Senior Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonus

Comprehensive health, dental, and vis

Retirement plan with company match

Generous vacation and paid sick leave

Professional development opportunities

Access to advanced laboratory設備

Innovative and collaborative research

Relocation assistance for exceptional

Job summary

Placements24 in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to lead development of drug formulations, from pre-formulation through stability testing and scale-up for clinical trials and commercialization. You will collaborate with analytical and manufacturing teams to optimize delivery systems across routes.

The role requires a PhD or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or related field) and 5–7 years of hands-on formulation experience, with strong knowledge

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field.
• 5–7 years of hands-on formulation development experience.
• Strong knowledge of physical pharmacy, polymer science, and various drug delivery systems.
• Experience with GMP principles relevant to product development.
• Excellent experimental design and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Develop and optimize novel formulations for various routes of administration.
• Conduct stability studies according to ICH guidelines and interpret stability data.
• Troubleshoot formulation-related issues during development.
• Collaborate with analytical development to establish testing methods for formulations.
• Support technology transfer to pilot plant and manufacturing sites.
• Mentor junior formulation scientists and contribute to team discussions.
• Stay current with literature and industry trends in formulation and drug delivery.

Skills

Physical pharmacy

Drug delivery systems

Experimental design

Analytical skills

Documentation

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Ph.D. or Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences/related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering pharmaceutical research and development company, is seeking an experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join their innovative product development team in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga . This role is critical for designing, developing, and optimizing novel drug delivery systems and formulations for a range of therapeutic agents. You will be responsible for pre-formulation studies, formulation development, stability testing, and supporting the scale-up of formulations for clinical trials and commercialization. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of physical pharmacy, drug delivery technologies, and excellent experimental design skills. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the creation of advanced pharmaceutical products that improve patient outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Develop and optimize novel formulations (e.g., oral solids, injectables, topicals) for various therapeutic areas.
• Conduct stability studies according to ICH guidelines and interpret stability data.
• Investigate and troubleshoot formulation-related issues encountered during development.
• Collaborate with analytical development teams to establish appropriate testing methods for formulations.
• Support technology transfer activities for formulation development to pilot plant and manufacturing sites.
• Evaluate new drug delivery technologies and excipients for potential application.
• Prepare comprehensive formulation development reports and contribute to regulatory submission documents.
• Mentor junior formulation scientists and contribute to team scientific discussions.
• Stay current with scientific literature and industry trends in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Strong knowledge of physical pharmacy, polymer science, and various drug delivery systems.
• Proven experience in developing formulations for different routes of administration.
• Proficiency in laboratory techniques relevant to formulation development and characterization.
• Experience with stability testing programs and data analysis.
• Familiarity with GMP principles relevant to product development.
• Excellent experimental design, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document research effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonus.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company match.
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave.
• Opportunities for professional development, including conference attendance.
• Access to advanced laboratory facilities and equipment.
• Innovative and collaborative research environment.
• Relocation assistance for exceptional candidates.