Senior Method Development Scientist – Immunoassay

Location: On site in South Australia

Position Type: Full time, Permanent

Relocation: International relocation support available for qualified global applicants

About the Company

Our client is Australia’s largest and most technologically advanced regulated laboratory. They have been a recognised global leader in providing large and small molecule drug development support, recently expanding into the cutting-edge cell & gene therapy space.

Operating from world-class, FDA-inspected, and OECD GLP-recognised facilities, they support biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical clients across the APAC region, USA, and Europe to accelerate vital drug development programs.

Position Overview

As a Senior Method Development Scientist (Immunoassay), you will play a critical role in the R&D; team, taking ownership of developing and transferring complex ligand binding assays (LBAs). This is a highly collaborative role requiring strong commercial lab experience, sharp troubleshooting skills, and the communication skills needed to confidently guide external pharmaceutical clients through high-level scientific issues.

Key Responsibilities

- Assay Development & Transfer: Lead the development, optimization, and transfer of complex ligand binding assays (such as ELISA, MSD, or similar platforms) in strict accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Technical Troubleshooting: Head up complex technical investigations, scientific data interpretation, and analytical troubleshooting when assays face hurdles.
- Method Transition: Liaise directly with operational groups and Study Directors to ensure smooth, seamless handovers of developed methods into the formal validation phase.




- Client & Internal Communication: Act as a key scientific point of contact, communicating project statuses, timelines, and technical resolutions directly to external biopharma clients and internal stakeholders.
- Mentorship & Documentation: Author and review Analytical Laboratory Methods (ALMs), review SOPs, and actively mentor, train, and answer daily questions for junior R&D; staff.

Required Qualifications & Experience

- Commercial Background Only: Experience working in a commercial analytical laboratory. Direct experience within a Clinical Research Organisation (CRO) or pharmaceutical setting is highly preferred. (Please note: This role is strictly for commercial lab professionals; purely academic research backgrounds cannot be considered).
- Technical Mastery: Hands-on experience specifically dedicated to analytical method development for ligand binding assays (LBAs).
- Regulatory Awareness: Familiarity working within a regulated bioanalytical laboratory environment (GLP/GCP) is highly desirable.
- Communication & Mindset: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to detail scientific concepts to clients and teammates alike. A highly organised mind that can coordinate multiple tasks accurately under deadlines.
- Education: Ordinary degree in a relevant life science or scientific discipline.

What’s on Offer

- The chance to join an expanding national network at a critical stage of growth.
- Comprehensive international relocation support for successful global candidates moving to Australia.
- Access to state-of-the-art bioanalytical equipment and cutting-edge projects in the cell and gene therapy space.
- A genuinely positive, dynamic, and non-hierarchical team culture.

Reach out now!

📌 Senior Method Development Scientist (South Australia)
🏢 Planet Pharma
📍 South Australia