Senior Pharmaceutical Research Scientist — Hybrid & Growth

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan with employer matching

Conferences & training funding

Paid time off

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 in Pietermaritzburg is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Research Scientist to lead formulation development and advance our drug discovery programs. You will design, optimize formulations, and perform preclinical studies to evaluate product performance.

Ideal candidates have a PhD or MSc in pharmaceutical sciences or related field with 5+ years of hands-on experience, strong analytical skills, GMP knowledge, and the ability to mentor junior scientists in a collaborative, hybrid work

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Proven track record in developing various dosage forms and understanding of drug delivery systems.
• Strong knowledge of analytical techniques and solid-state characterization methods.
• Excellent understanding of GMP guidelines and regulatory requirements for drug product development.
• Proficiency in data analysis and scientific writing.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with pilot-scale manufacturing equipment is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize novel pharmaceutical formulations for various dosage forms (oral, injectable, topical).
• Design and execute preclinical studies to evaluate drug product performance and stability.
• Characterize drug substance and drug product using analytical techniques (HPLC, GC, DSC, TGA, FTIR).
• Investigate and troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing process-related issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including analytical development, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing.
• Stay updated with latest literature and technological advancements in pharmaceutical sciences.
• Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations for internal stakeholders and regulatory submissions.
• Contribute to intellectual property generation through patent applications.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to a positive team dynamic.

Skills

Formulation development

Analytical techniques

GMP knowledge

Data analysis

Scientific writing

Project collaboration

Communication skills

Mentoring

Education

PhD or MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences / Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Tools

HPLC

GC

DSC

TGA

FTIR

Job description

Placements24 in Pietermaritzburg is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Research Scientist to lead formulation development and advance our drug discovery programs. You will design, optimize formulations, and perform preclinical studies to evaluate product performance.

Ideal candidates have a PhD or MSc in pharmaceutical sciences or related field with 5+ years of hands-on experience, strong analytical skills, GMP knowledge, and the ability to mentor junior scientists in a collaborative, hybrid work