Senior Pharmaceutical Research Chemist

Placements24; Southampton; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus structure

Health and wellness benefits

Professional development

Support for conferences/workshops

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Research Chemist to join a leading pharma innovator in Randburg, Gauteng. You will design multi-step syntheses, purify and characterize compounds, and apply NMR, MS, and HPLC to confirm structures while driving hit-to-lead and lead optimization efforts.

The role requires a PhD with 4+ years in synthetic chemistry, excellent problem-solving, and the ability to work both independently and in a team.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in synthetic chemistry, preferably in drug discovery.
• Extensive hands-on experience in organic synthesis, including reaction design, execution, and purification techniques.
• Proficiency in spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Strong understanding of medicinal chemistry principles and SAR (structure-activity relationships).
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to research.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience with parallel synthesis and high-throughput experimentation is desirable.
• Knowledge of cheminformatics tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step synthetic routes for novel small molecules.
• Synthesize, purify, and characterize compounds using modern organic chemistry techniques.
• Utilize a variety of analytical methods (NMR, MS, HPLC, IR) to confirm compound identity, purity, and structure.
• Interpret analytical data and troubleshoot synthetic challenges.
• Contribute to hit-to-lead and lead optimization programs.
• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to advance drug discovery projects.
• Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory notebooks and reports.
• Stay current with the latest literature and advancements in organic and medicinal chemistry.
• Assist in the evaluation of new synthetic methodologies and technologies.
• Contribute to patent applications and scientific publications.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Medicinal chemistry

SAR (structure-activity relationships)

Analytical techniques

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Independent work

High-throughput experimentation

Cheminformatics

Education

Ph.D. in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

A leading pharmaceutical innovator is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Research Chemist to join their cutting-edge research and development team in Randburg, Gauteng . This role is critical for the synthesis and characterization of novel chemical entities with potential therapeutic applications. You will be responsible for designing and executing complex synthetic routes, purifying compounds, and employing a range of analytical techniques to confirm structure and purity. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, with a passion for drug discovery. We are looking for a highly motivated scientist who can contribute to the advancement of our drug discovery pipeline and work collaboratively in a fast-paced research environment. This exciting opportunity is located in Randburg, Gauteng .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step synthetic routes for novel small molecules.
• Synthesize, purify, and characterize compounds using modern organic chemistry techniques.
• Utilize a variety of analytical methods (NMR, MS, HPLC, IR) to confirm compound identity, purity, and structure.
• Interpret analytical data and troubleshoot synthetic challenges.
• Contribute to hit-to-lead and lead optimization programs.
• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to advance drug discovery projects.
• Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory notebooks and reports.
• Stay current with the latest literature and advancements in organic and medicinal chemistry.
• Assist in the evaluation of new synthetic methodologies and technologies.
• Contribute to patent applications and scientific publications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in synthetic chemistry, preferably in drug discovery.
• Extensive hands-on experience in organic synthesis, including reaction design, execution, and purification techniques.
• Proficiency in spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Strong understanding of medicinal chemistry principles and structure-activity relationships (SAR).
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to research.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience with parallel synthesis and high-throughput experimentation is desirable.
• Knowledge of cheminformatics tools is a plus.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and an attractive bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, are provided.
• A generous retirement savings plan is in place.
• Opportunities for professional development, including attending scientific conferences and workshops, are actively supported.
• This role, based in Randburg, Gauteng , offers a chance to work on groundbreaking research.
• We provide a stimulating work environment and ample paid time off.