robust and scalable manufacturing processes. This role is ideal for a seasoned pharmaceutical scientist looking to make a significant impact on novel therapeutics within a flexible, remote-first organization committed to scientific excellence and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation development of new drug candidates, including small molecules and biologics.
• Design and optimize manufacturing processes for clinical trial materials and commercial supply.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies, stability testing, and physicochemical characterization.
• Oversee the scale-up of processes from laboratory to pilot and manufacturing scales.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs, quality assurance, and manufacturing teams.
• Mentor and guide junior scientists and technicians in the development group.

Requirements

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical formulation and process development.
• In-depth knowledge of drug delivery systems, manufacturing technologies, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience in leading cross-functional project teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities, suitable for a remote leadership role.

Benefits

• An exceptionally competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive remote work infrastructure support and benefits.
• Generous paid time off and opportunities for sabbaticals.
• Extensive professional development and conference attendance budget.
• The autonomy and flexibility of a truly remote leadership position .