Principal Scientist in Drug Product Development (d/f/m)

Job Description Summary

Join us in helping to make healthcare fairer and faster. / Pridružite se nam in nam pomagajte povečati pravičnost in hitrost zdravstvenega varstva.

Job Description

Your knowledge and experience will contribute to a groundbreaking project at our new development centre for biosimilars in Slovenia, where you will help set new industry standards and shape the future of healthcare.

This is the largest investment in the region in the field of biosimilars, bringing together cutting-edge technology, innovative approaches, and experts from diverse disciplines. You will join an environment where science meets vision and help shape its future, with exciting career opportunities.

As a Principal Scientist in Drug Product Development at the Biosimilars Technical Development Centre in Slovenia (d/f/m) you will play a key role in leading and guiding Biosimilar drug product projects and functional activities while actively contributing to strategic decision-making. Your responsibilities will cover the full spectrum of research work—from planning, designing, and execution to precise documentation and independent interpretation of complex scientific and development tasks using state-of-the-art approaches. In addition, you will take responsibility for mentoring and training team members, fostering their professional growth and development.

Your key responsibilities

• Develop Biosimilar Drug Products according to assigned project work packages and in alignment with project strategy, objectives and timelines.

• Leading of Drug Product development project activities and alignment of activities between functional experts, team leaders, and project management. Supervise project-related scientific activities and provide technical leadership for sub-teams.

• Independently plan, execute, document, and interpret complex development activities using state-of-the-art approaches.

• Interpret and evaluate complex data, draw relevant conclusions, provide expert recommendations, and challenge conclusions made by other scientists.

• Mentor, train, and develop team members while promoting knowledge sharing within and beyond the organization.

• Write and review technical documents , procedures, scientific reports, publications, and patents, and represent the function at internal and external meetings.

• Act as a technical expert in audits , inspections, alliances and/or due diligence activities as needed.

• Plan and lead initiatives for continuous improvement and the implementation of new technologies, ensuring efficient resource utilization and achievement of project goals within timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

• Working in compliance with legislation, internal policies, quality standards, safety, and ethical requirements .

What you will bring to the role

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant natural science such as Molecular biology, Chemical engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or Pharmacy.

• Minimum of 8 years of experience with a Master’s degree or at least 5 years of experience with a PhD in the field of drug product development, ideally experience in the field of process transfers and late phase process development.

• Project management skills

• Fluent English language skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.

What we offer

Job location: Ljubljana

Contract type: permanent contract with 6-month probation period

Expected weekly working hours: 40

*Pay range: €50,720 – €76,080 gross per year

• Salary at Sandoz is based on job level, qualifications, specific skills, and work experience. Fully proficient candidates are usually placed around the market median, less experienced candidates lower in the range, and those with strong or niche expertise higher. When determining placement within the range, we also consider internal pay equity and external market data.

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Our compensation package additionally includes

• Annual bonus (STI): percentage of annual salary.

• Vacation allowance: in 2026 it was €2,450.00 net.

• Christmas bonus: in 2025 it was €2,100 gross.

• OurShare:  every year, an employee of Lek d.d. will be entitled to receive shares of Sandoz AG.

• Voluntary Additional Pension Scheme: The company fully covers the contribution for your supplementary pension plan, amounting to 5.844% of your gross salary (the maximum annual amount is 3,224.18 EUR).

• Collective life and accident insurance (24/7 coverage).

• A hybrid work environment offering flexibility and remote work possibilities –  if applicable for position.

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Ready for your next career move?

You are kindly invited to submit your application in English and Slovene, including a CV, by November 15, 2026.

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Why Sandoz?

Sandoz is the global leader in Biosimilar and Generic medicines, a segment of the healthcare industry that delivers 80% of the world’s medicines at 30% of the cost, touching the lives of more than 1 billion people across 100+ countries! While we are proud of our achievements, we have the ambition to do more so that everyone can benefit from the basic human right of good health.

With investments in new development capabilities, production sites, new acquisitions and partnerships, we have the opportunity to shape a sustainable future for Sandoz and to help even more people gain access to low-cost, high-quality medicines.

Our momentum is powered by an open, collaborative culture driven by our talented and ambitious colleagues who, in return for applying their skills, experience an agile and collegiate environment where diversity of thought is welcomed and where personal growth is supported!

Join us in helping to make healthcare fairer and faster.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and to forming diverse teams that are representative of the patients and communities we serve.

#Sandoz

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Višji vodilni raziskovalec v Razvoju podobnih bioloških izdelkov (d/ž/m)

Vaše znanje in izkušnje lahko prispevajo k prelomnemu projektu v našem novem razvojnem centru za podobna biološka zdravila v Sloveniji, kjer boste pomagali postavljati nove standarde v industriji in oblikovati prihodnost zdravljenja.

Gre za največjo investicijo v regiji na področju podobnih bioloških zdravil, ki združuje najsodobnejšo tehnologijo, inovativne pristope in strokovnjake z različnih področij. Pridružujete se okolju, kjer se znanost sreča z vizijo, in soustvarjate njegovo prihodnost ob vznemirljivih kariernih priložnostih.

Kot Višji vodilni raziskovalec v Razvoju podobnih bioloških izdelkov (d/ž/m) boste imeli ključno vlogo pri vodenju in usmerjanju razvoja končnih podobnih bioloških zdravil ter funkcionalnih aktivnosti ter aktivnem prispevanju k oblikovanju strateških odločitev. Vaše naloge bodo obsegale celoten spekter raziskovalnega dela – od načrtovanja, oblikovanja in izvajanja do natančnega dokumentiranja ter samostojne interpretacije kompleksnih znanstvenih in razvojnih nalog z uporabo najsodobnejših pristopov. Poleg tega boste prevzeli odgovornost za mentorstvo in usposabljanje članov ekipe, s čimer boste spodbujali njihovo strokovno rast in razvoj.

Vaše ključne odgovornosti

• Razvoj podobnih bioloških zdravil v skladu s projektno strategijo, cilji in časovnico.

• Vodenje razvoja formulacije in procesa končnih podobnih bioloških zdravil , vključno z usklajevanjem aktivnosti med drugimi strokovnjaki, vodji skupin in projektnim vodjem. Skrb ter vodenje raziskovalnih aktivnosti ter tehnično vodenje podekip.

• Samostojno načrtovanje, izvajanje, dokumentiranje in interpretirajne kompleksnih razvojnih dejavnosti z uporabo najsodobnejših pristopov.

• Interpretacija in vrednotenje kompleksnih podatkov , oblikovanje ustreznih zaključkov, podajanje ekspertnih mnenj ter izzivanje zaključkov drugih znan