Formulation Technologist

Job title: Formulation Technologist (permanent, full-time)

Location: North West London, NW2 7HF

Salary: Competitive

Hours: Core working hours are 9:30am to 5:00pm, 40 hours per week, worked over five days, Monday to Friday.

Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days working from home

Start date: Immediate

Our business…

At Vitabiotics, you'll find a diverse bunch of talented folk who come from a wide range of backgrounds and possess an extensive array of experience. What brings us all together is a culture that thrives on innovation, mutual respect, team work and a sense of commitment. Vitabiotics is truly a great place to work!

Vitabiotics has pioneered advances in nutritional healthcare products for 55 years and the range includes many of Britain’s leading supplement brands such as Perfectil, Pregnacare, Wellman, Wellwoman and Menopace.

As the UK’s No.1 vitamin company, exporting to over 100 countries, Vitabiotics is widely acknowledged as leaders in innovation and in 2018 became the first vitamin company to twice receive the Queen’s Award for Innovation, awarded for its ground breaking clinical research. 

As part of our commitment to innovation and development, we are looking for a creative and technically minded Formulation Technologist to join our quality control team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development and optimisation of innovative supplements and wellbeing products, taking formulations from concept through to successful commercial launch. Working closely with technical, regulatory, quality, manufacturing and product development teams, you will apply your scientific and formulation expertise to develop products that are safe, effective, stable, commercially viable and compliant with relevant regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of formulation science, excellent attention to detail and a genuine passion for creating high-quality products that support consumers’ health and wellbeing.

Responsibilities will include…

Formulation Development

• Manage outsourced formulation development programmes through CDMOs, contract laboratories, and technical partners.
• Provide technical oversight for new product development, reformulation, and continuous improvement projects.
• Critically review formulation development data, analytical reports, stability studies, and technical documentation.
• Support the development of robust formulations that meet quality, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial requirements.
• Work with external partners to troubleshoot formulation challenges and identify appropriate solutions.
• Evaluate formulation changes, raw material substitutions, and product enhancements throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support product risk assessments and development strategies.

Technology Transfer

• Support the transfer of products from development into commercial manufacture.
• Coordinate technology transfer activities between development partners, manufacturers, and internal stakeholders.
• Review manufacturing processes and technical documentation to ensure successful implementation.
• Support process validation, scale-up activities, engineering batches, and commercial launches.
• Assist with investigation and resolution of technical issues arising during transfer and scale-up activities.

Packaging Technology

• Support packaging development activities for new and existing products.
• Assess product-pack compatibility and packaging suitability throughout product development.
• Contribute to the selection and qualification of primary and secondary packaging components.
• Work with packaging suppliers to evaluate new materials, formats, and innovative solutions.
• Support packaging validation activities, transit testing, and packaging change control programmes.
• Investigate packaging-related quality issues and assist in implementing corrective actions.

Technical Support & Product Lifecycle Management

• Provide technical support to Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams.
• Support deviation investigations, CAPAs, change controls, and root cause analyses.
• Review product performance data and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Assist with supplier evaluations and technical assessments.
• Support technical due diligence and new product introduction activities.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure all activities comply with regulatory requirements, and company quality standards.
• Maintain accurate technical records and project documentation.
• Support regulatory submissions and responses to technical queries.
• Participate in audits and inspections as required.

Requirements

Essential

• Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Technology, Life Sciences, or a related scientific discipline.
• Pharmaceutical industry experience in formulation development, product development, technical services, or technology transfer.
• Demonstrable experience in the development, optimisation, scale-up, or technical support of one or more of the following dosage forms:

• Tablets (compressed and coated)
• Hard capsules and soft capsules
• Oral liquids, suspensions, and syrups
• Topical gels and semi-solid formulations
• Gummies and other chewable delivery systems
• Experience managing or overseeing outsourced development activities through CDMOs, contract laboratories, or external development partners.
• Strong understanding of formulation principles, excipient functionality, and manufacturing processes across multiple dosage forms.

• Experience interpreting formulation development reports, analytical data, stability studies, and technical documentation.
• Working knowledge of GMP and pharmaceutical quality systems.
• Experience supporting technology transfer, validation, scale-up, and commercialisation activities.

Desirable

• Experience across multiple dosage forms including tablets, capsules, liquids, gels, and gummies.
• Experience with nutraceutical, food supplement, OTC medicine, or consumer healthcare products.
• Experience in packaging development, packaging technology, and product-pack compatibility studies.
• Experience supporting packaging component qualification and packaging validation activities.
• Knowledge of UK, EU, and international regulatory requirements.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and global supply chains.

Skills

• Strong formulation science knowledge.
• Excellent technical data interpretation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder and supplier management skills.
• Effective communication and influencing skills.
• High attention to detail and organisational capability.
• Commercial awareness and continuous improvement mindset.

Benefits

• 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Birthday day off.
• 2 Charity days a year.
• Bupa dental cover.
• Private medical insurance.
• 50% staff discount on all Vitabiotics products.
• Staff skills training.
• Health and wellbeing programme.
• Pension contributions.
• Sick pay support.
• Free onsite parking.
• Enhanced maternity or paternity leave.
• Company events.
• Fresh fruit and snacks.
• Free EV charging station.