Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 153,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

Job summary

Ladders seeks a Director of Medicinal Chemistry to guide strategy within a multi-disciplinary drug discovery environment, advancing IND-ready candidates in a remote setting. This leadership role partners with cross-functional scientists and external chemistry teams to drive speed, innovation, and scientific rigor across the portfolio.

The candidate will balance deep technical insight with team leadership, manage outsourced chemistry efforts, and shape SAR-driven programs targeting CNS medicines

Qualifications

• 10+ years in medicinal chemistry with team leadership.
• PhD strongly preferred.
• Experience leading remote and outsourced chemistry teams.
• Experience with CNS targets and full drug discovery from hit-to-lead to IND-ready candidates.
• Strong problem-solving and growth mindset, with AI and digital tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal and CRO-based synthetic chemistry teams to IND-ready candidate molecules.
• Serve as the chemistry leader in a multi-disciplinary project team, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
• Design innovative molecules that meet target product profiles and secure intellectual property.
• Contribute to the development of a robust chemistry strategy for intellectual property protection.
• Analyze structure-activity relationships (SAR) to identify and design improved drug-like molecules.
• Stay informed on competitor activities and advancements in medicinal chemistry to enhance internal programs.
• Communicate effectively with synthetic teams to maximize throughput of test compounds.

Skills

Medicinal chemistry leadership

Remote team leadership

Drug discovery knowledge

AI and digital tools

Education

PhD preferred

BS/MS in Chemistry

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Director, Medicinal Chemistry to join the team of a leader in the Pharmaceuticals & Biotech space.

This role will guide medicinal chemistry strategy within a multi-disciplinary drug discovery environment, with a focus on advancing high-quality candidates toward IND readiness. The position will partner closely with cross-functional scientists and external chemistry teams to drive innovation, speed, and scientific rigor across the portfolio. This is a hands‑on leadership opportunity for a candidate who can balance deep technical insight with team leadership and program execution.

Location: Remote

Compensation: $153,000 – $290,400 annually

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage internal and CRO-based synthetic chemistry teams to achieve IND-ready candidate molecules.
• Serve as the chemistry leader in a multi-disciplinary project team, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
• Design innovative molecules that meet target product profiles and secure intellectual property.
• Contribute to the development of a robust chemistry strategy for intellectual property protection.
• Analyze structure-activity relationships (SAR) to identify and design improved drug‑like molecules.
• Stay informed on competitor activities and advancements in medicinal chemistry to enhance internal programs.
• Communicate effectively with synthetic teams to maximize throughput of test compounds.
  
  

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Chemistry; PhD strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in medicinal chemistry, specifically as a team leader in biotech/pharmaceutical settings.
• Expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry principles, with knowledge of pharmacology and ADME.
• Experience with CNS targets and all stages of drug discovery from hit-to-lead to IND-ready candidates.
• Proven leadership skills in managing remote and virtual teams under tight timelines.
• Experience in managing outsourced chemistry teams.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities and a growth mindset, particularly in leveraging AI and digital tools.
  
  

Benefits

• Eligibility for a company-sponsored 401(k) and pension plan.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits.
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care.
• Life insurance and death benefits.
• Vacation benefits and various leave of absence options.
• Well‑being benefits including employee assistance programs and fitness initiatives.
  
  

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.