Experienced Scientist (Temporary Role)

Within Pharmaceutical Product Development & Supply (PPDS), we are recruiting an Experienced Scientist in the Parenterals & Liquids Development (PLD) department in Beerse, Belgium.

The PLD team is at the forefront of innovation, developing Parenteral and Liquid drug product formulations and processes across our R&D Synthetics portfolio (small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, drug conjugates), from late discovery through preclinical and clinical development, and into commercialization. Our portfolio covers a variety of formulation types such as solutions, (nano)suspensions, liposomes, lipid-based systems, biodegradable microspheres, injectable biodegradable rods, drug-device combinations, and other advanced drug delivery platforms.

We explore a wide range of administration routes — oral, IV, IT, IM, SC, intra-organ, intra-tumoral, transmucosal, transdermal, nasal, ophthalmic — supporting both systemic drug delivery and local or targeted drug delivery approaches to address unmet patient needs.

As an Experienced Formulation Scientist, you will design, lead and execute formulation and process development activities for state-of-the-art parenteral and liquid oral drug products. You will be involved in experimental design, formulation engineering, process optimization, scale-up, and technology transfer for clinical trial manufacturing. In addition, you will work across multidisciplinary teams, acting as a functional representative or project (co-)lead when required, and contribute to scientific, technical and regulatory deliverables.

The role includes hands-on lab-based research activities, while offering leadership and growth opportunities. This position also calls for engagement in the department’s ongoing digitalization initiatives. We value a future oriented mindset with openness to adopting and leveraging modern digital tools for workflow optimization, data integrity, and knowledge management.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Perform formulation and process development for parenteral and liquid dosage forms from preclinical through commercialization.
• Apply best practices in formulation, characterization, validation, scale up, transfer, and compliant documentation in electronic lab notebooks and data systems; ensuring compliance with GMP, SHE (Safety, Health & Environment), and internal regulatory standards.
• Develop expertise in assigned technical/scientific areas; assess academic and patent literature; identify innovation, technology and IP opportunities; and translate these into patient centric solutions.
• Act as PLD functional representative within multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with stakeholders in Analytical Development, Pharmaceutical & Material Sciences, Engineering, Quality, Legal, Supply Chain, and external CDMOs.
• Write development reports, source documents and regulatory submission materials; prepare responses to Health Authority inquiries. Provide input for master batch records for clinical batches; perform criticality analysis and define control strategies.

Qualifications & Experience

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering or relevant field; alternatively, a Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in parenterals and/or liquid formulation and process development for synthetic molecules, with good understanding of physical pharmacy principles.
• Background in advanced drug delivery technologies such as biodegradable microspheres, injectable biodegradable rods, gels, drug-device combinations is advantageous.
• Strong innovation mindset, critical thinking skills, and problem‑solving capability.
• Excellent oral/written communication and ability to work in collaborative, cross-functional and external partnership contexts.
• Openness to utilizing modern digital tools and systems to support data integrity, process tracking and knowledge sharing.
• Ability to conduct hands-on experiments accurately and safely in a modern laboratory environment.

Preferred Skills:

Analytical Reasoning, Clinical Data Management, Collaborating, Data Savvy, Drug Discovery Development, Emerging Technologies, Innovation, Laboratory Experiments, Market Research, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Product Development, Product Strategies, Project Management, Report Writing, Scientific Research, Standard Scientific Processes and Procedures, Technologically Savvy, Use of Laboratory Equipment