Process Chemist - Pharmaceutical Synthesis

Placements24; Vereeniging; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Pension

Professional training

Modern lab facilities

Vacation & Employee assistance

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Process Chemist to optimize and scale up chemical synthesis routes for pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs in Vereeniging. You will collaborate with R&D chemists and engineers to transition lab-scale syntheses to pilot and commercial manufacturing, ensuring robust, safe, and cost-effective production processes.

The ideal candidate holds MSc or PhD in Organic/Process Chemistry with 3+ years in process development, strong knowledge of reaction mechanisms, and experience with

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Organic Chemistry, Process Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years hands-on experience in process development and scale-up in pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry principles and reaction mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and scale up chemical synthesis processes for pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs, ensuring robustness and reproducibility.
• Conduct experiments to identify optimal reaction conditions, catalysts, solvents, and purification methods.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to reactions, process parameters, and equipment during scale-up and manufacturing.
• Implement Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and other process monitoring tools to ensure consistent product quality.
• Ensure all activities comply with cGMP, safety, health, and environmental regulations.
• Author process descriptions, validation reports, and technology transfer documentation.

Skills

Problem-solving

Independent work

Teamwork

Education

MSc in Organic Chemistry/Process Chemistry

PhD in Organic Chemistry/Process Chemistry

Tools

HPLC

GC

NMR

MS

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a skilled Process Chemist to optimize and scale up chemical synthesis routes for pharmaceutical intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in Vereeniging . This role is central to ensuring efficient, safe, and cost-effective production processes that meet rigorous quality standards. You will collaborate closely with R&D chemists and engineers to transition laboratory-scale syntheses to pilot and commercial manufacturing, troubleshooting any challenges that arise. This is an excellent opportunity for a chemist with a strong background in organic synthesis and process development to significantly impact pharmaceutical manufacturing in the Gauteng region.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and scale up chemical synthesis processes for pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs, ensuring robustness and reproducibility.
• Conduct experiments to identify optimal reaction conditions, catalysts, solvents, and purification methods.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to chemical reactions, process parameters, and equipment performance during scale-up and manufacturing.
• Implement Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and other process monitoring tools to ensure consistent product quality.
• Ensure all activities comply with cGMP , safety, health, and environmental (SHE) regulations.
• Author process descriptions, validation reports, and technology transfer documentation.

Requirements

• MSc or PhD in Organic Chemistry, Process Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in process development and scale-up of chemical synthesis within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry principles , reaction mechanisms, and synthetic methodologies.
• Experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, NMR, and MS for characterization and purity assessment.
• Familiarity with cGMP requirements for API manufacturing and process validation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, ability to work independently, and strong teamwork capabilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and pension.
• Opportunities for professional growth and advanced training in process chemistry.
• Access to modern laboratory and pilot plant facilities.
• A collaborative and innovative work environment in a key industrial hub.
• Paid vacation and company-sponsored employee assistance programs.