Director, Macrocyclic Medicinal Chemistry

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.

San Francisco (CA)

Hybrid

USD 164,000 - 282,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

401(k) plan

Health benefits

Job summary

Lilly is seeking a Director/Senior Director with deep macrocyclic chemistry expertise to advance drug candidates across multiple therapeutic areas. The AMD Medicinal Chemistry team operates across Indianapolis, San Diego, San Francisco, Louisville, and Alcobendas (Spain), offering broad exposure to innovative programs and cross-functional collaboration.

The role emphasizes leadership in macrocyclic design, SAR-driven optimization, and AI/ML-enabled design strategies to accelerate cycle times and

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry or related field with 8+ years drug discovery experience.
Hands-on macrocyclic peptide or macrocyclic small molecule synthesis.
Strong ADME/DMPK foundation for drug design, including oral bioavailability and PK/PD relationships.
Proven collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams and cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

Design and synthesize macrocyclic small molecules and macrocyclic peptides for drug discovery programs.
Apply SAR to drive iterative DMTA cycles balancing potency and drug-like properties.
Leverage ADME/DMPK principles to optimize PK profiles of macrocyclic/modality options.
Lead or contribute to program strategy discussions and decision frameworks.
Communicate scientific findings clearly to stakeholders at all levels.