Lead Medicinal Chemist

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Stock options

Private medical aid

Career advancement

Advanced equipment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Medicinal Chemist in Cape Town to spearhead drug design and synthesis efforts, directing a chemistry team to generate novel therapeutic candidates.

You will collaborate with biologists and other scientists to advance hit identification through lead optimization, shaping projects with SAR/ADMET data and presenting findings to leadership in a dynamic research environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry with a strong academic record.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in medicinal chemistry within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and structure-based drug design.
• Proven experience leading research projects and managing a team of scientists.
• Strong understanding of drug discovery principles, including SAR, PK/PD, and ADMET.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team in Cape Town.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, synthesis, and optimization of small molecule drug candidates targeting key disease pathways.
• Direct and mentor a team of medicinal chemists, fostering a collaborative and high-performance research environment.
• Develop innovative synthetic routes and strategies for target compounds, ensuring efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate with biologists and other drug discovery disciplines to integrate structure-activity relationships (SAR) and ADMET data into compound design.
• Manage external collaborations with contract research organizations (CROs) as needed for specialized synthesis or analytical support.
• Present project updates and scientific findings to internal stakeholders and leadership, contributing to strategic decision-making.

Skills

Medicinal chemistry

SAR

Drug design

Leadership

Project management

Synthetic organic chemistry

PK/PD

Education

Ph.D. in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

Structure-based design tools

Computational chemistry tools

SAR analysis software

Job description

About the Role

Our client seeks a highly motivated and experienced Lead Medicinal Chemist to spearhead innovative drug design and synthesis efforts at their facility in Cape Town . This pivotal role involves directing the efforts of a chemistry team to generate novel chemical entities with therapeutic potential. You will play a crucial part in the drug discovery pipeline, from hit identification through to lead optimization, working closely with biologists and other scientists to achieve project goals. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge pharmaceutical research in a vibrant city renowned for its scientific community and breathtaking landscapes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, synthesis, and optimization of small molecule drug candidates targeting key disease pathways.
• Direct and mentor a team of medicinal chemists, fostering a collaborative and high-performance research environment.
• Develop innovative synthetic routes and strategies for target compounds, ensuring efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate with biologists and other drug discovery disciplines to integrate structure-activity relationships (SAR) and ADMET data into compound design.
• Manage external collaborations with contract research organizations (CROs) as needed for specialized synthesis or analytical support.
• Present project updates and scientific findings to internal stakeholders and leadership, contributing to strategic decision-making.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry with a strong academic record.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in medicinal chemistry within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and structure-based drug design.
• Proven experience in leading research projects and managing a team of scientists.
• Excellent understanding of drug discovery principles, including SAR, PK/PD, and ADMET properties.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented setting in Cape Town .

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package with significant bonus potential.
• Generous stock options or equity participation for key contributors.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including private medical aid.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement and leadership development.
• Access to advanced synthetic chemistry equipment and computational chemistry tools in a stimulating research environment.