Principal Drug Discovery Scientist

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Career development

Equity options

Retirement plan

State-of-the-art facilities

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay seeks a Principal Drug Discovery Scientist to lead early-stage research from target ID through lead optimization. You will mentor scientists, guide experimental design, and drive strategies across biology disciplines.

You will collaborate with medicinal chemistry, DMPK, safety, and translational teams to push transformative therapies forward, while mentoring the team and shaping the research roadmap.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or related life science discipline.
• 8–10 years of progressive drug discovery experience, leading discovery programs.
• Expertise in target identification, validation, assay development, and lead optimization.
• Proven ability to manage complex biology projects and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge of disease biology and therapeutic areas.
• Experience with screening technologies (HTS, phenotypic screening).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of drug discovery projects from target ID to lead optimization.
• Develop and implement research strategies to validate novel targets.
• Oversee data generation and analysis using molecular biology, cell biology, pharmacology, and HTS.
• Provide scientific leadership and mentorship to a team of scientists.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemistry, DMPK, safety, and translational teams.
• Evaluate literature and technologies to identify new opportunities.
• Present findings to senior management and advisory boards.
• Contribute to patent filings, publications, and regulatory filings.
• Ensure robust experimental design and data integrity.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Communication

Project management

Collaboration

Scientific focus

Problem solving

Education

PhD in Biology/Pharmacology/Biochemistry

Tools

HTS

Phenotypic screening

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering biotechnology company based in Mossel Bay, Western Cape , is seeking an exceptional Principal Drug Discovery Scientist to lead innovative research programs aimed at identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets. This senior role is instrumental in driving the early-stage discovery pipeline, from target identification and validation through to lead compound optimization. You will leverage your deep scientific expertise and leadership skills to guide research strategies, design experiments, and mentor a team of talented scientists. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in drug discovery, strong experience in relevant biological disciplines, and a passion for translating scientific insights into potential new medicines. This is a highly visible position offering the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future direction of our client's drug development efforts. We are committed to fostering a culture of scientific curiosity, collaboration, and innovation. The successful applicant will work on challenging and rewarding projects at the forefront of pharmaceutical research, contributing to the development of transformative therapies for unmet medical needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of innovative drug discovery projects, from target identification through to lead optimization.
• Develop and implement cutting-edge research strategies and experimental plans to validate novel therapeutic targets.
• Oversee the generation and analysis of complex biological data using a variety of techniques, including molecular biology, cell biology, pharmacology, and high-throughput screening.
• Provide scientific leadership and mentorship to a team of drug discovery scientists and research associates.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including medicinal chemistry, DMPK, safety assessment, and translational research.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature and emerging technologies to identify new opportunities for drug discovery.
• Present research findings and strategic recommendations to senior management and scientific advisory boards.
• Contribute to the preparation of patent applications, scientific publications, and regulatory filings.
• Ensure rigorous experimental design, data integrity, and adherence to all safety and ethical guidelines.
• Manage external collaborations and research partnerships as needed.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related life science discipline.
• A minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in drug discovery research, with a strong emphasis on leading discovery programs in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in target identification and validation, assay development, and early-stage lead optimization.
• Proven ability to design, manage, and execute complex biological research projects.
• Strong understanding of disease biology and relevant therapeutic areas.
• Experience with various screening technologies (e.g., HTS, phenotypic screening) is essential.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a track record of successful team management.
• Strong publication record in reputable peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to think critically and strategically, with a passion for scientific innovation.
• Experience with intellectual property and patent strategy is desirable.

Benefits

• An annual salary between R and R , reflecting the seniority and expertise required.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and advanced technologies.
• Performance-based bonuses and equity options.
• A dynamic, collaborative, and innovative work environment.
• Retirement savings plan with generous employer match.