Senior Pharmaceutical Formulation and Development Scientist

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Health coverage

Life insurance

Retirement savings plan

Professional growth through training &

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Pharmaceutical Development Scientist to join the Durban team. You will lead formulation development from concept through manufacturing, mentoring scientists and collaborating with regulatory affairs, analytical, and manufacturing groups.

The role requires a PhD and 10+ years in dosage form development, with strong GMP/ICH knowledge and leadership abilities. You will drive process development, scale-up, tech transfer, and regulatory submissions while advancing

Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical formulation and product development.
• Expertise across dosage forms (oral solids, sterile solutions, suspensions).
• Strong GMP, ICH knowledge and regulatory submission experience (IND, NDA).
• Proven track record in process development, optimization and tech transfer.
• Leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation development of new drug products (solid dosage forms, sterile injectables, topical).
• Design experiments for pre-formulation, formulation optimization, and process development.
• Oversee scale-up of laboratory formulations to pilot and manufacturing.
• Develop and validate manufacturing processes per GMP and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct stability studies and troubleshoot formulation issues.
• Collaborate with analytical development to establish methods for characterization and QC.
• Provide technical guidance to project teams and manufacturing personnel.
• Prepare development reports, regulatory submissions, and technology transfer packages.
• Stay abreast of new technologies in pharmaceutical development.
• Mentor and guide junior scientists.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Problem solving

Communication

Project management

Analytical thinking

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Pharmaceutical Development Scientist to join the Durban team. You will lead formulation development from concept through manufacturing, mentoring scientists and collaborating with regulatory affairs, analytical, and manufacturing groups.

The role requires a PhD and 10+ years in dosage form development, with strong GMP/ICH knowledge and leadership abilities. You will drive process development, scale-up, tech transfer, and regulatory submissions while advancing