Principal Formulation Chemist Oxfordshire

Principal Formulation Chemist

Principal Formulation Chemists lead the design and development of pharmaceutical formulations that optimize the delivery, stability, and bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). They oversee pre-formulation studies, develop new drug delivery systems, and guide products through scale-up and tech transfer.

Key responsibilities:

• Designing dosage forms – Including tablets, capsules, suspensions, injectables, or inhalables tailored to the physicochemical properties of the API.

• Conducting compatibility and stability studies – Using analytical methods like HPLC, DSC, and particle sizing to evaluate formulation performance over time.

• Guiding scale-up and GMP manufacturing – Working with process engineers and quality teams to ensure reproducibility and regulatory readiness.

• Leading formulation strategy – Including QbD approaches, DoE experimental planning, and documentation for regulatory submissions (e.g. IND, NDA, MA).

• Mentoring formulation scientists – Providing scientific and strategic leadership to support R&D milestones and client projects.

This role typically requires experience with excipients, granulation, lyophilization, and other pharmaceutical manufacturing techniques, along with strong knowledge of ICH, FDA, and EMA expectations.​

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in South East England, to the north west of London.  Major towns and cities in Oxfordshire include Oxford, Banbury, Bicester, Witney, Thame, Abingdon, Wantage, Didcot, Harwell, Wallingford and Henley-on-Thames.  Oxfordshire has the largest concentration of research and development activity in Western Europe.  Harwell Oxford Campus, part of Science Vale Oxford UK, is being developed as a world-class centre for science, innovation and enterprise.   Milton Park is of the UK’s foremost science communities, housing companies ranging from start-ups to global organisations with particular strengths in the biotechnology and ICT sectors.  Education and tourism are major employers in Oxfordshire.  Tourist attractions in Oxfordshire include the stunning city of Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Henley-on-Thames, Bicester Shopping village and numerous attractive towns dotted along the river Thames.

Famous people born in Oxfordshire:  Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister and Stephen Hawking, theoretical physicist.

The Oxforedshire Life Sciences and Healthcare ckuster spans a whole range of life sciences enterprise including drug discovery and development, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, regenerative medicine, precision medicine and genomics. With world-leading research and teaching providing the ideas and talent to develop ground-breaking new technologies, we also operate as a global powerhouse for clinical trials.

Oxfordshire is a major site for biotechnology, rare disease, ATMP, cell therapy, gene therapy and pharmaceutical development. It houses a number of university spin-out businesses, start-up biotechs and other organisations attracting seed investment. If you are looking for career opportunities in life sciences within the Oxford, call the Next Phase Recruitment team on 01403 216216.