Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Chemist

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Training opportunities

Advanced labs

Career growth

Annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 is hiring a Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Chemist for our Richards Bay R&D team. You will design, develop, and optimize drug formulations across solid, liquid, and semi-solid forms, collaborating with analytical scientists and project managers.

You will lead pre-formulation, stability studies, and scale-up for manufacturing transfer, applying excipients expertise and regulatory awareness to deliver robust products.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of direct experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Experience developing solid, liquid, and semi-solid dosage forms.
• Strong knowledge of excipients, their properties and functions.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (ICH guidelines).
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and manage projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation development of new pharmaceutical products (solid, liquid, semi-solid).
• Design pre-formulation, compatibility and stability studies.
• Troubleshoot formulation-related issues during development and manufacturing.
• Select excipients and optimize their use for drug release and performance.
• Develop scalable formulation processes for technology transfer to manufacturing.
• Collaborate with analytical teams to develop/validate analytical methods.
• Prepare formulation development reports and regulatory submissions.
• Mentor junior scientists and stay updated on new formulation technologies.

Skills

Scientific writing

Presentation skills

Education

Master's or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Tools

Dissolution testing

Particle size analysis

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and forward-thinking pharmaceutical company located in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal , is seeking an experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Chemist to join their dedicated Research and Development team. This role is central to the innovation and development of new drug delivery systems and pharmaceutical formulations. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing stable and effective drug formulations, working closely with analytical chemists and project managers. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of pharmaceutical sciences, excipient functionality, and various dosage forms. This position offers a significant opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge pharmaceutical development within the vibrant industrial landscape of Richards Bay .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation development of new pharmaceutical products, including solid, liquid, and semi-solid dosage forms.
• Design and conduct pre-formulation studies, compatibility studies, and stability testing programs.
• Investigate and troubleshoot formulation-related issues encountered during development and manufacturing.
• Select appropriate excipients and optimize their use to achieve desired drug release profiles and product performance.
• Develop robust and scalable formulation processes suitable for technology transfer to manufacturing.
• Collaborate with analytical teams to develop and validate analytical methods for characterizing formulations.
• Prepare comprehensive formulation development reports, technical summaries, and regulatory submission documents.
• Stay abreast of new technologies, trends, and scientific advancements in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the technical growth of the R&D department.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 5 years of direct experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Proven expertise in the development of various dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, suspensions, creams).
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical excipients, their properties, and functions.
• Experience with drug delivery systems and controlled-release technologies is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with analytical techniques used in formulation characterization (e.g., dissolution testing, particle size analysis).
• Excellent scientific writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment and manage projects independently.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical product development (e.g., ICH guidelines).
• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry within KwaZulu-Natal or similar regions is advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive medical insurance and retirement planning assistance.
• Opportunities for advanced training and professional development.
• Access to state-of-the-advanced formulation development laboratories.
• A collaborative and innovative research environment in Richards Bay .
• Generous annual leave and company holidays.
• Potential for career advancement within a growing organization.