Senior Microbiologist, Pharma R&D & Microbial Innovation

Placements24; Klerksdorp; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Microbiologist for a pharmaceutical R&D role in Klerksdorp, North West. The successful candidate will design and execute complex microbiological assays, oversee microbial safety and resistance studies, and contribute to drug development pipelines.

The ideal applicant holds a Master’s or PhD in Microbiology or a related life science, with 5+ years in microbiology, aseptic technique, PCR/qPCR, and GMP/regulatory familiarity.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or related life science.
• 5+ years of microbiology experience in pharma/biotech.
• Extensive knowledge of microbial physiology and molecular techniques.
• Experience with GMP and regulatory guidelines (FDA/EMA).
• Aseptic techniques and microbial cultivation experience.
• Familiarity with AST and mechanism of action studies.

Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and interpret microbiological experiments for drug development.
• Develop and validate microbial assays, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing and sterility.
• Investigate contamination issues and implement CAPA.
• Identify and characterize microorganisms using various techniques.
• Maintain precise lab records and document procedures per GMP.
• Analyze and report data to research teams and management.
• Stay current with advances in microbiology and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to regulatory submission documents.
• Collaborate with chemists, biologists, and formulation scientists.
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols and ethical standards.

Skills

Microbiology

Molecular biology

Aseptic techniques

PCR

DNA sequencing

qPCR

AST

GMP compliance

Regulatory guidelines

Education

Master's or PhD in Microbiology / related life science

Tools

PCR instruments

DNA sequencers

AST equipment

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Microbiologist for a pharmaceutical R&D role in Klerksdorp, North West. The successful candidate will design and execute complex microbiological assays, oversee microbial safety and resistance studies, and contribute to drug development pipelines.

The ideal applicant holds a Master’s or PhD in Microbiology or a related life science, with 5+ years in microbiology, aseptic technique, PCR/qPCR, and GMP/regulatory familiarity.