Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Kymera Therapeutics; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Kymera Therapeutics seeks a senior medicinal chemist to lead optimization across portfolio projects, directing CRO chemistry and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams. The role focuses on advanced design, data analysis, and target validation at early stages, driving decisions toward IND readiness.

You will mentor junior chemists, represent the company in scientific discussions, and shape strategy while delivering high-impact chemistry leadership in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• PhD in organic/medicinal chemistry with 8+ years in biotech/pharmaceutical industry as a medicinal chemist/project leader.
• Extensive knowledge of modern medicinal chemistry strategies for the optimization of DMPK, biochemical, pharmacological and safety.
• Excellent synthetic organic chemistry skills and creativity are required.
• Proven ability as chemistry leader, contributing beyond med chem as part of a multi-disciplinary project team.
• Proven ability as chemistry leader on validating or prioritizing targets with conclusive data package.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to be both a strategic leader and a hands-on problem solver.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task in an extremely fast-paced environment with changing priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with all stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Drive state-of-the-art multi-parameter medicinal chemistry optimization with creativity, innovation, in-depth analysis of data, and existing literature information
• Contribute in a very impactful manner to compound design and synthetic route identification for all portfolio projects
• Lead medicinal chemistry efforts on validating targets at early stage to clear decision point
• Holistic approach to hit/lead finding including use of structure-based drug design and fragment-based drug discovery
• Effective leadership and management of CRO chemistry teams through excellent synthetic and medicinal chemistry skills with clear and open communication
• Lead medicinal chemistry efforts and contribute beyond med chem as part of a multi-disciplinary project team
• Represent the company effectively in scientific matters to external organizations.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and development for junior project leaders and medicinal chemists.

Education

PhD in organic/medicinal chemistry

Job description

Who we are:

Kymera is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) to develop medicines that address critical health problems and have the potential to dramatically improve patients’ lives. Kymera is deploying TPD to address disease targets and pathways inaccessible with conventional therapeutics. Having advanced the first degrader into the clinic for immunological diseases, Kymera is focused on building an industry-leading pipeline of oral small molecule degraders to provide a new generation of convenient, highly effective therapies for patients with these conditions. Founded in 2016, Kymera has been recognized as one of Boston’s top workplaces for the past several years. For more information about our science, pipeline and people, please visit www.kymeratx.com or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn.

How we work:

• PIONEER: We are courageous, resilient and rigorous in our mission to improve patients’ lives through our revolutionary degrader medicines.
• COLLABORATE: We value trust transparency from everyone. Our goals are shared, our decisions data-driven and our camaraderie genuine.
• BELONG: We recognize our differences, inviting curiosity and inclusivity, so that our people are valued, seen, and heard.

How you’ll contribute:

• Drive state-of-the-art multi-parameter medicinal chemistry optimization with creativity, innovation, in-depth analysis of data, and existing literature information
• Contribute in a very impactful manner to compound design and synthetic route identification for all portfolio projects
• Lead medicinal chemistry efforts on validating targets at early stage to clear decision point
• Holistic approach to hit/lead finding including use of structure-based drug design and fragment-based drug discovery
• Effective leadership and management of CRO chemistry teams through excellent synthetic and medicinal chemistry skills with clear and open communication
• Lead medicinal chemistry efforts and contribute beyond med chem as part of a multi-disciplinary project team
• Represent the company effectively in scientific matters to external organizations.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and development for junior project leaders and medicinal chemists.

Skills and experience you’ll bring:

• PhD in organic/medicinal chemistry with 8 years of experience as a medicinal chemist/project leader in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry with a track-record of leading/contributing to research projects towards IND-track nomination
• Extensive knowledge of modern medicinal chemistry strategies for the optimization of DMPK, biochemical, pharmacological and safety
• Excellent synthetic organic chemistry skills and creativity are required.
• Proven ability as chemistry leader, contributing beyond med chem as part of a multi-disciplinary project team
• Proven ability as chemistry leader on validating or prioritizing targets with conclusive data package
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Willingness to be both a strategic leader and a hands-on problem solver
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task in an extremely fast-paced environment with changing priorities while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with all stakeholders

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kymera Therapeutics is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, sex, marital status, gender expression or identity, genetic information, sexual orientation, citizenship or any other legally protected class.

Compensation

• Kymera offers a competitive compensation package that recognizes both results and capabilities through market-based, performance-driven pay.
• The anticipated base salary range for this role is $195,000 — $275,000, with eligibility for annual bonus, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits.
• Actual salary is based on a holistic evaluation of the specific role/level as well as each candidate’s depth of experience and the capabilities they bring to the position.