Principal Scientist - Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary & bonus

Healthcare coverage

Retirement plan

Career advancement

State-of-the-art labs

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Scientist in Pharmaceutical Chemistry to lead discovery and development efforts at their Tembisa facility in Gauteng. This senior role drives synthetic design, molecule characterization, and preclinical contributions within a dynamic R&D team.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. with 8+ years in pharma R&D, deep expertise in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, and a track record in SAR-driven drug design and IP strategy.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or related field.
• 8+ years in pharmaceutical R&D with a focus on synthetic chemistry.
• Expertise in drug design and SAR studies.
• Proficiency with modern synthetic techniques and purification methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and synthesis of novel small molecules with therapeutic potential.
• Develop and optimize synthetic routes for target compounds.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using analytical techniques (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to evaluate potency and selectivity.
• Provide guidance on medicinal chemistry strategies and IP development.
• Manage timelines, resources, and cross-functional teams to meet milestones.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Medicinal chemistry

SAR studies

Publication record

Modern synthetic techniques

Purification methods

Analytical instrumentation

NMR

MS

HPLC

Education

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an accomplished Principal Scientist specializing in Pharmaceutical Chemistry to spearhead critical research initiatives at their facility in Tembisa . This senior role is crucial for driving the discovery and development of new pharmaceutical compounds. You will be instrumental in designing synthetic routes, characterizing novel molecules, and contributing to the preclinical development pipeline. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, with a passion for translating scientific insights into viable drug candidates, working within a dedicated team focused on innovation and patient well-being in the heart of Gauteng.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and synthesis of novel small molecules with potential therapeutic applications.
• Develop and optimize synthetic routes for target compounds, ensuring scalability and efficiency.
• Perform comprehensive characterization of synthesized compounds using analytical techniques (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to evaluate the potency and selectivity of candidate drugs.
• Provide expert guidance on medicinal chemistry strategies and intellectual property development.
• Manage research timelines, resources, and cross-functional project teams to achieve key milestones.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related field.
• Extensive experience (8+ years) in pharmaceutical research and development, with a strong focus on synthetic chemistry.
• Demonstrated expertise in drug design and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.
• Proficiency in modern synthetic techniques and purification methods.
• Experience with analytical instrumentation for compound characterization.
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities and a strong publication record.

Benefits

• An industry-leading salary and bonus structure reflective of a Principal Scientist role.
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage including medical, dental, and vision.
• Generous retirement savings plan.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement and leadership within the R&D department.
• Access to state-of-the‑art synthetic and analytical laboratories in Tembisa .
• A dynamic and collaborative research environment fostering scientific excellence.