Senior Pharmaceutical Research Scientist – Lead Drug Discovery

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career advancement opportunities

State-of-the-art facilities

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Research Scientist for our client in Rustenburg. You will lead cutting‑edge R&D projects, design complex experiments, and guide teams from discovery through preclinical development.

The role requires a PhD in a related field with 7+ years in pharmaceutical R&D, strong data analysis, and excellent communication. Relocation assistance and access to advanced facilities are included to support ambitious scientific innovation.

Qualifications

• PhD required in a closely related field with extensive pharmaceutical R&D experience.
• Minimum 7 years of pharmaceutical R&D experience focused on drug discovery and development.
• Proven track record leading research projects and advancing pipelines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and interpret in vitro and in vivo studies to assess efficacy and safety of compounds.
• Develop and optimize drug delivery systems and formulations.
• Lead cross‑functional research teams and provide scientific direction.
• Stay updated with literature and technologies in pharmaceutical research.
• Prepare reports, patent documents, and publications to disseminate findings.
• Collaborate with external institutions and partners to drive innovation.

Skills

Drug discovery

Project leadership

Scientific communication

Data analysis

Collaborative research

Education

PhD in Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry/Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Research Scientist for our client in Rustenburg. You will lead cutting‑edge R&D projects, design complex experiments, and guide teams from discovery through preclinical development.

The role requires a PhD in a related field with 7+ years in pharmaceutical R&D, strong data analysis, and excellent communication. Relocation assistance and access to advanced facilities are included to support ambitious scientific innovation.