Principal Research Chemist: Synthesis & Catalysts Lead

Placements24; Klerksdorp; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Bonus potential

Comprehensive benefits

Professional development opportunities

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Research Chemist to lead advanced research initiatives at their Klerksdorp facility in North West, South Africa. The role emphasizes synthetic chemistry, catalyst development, and material science.

The ideal candidate will guide complex projects, mentor chemists, and contribute to IP through publications and patents while collaborating with process development and analytical teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic or Inorganic Chemistry with strong synthesis focus.
• Minimum 10 years of post-doctoral industrial research experience in synthetic chemistry.
• Proven expertise in complex organic synthesis, reaction mechanisms, and purification techniques.
• Proficiency with advanced analytical instrumentation for structural characterization.
• Strong track record of leadership, project delivery, and IP generation (publications/patents).
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Experience in catalyst development and screening is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery and development of novel synthetic methodologies and chemical processes.
• Design and execute complex multi-step organic syntheses and catalyst screening experiments.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using advanced analytical techniques (NMR, MS, IR, UV-Vis).
• Troubleshoot synthetic problems and develop robust solutions.
• Mentor and guide junior chemists and manage research projects.
• Author technical reports, patent applications, and publications.

Skills

Project leadership

Synthetic chemistry

Analytical instrumentation

Scientific writing

Mentorship

Communication

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

PhD in Inorganic Chemistry

Tools

NMR spectroscopy

Mass Spectrometry

IR spectroscopy

UV-Vis spectroscopy

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Principal Research Chemist to lead advanced research initiatives at their Klerksdorp facility in North West, South Africa. The role emphasizes synthetic chemistry, catalyst development, and material science.

The ideal candidate will guide complex projects, mentor chemists, and contribute to IP through publications and patents while collaborating with process development and analytical teams.