Senior Process Chemist - API Development

Placements24; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Life insurance

Retirement fund

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an experienced Senior Process Chemist for our pharmaceutical client in Randburg to lead API process development from lab scale to pilot and full production. The role emphasizes robust synthetic routes, safety, and cost-efficiency within a collaborative R&D team.

The candidate will design experiments, optimize reaction conditions, and develop analytical methods while ensuring regulatory compliance and cross-functional teamwork with analytical, engineering, and manufacturing

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Organic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of industrial experience in process chemistry for pharm APIs.
• Proven expertise in synthetic route design, optimization and scale-up.
• Knowledge of cGMP and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize synthetic routes for APIs and intermediates with focus on yield, purity, safety and cost;
• Scale up laboratory processes to pilot plant and manufacturing scales;
• Conduct process hazard assessments and implement safety measures;
• Develop robust analytical methods for in-process controls and release;
• Mentor junior chemists and collaborate with regulatory affairs.

Skills

Synthetic route design

Process optimization

Scale-up

Hazard analysis

cGMP knowledge

Analytical collaboration

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in Organic Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Tools

HPLC

GC

MS

NMR

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing company, is seeking an experienced Senior Process Chemist to join their Process Research and Development team. This position is based at our advanced manufacturing and R&D site in **Randburg, Gauteng**. The role focuses on developing, optimizing, and scaling up robust and efficient synthetic processes for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). You will play a critical role in ensuring the cost-effective and safe production of high-quality pharmaceutical products. This on-site role requires close collaboration with analytical chemists, engineers, and manufacturing personnel. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong background in synthetic chemistry and process development.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize synthetic routes for APIs and key intermediates, focusing on yield, purity, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
• Design and execute laboratory experiments to identify optimal reaction conditions, reagents, and solvents.
• Scale up chemical processes from laboratory to pilot plant and commercial manufacturing scales.
• Conduct process hazard assessments and implement appropriate safety measures.
• Troubleshoot issues encountered during process development and scale-up.
• Develop robust analytical methods for in-process controls and final product release.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs to ensure compliance with relevant guidelines (e.g., ICH).
• Author process descriptions, validation reports, and regulatory submissions.
• Mentor junior process chemists and chemists.
• Stay current with advances in process chemistry and manufacturing technologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Organic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of industrial experience in process chemistry, with a focus on pharmaceutical API development.
• Proven expertise in synthetic route design, optimization, and scale-up.
• Strong understanding of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and chemical engineering principles.
• Experience with process hazard analysis techniques (e.g., HAZOP).
• Proficiency in analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, MS, and NMR.
• Knowledge of cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and team collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package including medical insurance, life insurance, and a retirement fund. This role presents excellent opportunities for career progression within a growing and innovative company. You will work in modern facilities with access to advanced process development equipment. Located in **Randburg, Gauteng**, you will be part of a team dedicated to bringing life-changing medicines to patients. We foster a collaborative and safety-conscious work environment.