How to hire a senior formulation scientist

How to hire a senior formulation scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior formulation scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior formulation scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior formulation scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior formulation scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior formulation scientist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a senior formulation scientist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior formulation scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior formulation scientists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of senior formulation scientist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Senior Formulation Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Formulation Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$35-67
   Fellow	A fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities... Show more	$22-44
   PHD Researcher	The primary job of a Ph.D. researcher is to plan and conduct experiments and analyzing their outcome... Show more	$16-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Dosage Forms
   • Scale-Up
   • Formulation Development
   • GMP
   • CMC
   • Data Analysis
   • QbD
   • IND
   • ICH
   • DSC
   • Drug Products
   • FDA
   • Technical Reports
   • GLP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Identify 10 leads with IC50 o MOA study reveal non-genomic effect though PPAR.
   • Forge and manage collaborative relationships with DoD and academia.
   • Manufacture of supplies for animal bio-studies and GMP supplies for clinical trials.
   • Provide scale-up and tech transfer support to commercial manufacturing facilities through process validation and subsequent manufacturing activities.
   • Generate monthly GMP reports and schedule of GMP training for scientists.
   • Lead feather keratin peptides for cosmetic, leather tanning, bio-adhesive application.

   More senior formulation scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior formulation scientist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A senior formulation scientist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a senior formulation scientist in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level senior formulation scientist usually earns less than a senior-level senior formulation scientist. Additionally, a senior formulation scientist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average senior formulation scientist salary

   $102,574yearly

   $49.31 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior formulation scientist salary

   $74,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average senior formulation scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$151,156	$73
   2	New Jersey	$112,262	$54
   3	Massachusetts	$107,142	$52
   4	Delaware	$101,579	$49
   5	Illinois	$101,008	$49
   6	Pennsylvania	$96,607	$46
   7	New York	$94,126	$45
   8	Maryland	$92,049	$44
   9	Florida	$85,010	$41
   10	North Carolina	$82,544	$40
   11	Missouri	$75,549	$36
   12	West Virginia	$73,546	$35
   13	Alabama	$73,135	$35
   14	South Carolina	$68,000	$33
   15	Utah	$62,836	$30

   Average senior formulation scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Exelixis	$119,450	$57.43	11
   2	Sagent Pharmaceuticals	$112,318	$54.00
   3	AstraZeneca	$109,284	$52.54	16
   4	Teva Pharmaceuticals	$106,153	$51.04
   5	Pharmavite	$105,987	$50.96
   6	Revance Therapeutics	$105,743	$50.84	1
   7	International Flavors & Fragrances	$104,823	$50.40	1
   8	Medefil	$103,168	$49.60
   9	Mars	$102,206	$49.14
   10	Catalent Pharma Solutions	$100,372	$48.26	28
   11	Merck	$100,324	$48.23	105
   12	URL Pharma	$100,278	$48.21
   13	Alcami	$99,560	$47.87	15
   14	Sanofi US	$99,414	$47.80	15
   15	Kelly Services	$99,366	$47.77	30
   16	Mary Kay	$99,127	$47.66
   17	Ferring Pharmaceuticals	$99,071	$47.63	3
   18	Zoetis	$98,699	$47.45	20
   19	Watson Pharmaceuticals	$97,716	$46.98
   20	BioDuro-Sundia	$97,705	$46.97

4. Writing a senior formulation scientist job description

   A good senior formulation scientist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior formulation scientist job description:

   Senior formulation scientist job description example

   Job Title
   Sr. Formulations Scientist
   
   Requisition
   
   JR000012577 Sr. Formulations Scientist (Open)
   
   Location
   
   Webster Groves (Pharma) - USA038
   
   Additional Locations
   
   St. Louis, MO
   
   Job Description
   
   SUMMARY OF POSITION:
   Primary technical member of a formulation development/ technology transfer team focusing on both solid and liquid oral dosage forms for Pharmaceutical R&D at SpecGx LLC.
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
   Lead a formulation and process development, and tech transfer for oral solid and liquid dosage products including immediate and sustained or modified release solutions, suspensions, tablets, and capsules Write and review various technical documents including protocols, batch records, product development reports, and tech transfer report. Work with R&D formulation technicians. Assist the Regulatory Affairs group in preparation of CMC documents for the submission of ANDAs.
   
   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
   Education: Minimum BS degree in pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical sciences, material sciences, chemical engineering, and related scientific discipline required. A PhD. degree preferred.
   
   Experience: Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences or related discipline with a minimum of 0 - 1 year experience in the development of oral solid and liquid (for immediate and modified release) forms in the pharmaceutical industry, or a Master's degree in related area and a minimum of 3 years' related experience; or a Bachelor's degree in related area with a minimum of 6 years' related experience.
   
   Preferred Skills/Qualifications: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with others (including both internal teams and external collaborators).
   
   Other Skills/Competencies:
   Strong knowledge in pharmaceutical dosage products (e.g., both oral liquid and solid dosage forms) and drug delivery concepts for various administration routes Working knowledge of evaluating patents and literature prior arts.Mastery of the scientific technical concepts and techniques, applies further thoseconcepts and techniques to efficiently and effectively resolve scientific technicalissues.Ability to travel 10 - 30%Must pass a security clearance
   
   RELATIONSHIP/SCOPE WITH OTHERS:
   Has contact with marketing, regulatory affairs, quality, legal, technology transfer, project managers, and manufacturing.
   
   DISCLAIMER:
   The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior formulation scientist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior formulation scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior formulation scientists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior formulation scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit senior formulation scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior formulation scientists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior formulation scientist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior formulation scientist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior formulation scientist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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