Director, Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis

Parabilis Medicines; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Parabilis Medicines, Inc. in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a highly talented Director, Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis to advance Helicons™ programs and first-in-class degraders. You will lead a peptide and small-molecule synthesis group, design routes, and collaborate across functions to hit milestones.

You will mentor staff, drive efficient workflows, and manage CRO partnerships while delivering innovative solutions in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry with 10+ years of industry experience.
• Expertise in synthetic route design and execution across diverse molecules.
• Background in synthetic methodology development and problem solving.
• Experience leading projects and managing CRO partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead a medicinal chemistry peptide synthesis team using state-of-the-art technologies to generate alpha-helical peptides and degraders.
• Design and execute efficient synthetic routes from building blocks to complex molecules.
• Develop and communicate integrated synthesis strategies with multiple cross-functional teams.
• Drive data-informed decisions to accelerate compound synthesis progression.
• Manage partnerships with external CROs and collaborators.
• Coordinate with internal synthesis/purification teams to accelerate delivery timelines.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering scientific rigor and collaboration.

Skills

Synthetic route design

Small-molecule synthesis

Project leadership

External CRO management

AI tools usage

Communication skills

On-site collaboration

Team mentoring

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Tools

AI tools

Job description

About Parabilis Medicines

Parabilis Medicines is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating extraordinary medicines for patients with serious diseases by unlocking biologically important targets long considered undruggable. The company has pioneered a new class of alpha-helical peptides – Helicons™ – capable of modulating intracellular proteins that have historically been beyond the reach of conventional medicines. The company's lead investigational medicine, zolucatetide, is the first and only direct inhibitor of the beta-catenin:TCF interaction, a central node in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway that has eluded drug developers for decades. Zolucatetide is being evaluated in the clinic across multiple Wnt/beta-catenin-driven diseases, including desmoid tumors, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and a range of other solid tumor indications. Beyond zolucatetide, Parabilis is advancing additional Helicon-based programs focused on other challenging targets where we believe our medicines could have life-altering impact. For more information, visit www.parabilismed.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Parabilis Medicines is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating extraordinary medicines for patients with serious diseases by unlocking biologically important targets long considered undruggable. The company has pioneered a new class of alpha-helical peptides – Helicons™ – capable of modulating intracellular proteins that have historically been beyond the reach of conventional medicines. The company's lead investigational medicine, zolucatetide, is the first and only direct inhibitor of the beta-catenin:TCF interaction, a central node in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway that has eluded drug developers for decades. Zolucatetide is being evaluated in the clinic across multiple Wnt/beta-catenin-driven diseases, including desmoid tumors, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and a range of other solid tumor indications. Beyond zolucatetide, Parabilis is advancing additional Helicon-based programs focused on other challenging targets where we believe our medicines could have life-altering impact. For more information, visit www.parabilismed.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

What's the opportunity?

Parabilis Medicines, Inc. is seeking a highly talented and motivated Director, Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis, reporting to the Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis. You will have an exciting opportunity to advance a transformational new modality, Helicons™, including degraders and other induced proximity approaches, through first-in-class and best-in-class programs. We are seeking a creative and enthusiastic synthetic chemist with a passion for advancing programs to candidate nomination.

Responsibilities

• Lead a medicinal chemistry peptide synthesis team utilizing innovative, state-of-the-art synthetic technologies to rapidly generate alpha-helical peptides, E3 ligands, protein degraders and other bifunctional-induced proximity molecules.
• Design and execute efficient synthetic routes from simple building blocks to structurally complex molecules.
• Develop, implement, and clearly communicate integrated synthesis strategies in partnership with Design, Data Science, De Novo Discovery, Molecular & Cellular Biology, DMPK, and Pharmacology teams to achieve hit-to-lead and lead optimization milestones.
• Drive data-informed decision-making to accelerate compound synthesis progression.
• Manage and cultivate productive partnerships with external CRO collaborators.
• Partner closely with internal synthesis and purification teams to streamline workflows and accelerate molecule delivery timelines.
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members while fostering a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, and collaboration.

What you'll need to be successful:

• A Ph.D. in Chemistry and 10+ years of industry experience
• Demonstrated expertise in synthetic route design and execution across a range of molecular complexities.
• A strong background in synthetic methodology development, complex problem solving, and modern small-molecule synthesis.
• Experience leading projects and managing external CRO partnerships.
• A collaborative approach and a desire to incorporate novel synthetic tools to improve efficiency.
• Innovative thinking, a growth mindset, and a willingness to challenge conventional approaches.
• A passion for drug discovery and advancing novel therapeutic modalities.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills.
• The ability to independently prioritize and deliver against timelines aligned with company objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize AI tools for day-to-day work; baseline proficiency is expected.
• The ability to work on-site and attend in-person meetings.
• Experience in solid-phase peptide synthesis is preferred.

Core Values

• Growth-Minded. We're inventing a new class of medicines—one applicable to therapeutic targets that have been dreamt about, but always considered impossible to drug. Our work requires us to be curious, humble and adaptable.
• In(ter)dependent. We are fiercely independent as a leader in defying the limitations of current therapeutic modalities, and interdependent as a team as we work collaboratively to shift drug discovery paradigms and provide patients with better treatment options.
• Patient-focused. We are deeply focused on patient outcomes, and all energy in the company is focused on science as it translates to patient impact.
• All-In. We're All-In on solving some of the hardest scientific challenges and delivering one of the most effective new classes of drugs in history.

The base salary range for this position is $200,000-$240,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal practices. Parabilis's total compensation package also includes an annual target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits designed to support our employees' overall well-being.

As an equal opportunity employer, Parabilis Medicines values an inclusive workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other factors prohibited by law.

30 Acorn Park Drive | Cambridge, MA 02140 | www.parabilismed.com