Formulation Pharmacist/Scientist
Pharmacist
Johannesburg – Gauteng – South Africa
Our client, a prominent pharmaceutical company, is looking for an experienced Formulation Scientist or Formulation Pharmacist to join their Research and Development team. This role involves developing intellectual property related to the formulation and manufacturing processes for both new and existing products. The objective is to maintain a strong and commercially viable product pipeline while ensuring that all products comply with stringent statutory requirements.
Required Learning & Experience
- Ph.D., M.Pharm, M.Sc., or equivalent with at least 2 years of experience in Pharmaceutical R&D, including Pharmaceutical Development, Technology Transfer, Process Optimisation, and/or Process Validation.
- OR a B.Pharm, B.Sc. (Eng), or B.Sc. Honours with at least 5 years of experience in a Pharmaceutical R&D environment.
- In-depth knowledge of formulation and manufacturing processes and equipment for pharmaceutical dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, solutions, suspensions, creams, ointments).
- Familiarity with international guidelines on Pharmaceutical Development, Technology Transfer, and Process Validation.
- Understanding of the quality attributes evaluated for various dosage forms, along with relevant analytical methods and equipment.
- Experience in wet chemistry is advantageous.
Key Job Outputs
- Develop systematic, science- and risk-based approaches for pharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing process development.
- Conduct pre-formulation, formulation development, and process development laboratory trials within set timelines.
- Oversee or conduct pilot-scale batch manufacturing and assist with scale-up and technology transfer to production.
- Prepare, review, and manage essential documentation such as trial notebooks, batch records, protocols, reports, and SOPs.
- Provide support for quality and regulatory impact assessments, root cause investigations, and corrective actions.
- Propose short-term amendments to formulations and processes while assessing impacts on quality, safety, and efficacy.
- Evaluate alternate sources for raw and packaging materials to maintain quality standards.
- Conduct finished product releases and manage schedule 5 and 6 substances on-site, if required (Pharmacist only).
Competencies
The ideal candidate will be results-driven with a strong sense of urgency, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Essential skills include the ability to manage timelines for multiple projects, excellent report-writing and presentation skills, and proficiency in scientific data interpretation. The role also requires sound problem-solving and decision-making abilities, along with strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. A team player who upholds integrity, this individual will bring innovative thinking, organisation, and adaptability to the role. Proficiency in MS Office, especially MS Excel, is required. If you’re committed to achieving excellence and passionate about advancing pharmaceutical innovation, we encourage you to apply.