Stability Development Senior Chemist (6-Month Contract)

WHAT ON EARTH IS DECIEM?

We are a collective of disrupters and doers, of creatives and scientists, with a mission to reimagine the world of beauty. Since inception, our vertically integrated structure—including our own laboratories, manufacturing, retail stores, and brand infrastructure—has enabled us to rapidly identify opportunities and deliver quality. Home to The Ordinary, NIOD, AVESTAN, and other emerging brands, we create with purpose and believe normal gets you nowhere.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The Senior Stability Development Chemist is responsible for the design, execution, monitoring, interpretation, and reporting of stability studies in support of product development, commercialization, and lifecycle management activities. This role provides scientific and technical expertise for stability programs across cosmetic and OTC products, ensuring compliance with internal procedures, cGMP requirements, and applicable regulatory guidelines including ICH, USP, ISO, and Health Canada expectations.

The Senior Stability Chemist collaborates cross‑functionally with Formulation, Analytical Development, Packaging, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, and external laboratories to resolve complex challenges, support product shelf‑life determination, packaging compatibility assessments, investigation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Recruitment: 6‑month contract with potential to go permanent. Position will be based out of our Head Office located in Liberty Village and requires candidates to be on‑site, 5‑days a week.

PAY RANGE

The anticipated base salary for this position is $85,000 to $90,000. Exact salary depends on factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on geographic location.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the design, execution, monitoring, and continuous optimization of stability programs in compliance with approved protocols, internal procedures, and global regulatory requirements including ICH, USP, ISO, Health Canada, FDA, and EU guidelines.
• Maintain oversight of stability chambers, sample inventories, reagents, reference standards, and laboratory equipment records to ensure operational readiness and compliance.
• Support internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and inspection readiness initiatives by providing technical expertise and compliant documentation.
• Analyze and interpret stability data to support shelf‑life assignments, expiry extensions, reformulations, packaging modifications, transportation/storage assessments, and product lifecycle management decisions.
• Author, review, and approve stability protocols, technical reports, trend analyses, scientific justifications, risk assessments, and shelf‑life extension evaluations.
• Conduct comprehensive statistical trending and stability data analysis to proactively identify emerging risks, out‑of‑trend (OOT), and out‑of‑specification (OOS) results and ensure accurate, complete, and contemporaneous documentation practices in accordance with cGMP, GDP, ALCOA+, and data integrity requirements.
• Perform and oversee advanced physical, chemical, and functional characterization testing including appearance, color, odor, texture, pH, viscosity, rheology, specific gravity, assay, degradation profiling, preservative efficacy, and active quantitation using analytical techniques such as HPLC/UPLC‑UV/PDA, UV‑Vis, FTIR, titration, and wet chemistry methodologies.
• Evaluate packaging compatibility, container closure integrity, and potential leachable/extractables risks ensuring product quality, safety, and stability throughout the intended shelf life.
• Drive the development, optimization, validation, verification, transfer, and troubleshooting of stability‑indicating analytical methods to support robust and reliable stability programs.
• Partner closely with Formulation Scientists to resolve complex formulation stability challenges by developing scientifically sound stability strategies, interpreting data trends, driving root cause investigations, and implementing effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Champion innovative stability initiatives that enhance formulation development through rapid screening approaches, predictive stability modeling, accelerated assessment tools, and data‑driven methodologies aimed at improving efficiency, reducing development timelines, and strengthening early‑stage stability risk assessment.
• Lead and support complex laboratory investigations, risk assessments, deviation management activities, and CAPA implementation related to stability non‑conformances and product performance concerns.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• BSc or MSc in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical Chemistry, Life Sciences, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in Stability, Analytical Development, Quality Control, or related laboratory environments within cosmetic, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or cannabis industries.
• Experience with stability program management, shelf‑life determination, and trending analysis.
• Demonstrated experience and strong understanding of global stability‑related regulatory frameworks, including ICH guidelines, ISO standards, and applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EMA, Health Canada).
• Proficient with various analytical techniques including physical characterization, wet chemistry, FTIR, UV spectrophotometry, HPLC/UPLC‑UV/PDA, and sample preparation techniques.

BENEFITS

• Generous vacation & personal days, plus additional time off for volunteering, voting, and other civic activities.
• Six months of paid time off for new parents (inclusive of all genders).
• Work from anywhere 4 weeks per year.
• A hybrid work model for applicable roles.
• Summer Fridays—get off at 1 p.m. all summer long (applicable roles).
• A dog‑friendly office.
• Unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Program that includes mental health care and mindfulness programs.
• Access to development grants & a LinkedIn Learning membership.
• Generous discount on DECIEM products for you, your family, and your friends.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DECIEM is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on age, colour, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and any other legally protected class in accordance with applicable federal, provincial, and local laws. We are also committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you are contacted to be part of our recruitment process and require accommodation, please let us know.