Senior Pharmacologist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Dynamic research environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Pharmacologist to lead design and execution of in vitro and in vivo studies in Welkom. You will assess efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action while coordinating with chemists, biologists, and toxicologists in an early discovery setting.

You will design assays, interpret data, and ensure GLP-compliant documentation. The role emphasizes strategic input and cross-disciplinary collaboration in a dynamic R&D environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Toxicology, or related life science.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in drug discovery pharmacology.
• Experience with in vitro and in vivo models.
• Knowledge of DMPK and safety pharmacology.
• Strong data analysis and statistics experience.
• Excellent communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and interpret in vitro and in vivo pharmacology studies to evaluate novel therapeutic agents.
• Develop and validate robust assay systems to assess target engagement, efficacy, and PK/PD relationships.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists, biologists, and toxicologists to advance drug candidates.
• Analyze experimental data using statistical methods and prepare study reports.
• Contribute to development of research strategies and proposals.
• Ensure adherence to GLP guidelines and maintain records.

Skills

In vitro pharmacology

In vivo pharmacology

Data analysis

GLP compliance

Collaborative teamwork

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmacology/Toxicology

Tools

Statistical software

Data analysis methods

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a dedicated and experienced Senior Pharmacologist to play a lead role in their drug discovery unit located in Welkom . This position is fundamental to identifying and characterizing novel drug candidates for unmet medical needs across various therapeutic areas. You will be responsible for designing and executing in vitro and in vivo pharmacology studies to assess drug efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action. This is a critical opportunity to contribute significantly to the early-stage drug development pipeline within a leading pharmaceutical research organization, based in the Free State .

Key Responsibilities

• Design, conduct, and interpret in vitro and in vivo pharmacology studies to evaluate novel therapeutic agents.
• Develop and validate robust assay systems to assess drug target engagement, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationships.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and toxicologists to advance drug candidates through the discovery process.
• Analyze experimental data using appropriate statistical methods and prepare comprehensive study reports.
• Contribute to the development of research strategies and proposals for new drug discovery projects.
• Ensure adherence to GLP guidelines and maintain accurate laboratory records and documentation.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Toxicology, or a closely related life science discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in drug discovery pharmacology, ideally within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Proven expertise in designing and executing a range of in vitro (e.g., enzyme assays, cell-based assays) and in vivo models.
• Strong understanding of drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics (DMPK), and safety pharmacology principles.
• Experience with data analysis software and statistical methodologies relevant to pharmacology.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, essential for multidisciplinary collaboration in Welkom .

Benefits

• A competitive salary commensurate with experience and a generous bonus program.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance benefits.
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Support for professional development, including workshops and scientific meetings.
• A dynamic and collaborative research environment dedicated to advancing pharmaceutical science.