Lead Research Chemist - Organic Synthesis

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote position

Home office stipend

Unlimited PTO

Professional development

Virtual conferences

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Research Chemist in Organic Synthesis for a remote, high-impact role. You will lead a virtual team, drive discovery and development of new chemical entities, and oversee projects from initiation to scale-up in a flexible, remote-first environment.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry with 8+ years of hands-on experience, excels at method development, asymmetric synthesis, and collaborates across R&D to advance patents and publications.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or closely related field required.
• 8+ years hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry.
• Proven ability to lead remote research teams and manage projects.
• Expertise in modern synthetic methods, asymmetric synthesis, and organometallic chemistry.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills in a remote environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step organic syntheses for complex targets.
• Lead remote team of chemists and provide technical direction.
• Oversee process chemistry development focusing on scale-up, safety, efficiency.
• Analyze analytical data (NMR, MS, HPLC, GC) to confirm structures and purity.
• Contribute to patents and publications.
• Collaborate with computational chemists to accelerate discovery.

Skills

Leadership

Organic synthesis

Project management

Communication

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

HPLC

GC

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and innovative Lead Research Chemist with a specialization in Organic Synthesis for a fully remote, high-impact position. In this role, you will drive the discovery and development of new chemical entities and synthetic routes critical for our next-generation products. You will lead a virtual team of chemists, manage research projects from initiation to scale-up, and contribute significantly to the intellectual property portfolio. This is an exceptional opportunity to leverage your expertise in a flexible, remote-first environment, shaping the future of chemical innovation while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step organic synthesis routes for complex target molecules.
• Develop and optimize novel synthetic methodologies and reaction conditions.
• Lead and mentor a team of remote synthetic chemists, providing technical direction and project management.
• Oversee process chemistry development, focusing on scalability, safety, and efficiency.
• Analyze and interpret analytical data (NMR, MS, HPLC, GC) to confirm structures and purity.
• Contribute to patent applications and scientific publications detailing synthetic achievements.
• Collaborate with computational chemists and other R&D functions to accelerate discovery programs.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry, post-Ph.D.
• Demonstrated success in leading research projects and managing remote scientific teams.
• Expertise in modern synthetic techniques, asymmetric synthesis, and organometallic chemistry.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex synthetic challenges.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, adapted for a remote working environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus structure for a remote position.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous home office stipend and technology support.
• Unlimited paid time off, encouraging work-life balance.
• Opportunities for remote professional development and virtual conferences.
• A stimulating and collaborative virtual work environment focused on cutting-edge research.