Development Chemist - Pharmaceutical, Galway (Contract)

Location

Galway - on-site (R&D/development laboratory)

Role Overview

The successful candidate will carry out hands on laboratory development work, supporting formulation and/or analytical method development, stability programmes, and technical documentation to progress products through the development lifecycle. This is a laboratory based, execution focused role suited to an experienced Development Chemist who can integrate quickly into an established R&D team with minimal ramp up time.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute formulation and/or analytical development studies in support of new product development or existing product improvement.
• Develop, optimise, and where required validate analytical test methods (e.g. HPLC, GC, dissolution, wet chemistry) in line with ICH guidelines.
• Set up, conduct, and monitor stability studies, ensuring samples are tested and reported in line with the approved protocol and schedule.
• Accurately record experimental work and results in laboratory notebooks/ELN, ensuring full compliance with good documentation practice and data integrity principles.
• Prepare technical reports, development summaries, and data packages to support regulatory submissions and technology transfer.
• Support technology transfer of developed formulations/methods to manufacturing or QC, ensuring robust and reproducible handover.
• Troubleshoot formulation, process, or analytical issues arising during development work, applying sound scientific reasoning.
• Maintain laboratory equipment in good working order, ensuring calibration and qualification status is current.
• Collaborate with Process Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Manufacturing colleagues to progress projects to agreed timelines.
• Adhere to all laboratory health & safety and GMP/GLP requirements as applicable to the development stage of the work.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree (or higher) in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, Analytical Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• Demonstrable laboratory based development experience within pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or related industry R&D.
• Practical experience with analytical techniques relevant to the role (e.g. HPLC, GC, UV, dissolution testing, wet chemistry).
• Strong understanding of GMP/GLP, good documentation practice, and data integrity principles as applied to a development environment.
• Experience preparing clear, accurate technical reports and development documentation.
• Available to start within a short notice period, given the contract nature of the role.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience specific to the site's development focus (e.g. oral solid dose formulation, biologics/large molecule analytics, or drug-device combination products).
• Experience with DoE (Design of Experiments) methodologies and associated statistical software (e.g. JMP, Minitab).
• Analytical method validation experience, in line with ICH Q2 guidelines.
• Prior contract/temporary R&D experience, with the ability to add value quickly in an unfamiliar project.
• Experience supporting technology transfer to manufacturing or an external site.

Person Specification

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with a methodical, scientifically rigorous approach to laboratory work.
• Self sufficient and effective from day one, able to integrate quickly into an established development team.
• Excellent written communication skills, particularly for technical reports and development documentation.
• Meticulous attention to detail, particularly around data integrity and documentation accuracy.
• Collaborative team player, comfortable working cross functionally to progress shared project timelines.