Principal DMPK Scientist - On-site PK Strategy Lead

Placements24; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Professional development opportunities

Generous paid time off

Retirement savings plan with employer匹

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Scientist in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics to lead DMPK strategy and execution at our Randburg, Gauteng research centre. You will drive ADME optimization across discovery and early development, guiding candidates toward clinical progression.

This role requires a PhD and 7–10 years of DMPK experience, with strong leadership, collaboration skills, and familiarity with regulatory expectations. On-site work at our state‑of‑the‑art facility is expected.

Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive DMPK experience in pharma/biotech.
• Proven in vitro and in vivo DMPK study design and interpretation.
• Knowledge of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters.
• Experience with regulatory submission support (IND, FDA/EMA).
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee in vitro and in vivo DMPK studies to characterize ADME.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimize DMPK profiles.
• Interpret DMPK data and integrate with other data to guide candidate selection.
• Lead cross-functional teams with chemists, biologists, and toxicologists.
• Contribute to regulatory submission documents (e.g., IND filings).
• Mentor junior scientists and research staff in DMPK.
• Stay updated on DMPK regulatory expectations and technologies.
• Manage external CRO collaborations for DMPK studies.

Skills

DMPK/ADME expertise

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences / Biochemistry / Pharmacology / Chemistry

Tools

PK modelling software

Bioanalytical data analysis tools

Statistical/analytics software

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Principal Scientist in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics to lead DMPK strategy and execution at our Randburg, Gauteng research centre. You will drive ADME optimization across discovery and early development, guiding candidates toward clinical progression.

This role requires a PhD and 7–10 years of DMPK experience, with strong leadership, collaboration skills, and familiarity with regulatory expectations. On-site work at our state‑of‑the‑art facility is expected.