Senior Analytical Chemist - Pharmaceutical Development

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonuses

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan with employer match

Generous paid time off

Continuing education opportunities

Exposure to innovative pharmaceuticalR

Life-saving medications impact

Job summary

Placements24 invites applications for a Senior Analytical Chemist to join our Pharmaceutical Development team in Stellenbosch. You will develop, validate, and implement analytical methods for drug substances and products, supporting the pipeline from early research to commercialization.

The role requires a master's or PhD, 7+ years in pharma analytics, strong HPLC/GC experience, method validation knowledge (ICH/USP), and excellent technical writing.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical analytical development and quality control.
• Extensive hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation, particularly HPLC and GC.
• Strong understanding of method validation principles and regulatory requirements (ICH, USP).
• Excellent technical writing skills and the ability to interpret complex analytical data.
• Proficiency in laboratory information management systems (LIMS) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate analytical methods for drug substances and drug products.
• Perform routine analytical testing to support stability studies, release testing, and process development.
• Characterize raw materials, intermediates, and finished pharmaceutical products.
• Troubleshoot analytical instrumentation and methods, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.
• Author and review method validation reports, analytical procedures, and other quality-related documents.
• Ensure compliance with GMP and other relevant regulatory guidelines.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Quality control

Regulatory knowledge

Technical writing

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry / Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tools

HPLC

GC

UV-Vis

KF

Dissolution

LIMS

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Analytical Chemist to join their Pharmaceutical Development team in Stellenbosch . In this critical role, you will be responsible for developing, validating, and implementing analytical methods for the characterization and quality control of drug substances and drug products. Your expertise will be essential in supporting the drug development pipeline from early-stage research through to commercialization. This laboratory-based position requires a meticulous approach, deep knowledge of analytical techniques, and a commitment to ensuring the highest standards of pharmaceutical quality and regulatory compliance. You will work within a state-of-the-art facility and collaborate with a talented team of scientists.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and validate analytical methods (e.g., HPLC, GC, UV-Vis, KF, dissolution) for drug substances and drug products.
• Perform routine analytical testing to support stability studies, release testing, and process development.
• Characterize raw materials, intermediates, and finished pharmaceutical products.
• Troubleshoot analytical instrumentation and methods, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.
• Author and review method validation reports, analytical procedures, and other quality-related documents.
• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and other relevant regulatory guidelines.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical analytical development and quality control.
• Extensive hands-on experience with a variety of analytical instrumentation, particularly HPLC and GC.
• Strong understanding of method validation principles and regulatory requirements (ICH, USP).
• Excellent technical writing skills and the ability to interpret complex analytical data.
• Proficiency in laboratory information management systems (LIMS) is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan with employer match.
• Generous paid time off and opportunities for continuing education.
• Exposure to innovative pharmaceutical research and development, contributing to life-saving medications.