Biochemist jobs in South Africa

Biochemist & Quality Assurance Officer

Our client is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Biochemist & Quality Assurance Officer to support product formulation and quality systems within an animal-health and compounding environment. Location: On-site, office based in Pretoria.

Type: Full-time Salary offered: Roughly R CTC per month (dependent on experience)

You’ll split your time between R&D / formulation and day‑to‑day quality assurance.

Develop new products for animal health and nutrition. Formulate, optimise, stabilise, and improve liquids, gels, pastes, oils, syrups, creams, powders, and dry blends (including complex / challenging systems).

Design and run experimental trials; coordinate approvals for scale‑up and production. Draft clear manufacturing protocols, batch formulas, and SOPs for new products. Research compatibilities and reaction pathways across pesticide actives, botanicals, herbals, essential oils, solvents, biologicals, and nutraceutical components. Source and evaluate raw materials; coordinate procurement for trials and pilot runs. Maintain strong working relationships with ingredient vendors.

Support daily QA operations and ensure strict GMP compliance in line with South African regulatory expectations. Manage documentation control, batch record review, deviations, CAPAs, and quality metrics. Conduct product testing / validation and drive continuous process improvement. Oversee correct production practices on the floor; coach teams and intervene where corrective action or refresher training is needed.

Engage professionally with internal stakeholders and clients; lead technical discussions when required. Train production staff on new processes, specifications, and updates from R&D findings.

• Degree or diploma in Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific field.
• 1–2 years’ experience in a pharmaceutical, veterinary, compounding, laboratory, or formulation setting (advantageous).
• Demonstrated formulation experience across liquids, gels, pastes, oils, syrups, creams, powders, and dry blends.
• Solid understanding of chemical compatibility and stability (including pesticide actives, essential oils, botanicals, and biological ingredients).
• Familiarity with Act 36 of South Africa and/or other relevant legislation. (advantageous).
• Strong analytical mindset, excellent attention to detail, and problem‑solving orientation.
• Ability to source raw materials and manage supplier relationships.
• Confident communicator (written and verbal); able to engage clients and production teams.
• Fully literate, physically fit, and comfortable working independently in a lab‑based environment.
• Own reliable transport.