Job Description – Senior Associate Scientist

Department overview:
An essential component of Pfizer at Sandwich, our Pharmaceutical Sciences function supports Pfizer’s early to late-stage portfolio translating new chemical entities into commercial drug products. Pharmaceutical Sciences at Sandwich is a fully integrated CMC capability that encompasses state of the art active pharmaceutical ingredient synthesis and drug product design as well as a cGMP manufacturing and clinical trials supply chain. Within Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Drug Product Design (DPD) department utilises expertise in materials science, formulation design and process understanding to deliver innovative new medicines.

What You Will Achieve
When you join Pfizer, you'll be joining a company and team with a desire to bring new, cutting-edge medicines to patients around the world. As a member of our team, you'll use science and technology to design, characterize and develop the solid form and particle properties of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and drug product formulations from discovery to commercial launch. You will be able to leverage your existing scientific knowledge, as well as develop in new areas, to evaluate the chemical & physical stability, bio performance and manufacturability of the drug product across a diverse range of therapeutic areas. As a Senior Associate Scientist, you will be at the centre of our operations and you’ll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality.   

You will predominantly be involved in a laboratory and ‘hands-on’ role (under supervision of a team leader), working in DPD on assigned API and drug product projects. Your focus will be on generating high quality data for the timely progression of new chemical entities in Pfizer’s portfolio. With appropriate guidance, you will contribute to / be responsible for planning, generating, and delivering high quality work to support solid form and particle design, physical characterisation, API in dosage form characterisation and you may be required to support the design, development, optimisation, scale-up and technology transfer of solid oral / liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Under the mentorship of subject matter experts, your existing knowledge and experience will be enhanced through engagement in a programme of active learning and training tailored to accelerate your contribution to the diverse business of DPD – in particular, the design development, optimisation, scale-up and technology transfer of pharmaceutical dosage forms, complemented by API characterisation and solid form design, and appreciation of biopharmaceutics.

How You Will Achieve It:

• Undertake high quality scientific experimentation to further the development of API and / or dosage forms for novel drug candidates (which may include characterisation, solid form design, formulation design, process development and associated analytical assessment to derive appropriate data).
• Following formal instruction, support design of both API solid form and particles, providing technical support to colleagues in GMP manufacturing facilities, where appropriate.
• Ensure own work meets agreed project deliverables and stakeholder needs, maintaining quality and reporting findings either verbally or in written format, both within DPD and the wider Pharmaceutical Sciences project team. With support of project team members, evaluate, interpret, and report results.
• Develop and maintain a contemporary in-depth knowledge of the science and technology of API and pharmaceutical dosage forms together with a regulatory awareness and apply this knowledge to development of assigned drug candidates. Communicate the results of literature searches and other areas of active learning to support project development.
• Support the authorship of development reports, and regulatory submission documents (e.g. Common Technical Dossier for drug product filings).
• Apply a model first approach to experimental design, working with advanced computational tools to predict properties of solid forms.
• Following formal instruction and training, become an ‘instrument owner,’ being responsible for equipment availability, training, calibration, and maintenance schedules according to local procedures.
• Ensure accurate, timely entries are made in e-laboratory notebook system according to accepted good practice. In addition, compile and prepare technical reports in relation to project work.
• Ensure familiarity / compliance with appropriate documentation (SOPs, instruction manuals, risk assessments, etc.) so that all experimental activities are conducted in accordance with approved safety and quality procedures.
• Ensure safe working practices are followed and maintained both in own and others’ work (using personal protective equipment where appropriate).
• Support initiatives to develop best practices, test methods and work processes to drive efficiencies.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering or a related discipline

Desirable

• Master’s Degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Practical experience in a pharmaceutical setting which may include solid state analytical techniques such as Powder X-Ray Diffraction, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Dynamic Vapor Sorption, Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy, Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analysis.

 
Work Location Assignment: On Premise

Purpose 

Breakthroughs that change patients' lives... At Pfizer we are a patient centric company, guided by our four values: courage, joy, equity and excellence. Our breakthrough culture lends itself to our dedication to transforming millions of lives.  

Digital Transformation Strategy

One bold way we are achieving our purpose is through our company wide digital transformation strategy. We are leading the way in adopting new data, modelling and automated solutions to further digitize and accelerate drug discovery and development with the aim of enhancing health outcomes and the patient experience.

Flexibility  

We aim to create a trusting, flexible workplace culture which encourages employees to achieve work life harmony, attracts talent and enables everyone to be their best working self. Let’s start the conversation!  

Equal Employment Opportunity 

We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to building a successful business. As an employer, Pfizer is committed to celebrating this, in all its forms – allowing for us to be as diverse as the patients and communities we serve. Together, we continue to build a culture that encourages, supports and empowers our employees.

DisAbility Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and we encourage you to put your best self forward with the knowledge and trust that we will make any reasonable adjustments necessary to support your application and future career. Our mission is unleashing the power of our people, especially those with unique superpowers. Your journey with Pfizer starts here!

Purpose 

Breakthroughs that change patients' lives... At Pfizer we are a patient centric company, guided by our four values: courage, joy, equity and excellence. Our breakthrough culture lends itself to our dedication to transforming millions of lives.  

Digital Transformation Strategy

One bold way we are achieving our purpose is through our company wide digital transformation strategy. We are leading the way in adopting new data, modelling and automated solutions to further digitize and accelerate drug discovery and development with the aim of enhancing health outcomes and the patient experience.

Flexibility  

We aim to create a trusting, flexible workplace culture which encourages employees to achieve work life harmony, attracts talent and enables everyone to be their best working self. Let’s start the conversation!  

Equal Employment Opportunity 

We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to building a successful business. As an employer, Pfizer is committed to celebrating this, in all its forms – allowing for us to be as diverse as the patients and communities we serve. Together, we continue to build a culture that encourages, supports and empowers our employees.

DisAbility Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and we encourage you to put your best self forward with the knowledge and trust that we will make any reasonable adjustments necessary to support your application and future career. Our mission is unleashing the power of our people, especially those with unique superpowers. Your journey with Pfizer starts here!