Senior API Synthesis Chemist - Hybrid Role (Polokwane)

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist for a Polokwane, Limpopo facility. This hybrid role combines strategic remote planning with hands-on laboratory work on-site to develop robust, scalable routes for API manufacturing.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD or MSc in organic/medicinal chemistry with 4+ years in synthetic chemistry, and has strong proficiency in NMR, MS, HPLC, GC and GMP-compliant processes. You will mentor junior staff and contribute to innovation.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry or closely related field.
• Minimum of 4 years post-graduate experience in synthetic organic chemistry, preferably in API development.
• Proven ability to design and execute complex multi-step syntheses.
• Experience with modern analytical techniques for compound characterization (NMR, MS, HPLC, GC).
• Knowledge of GMP, process chemistry, and scale-up principles.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute synthetic routes for APIs and key intermediates with emphasis on efficiency and purity.
• Optimize reaction conditions and develop scalable processes for pilot and commercial manufacturing.
• Characterize compounds using NMR, MS, HPLC, and GC techniques.
• Troubleshoot synthetic challenges and develop innovative solutions.
• Conduct literature searches and patent analyses to guide synthesis strategies.
• Collaborate with process development engineers and analytical chemists for lab-to-plant transition.
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks and reports; ensure safety and GMP compliance.
• Stay updated on advances in synthetic chemistry and API manufacturing technologies.
• Mentor junior chemists and contribute to a culture of excellence.

Skills

Synthetic Route Design

Scale-up Principles

Analytical Thinking

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

MS in Organic Chemistry

Tools

NMR

Mass Spectrometry

HPLC

GC

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist for a Polokwane, Limpopo facility. This hybrid role combines strategic remote planning with hands-on laboratory work on-site to develop robust, scalable routes for API manufacturing.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD or MSc in organic/medicinal chemistry with 4+ years in synthetic chemistry, and has strong proficiency in NMR, MS, HPLC, GC and GMP-compliant processes. You will mentor junior staff and contribute to innovation.