Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Chemist

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Chemist for a Centurion-based role with hybrid work. You will design, develop and optimize formulations across dosage forms, applying your physical chemistry and pharmaceutics expertise to improve solubility, stability and bioavailability.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s in a relevant field, 5–7 years of hands-on formulation experience, and strong analytical skills to support product development and regulatory readiness.

Qualifications

• Pharmaceutical scientists with strong grounding in physical chemistry, pharmaceutics, and analytical concepts.
• Experience in solubility enhancement and stability testing.
• Excellent problem-solving and meticulous documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop stable pharmaceutical formulations for oral, injectable, and topical dosage forms.
• Investigate and resolve formulation issues during development and manufacturing.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative drug delivery systems, is actively recruiting a Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Chemist. This role is based in Centurion, Gauteng, and offers the chance to work on cutting-edge formulation development projects from concept to commercialization. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing novel pharmaceutical formulations to enhance drug efficacy and patient compliance. You will leverage your expertise in physical chemistry, pharmaceutics, and analytical techniques to overcome complex formulation challenges. This position requires a deep understanding of drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability, along with a passion for scientific innovation. Join a collaborative research and development team committed to advancing healthcare solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop stable and effective pharmaceutical formulations for various dosage forms (e.g., oral, injectable, topical).
• Investigate and resolve formulation-related issues encountered during development and manufacturing.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Optimize formulation parameters to achieve desired drug release profiles, stability, and bioavailability.
• Utilise analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, GC, DSC, XRD) to assess formulation characteristics and drug stability.
• Prepare detailed reports, documentation, and presentations on formulation development activities.
• Collaborate with analytical, process development, and regulatory teams to ensure successful product development.
• Stay abreast of new technologies and trends in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery.
• Contribute to the scale-up and technology transfer of formulations to manufacturing sites.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Strong knowledge of physical chemistry, material science, and pharmaceutics.
• Expertise in various dosage forms and drug delivery systems.
• Proficiency with common analytical instrumentation used in formulation development.
• Experience with solubility enhancement techniques and stability testing.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical product development (e.g., ICH guidelines).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with meticulous attention to detail.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, retirement savings plan, and opportunities for continuous learning and career progression.
• This role is based in Centurion, Gauteng, with a hybrid work arrangement that balances on-site collaboration with flexibility.
• Employees benefit from working in a modern, well-equipped laboratory and contribute to meaningful pharmaceutical innovations.
• Professional development, conference attendance, and a supportive team environment are key aspects of this offering.