Senior Formulation Scientist (Biologics)

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State-of-the-art laboratory facilities

Conference attendance opportunities

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Formulation Scientist (Biologics) in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga to lead the development of stable and manufacturable formulations for monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, and vaccines. You will design studies, characterize formulations, and provide scientific leadership across the product development team.

The role requires a PhD with at least 6 years of post-doctoral experience in biologics formulation, expertise in protein chemistry and analytical techniques

Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of post-doctoral formulation development experience for biologics.
• Hands-on protein formulation work with stabilizers, buffers and excipients.
• Proficient in biologics characterization techniques (HPLC, SEC, CE, DSC, ELISA, MS).
• Understanding of protein degradation pathways and mitigation strategies.
• Aseptic processing and lyophilization experience is highly desirable.
• Publication record and strong collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute formulation development strategies for protein-based therapeutics.
• Perform stability, excipient compatibility, and stress testing to identify optimal formulations.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for biologics characterization (purity, aggregation, potency).
• Troubleshoot formulation issues during development and scale-up.
• Collaborate with process development, analytics, and manufacturing for tech transfer.
• Prepare technical reports and contribute to regulatory filings.
• Stay current with literature and trends in biologic formulation.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to team growth.

Skills

Protein formulation

Biologics

Analytical characterization

Excipients selection

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Biochemistry

Chemistry

Tools

HPLC

SEC

CE

DSC

ELISA

Mass spectrometry

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge biopharmaceutical company, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Formulation Scientist (Biologics) to join their innovative product development team in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga . This senior role is crucial for the development of stable, effective, and manufacturable formulations for a range of biologic drug candidates, including monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, and vaccines. You will be responsible for designing and executing formulation development studies, characterizing formulations, and providing critical scientific leadership. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of protein chemistry, excipient science, and analytical characterization techniques relevant to biologics. Join us in Nelspruit to contribute to the development of next-generation biotherapeutics in a collaborative and forward-thinking research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute formulation development strategies for protein-based therapeutics and other biologic modalities.
• Conduct stability studies, excipient compatibility studies, and stress testing to identify optimal formulations.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for characterization of biologics, including methods for assessing purity, aggregation, and potency.
• Investigate and troubleshoot formulation-related issues during development and scale-up.
• Collaborate with process development, analytical development, and manufacturing teams to ensure successful tech transfer and commercialization.
• Prepare technical reports, development summaries, and contribute to regulatory filings.
• Stay current with scientific literature and industry trends in biologic formulation and drug delivery.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the scientific growth of the team.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of post-doctoral experience in formulation development of biologics within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Extensive hands-on experience with protein formulation, including selection of stabilizers, buffers, and other excipients.
• Proficiency in a range of analytical techniques for biologics characterization (e.g., HPLC, SEC, CE, DSC, ELISA, mass spectrometry).
• Strong understanding of protein degradation pathways and strategies to mitigate them.
• Experience with aseptic processing and lyophilization is highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, scientific curiosity, and a strong publication record.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Benefits

Our client provides a competitive salary and benefits package, including comprehensive health coverage, a retirement savings plan, and generous annual leave. We support continuous learning through training programs, workshops, and opportunities to attend scientific conferences. Employees have access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and cutting-edge technologies. This role is situated in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga , offering a dynamic work environment where you can significantly contribute to the advancement of life-saving biologic therapies.