Medicinal Chemistry Group Leader

SLS Services Limited; Oxford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global Life Sciences company is seeking a Medicinal Chemistry Group Leader to oversee drug discovery projects. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in medicinal chemistry, at least 8 years of industry experience, and proven leadership skills. This role involves leading teams, developing synthetic strategies, and collaborating with various scientific disciplines to ensure project success.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years' experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Proven track record in medicinal chemistry.
• Expertise in modern methods of synthetic and medicinal chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Lead medicinal chemistry functions for client drug discovery projects.
• Develop and direct synthetic strategies for complex molecules.
• Analyze screening data and design medicinal chemistry plans.
• Conduct performance reviews and set goals for the team.

Skills

Leadership experience

Synthetic organic chemistry

Mentoring skills

Collaboration skills

Education

PhD in synthetic organic or medicinal chemistry

Job description

A global Life Sciences company specializing in contract research services across Integrated Drug Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry, in vitro pharmacology, and ADME is seeking a Medicinal Chemistry Group Leader to join their growing team. The company has a strong track record of drug discovery services, advancing their mission to discover and develop effective therapeutics.

As a Medicinal Chemistry Group Leader, you will be part of a dynamic team working on exciting drug discovery projects. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with key scientists in molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, computational chemistry, ADME, structural biology, and more. Strong people management and mentoring skills, along with the ability to thrive in a goal-driven, time-sensitive environment, are key attributes for this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead medicinal chemistry functions for one or more client drug discovery projects, working alongside internal and external partners in various scientific areas.

• Develop and direct synthetic strategies for complex molecules using state-of-the-art synthetic methodologies.

• Work closely with global teams to meet organizational goals and drive scientific excellence.

• Lead and motivate a team of scientists, ensuring their professional development, training, and scientific direction.

• Analyze screening data, perform literature reviews, and design medicinal chemistry plans to support compound progression and project advancement.

• Utilize structure-based design principles for rational design of molecules.

• Provide scientific direction for medicinal chemistry activities, ensuring a high level of expertise in drug-like molecule design, property-based optimization, and understanding of ADME and pharmacokinetics.

• Participate in shaping and implementing strategies to support medicinal chemistry and company growth.

• Ensure clear communication with clients, providing updates on project status and performance.

• Conduct performance reviews, set goals, and foster a culture of collaboration and high performance.

• Work with cross-functional teams to maximize efficiency and productivity in meeting client needs.

• Collect and integrate customer feedback into solutions that improve overall productivity.

• Set up customer-centric KPIs to monitor costs, quality, turnaround times, and other key metrics to ensure successful project delivery.

Required Skills and Experience:

• PhD in synthetic organic or medicinal chemistry (post-doctoral experience preferred) and a minimum of 8 years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a proven track record in medicinal chemistry.

• Expertise in modern methods of synthetic and medicinal chemistry.

• Experience leading drug discovery projects in the biopharmaceutical industry.

• Proven leadership experience, managing and mentoring teams of medicinal chemists.

• Strong experience in managing cross-functional teams and collaborating across multiple scientific disciplines.