Primary Packaging Materials Scientist

Korn Ferry is supporting a global life sciences organisation to appoint an experienced Container Closure Systems (CCS) / Primary Packaging Materials Scientist on a contract basis until end of year, with a strong likelihood of renewal due to sustained workload and ongoing programmes.

This is a hybrid role with flexibility on location across several European sites (or remote for the right, highly independent SME). The successful consultant will act as the technical SME for primary packaging and container closure systems across both R&D and commercial supply chain activities.

Key focus of the engagement

You'll support a busy team facing capacity constraints, taking ownership of a variety of projects including:

• R&D / NPI support as a CCS SME for injectable products

• Commercial component change programmes (second sourcing, de risking, cost improvement, supplier/material changes)

• Technical support to complaints, investigations and production issues related to container closure systems

Responsibilities

• Provide SME input on primary packaging materials and CCS for parenteral products (e.g., vials, stoppers, caps/seals; some prefilled syringes).

• Design and set up studies and author protocols and reports to ensure pharmacopeial/compendial compliance (e.g., appropriate sample sizes, stresses, storage conditions, acceptance criteria).

• Drive and/or support studies related to container closure integrity (CCI), delamination risk, penetration force and other CCS performance attributes.

• Coordinate testing execution with QC and/or external laboratories (this role is oversight/technical leadership rather than hands on lab testing).

• Support change control activities and technical documentation, including contribution to dossier/CTD content relating to container closure systems.

• Collaborate cross functionally with R&D, Manufacturing, QA, Regulatory and external suppliers.

Required experience

• Demonstrable experience in container closure systems / primary packaging for parenteral (injectable) pharmaceuticals in a regulated environment.

• Strong knowledge of compendial requirements and the practical application of pharmacopeial standards in study design and documentation.

• Track record authoring protocols/reports and driving component change or lifecycle projects (supplier/material changes, second sourcing, remediation).

• Comfortable operating independently as an SME, with strong stakeholder management across technical and quality/regulatory functions.

Contract details

• Type: Contract (outside IR35 equivalent acceptable subject to compliance)

• Duration: Now / ASAP through end of year (strong likelihood of renewal)

• Working model: Hybrid (site based, hybrid, or remote for the right candidate)

• Location: Europe (multi site environment)

• Hours: Approx. hours/week, normal business hours

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at