Principal/Senior Principal Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry

Humanwell Pharmaceutical US, Inc.; Roodepoort; On-site; ZAR 2,081,000 - 2,776,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company is seeking a Principal/Senior Principal Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry to lead drug discovery efforts. This role requires extensive leadership and medicinal chemistry expertise, with a focus on innovative therapeutic development. Candidates should have a Ph.D. and significant experience in drug discovery, along with strong problem-solving and communication skills. A competitive salary and benefits are offered in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Health insurance

401K

Vacation plan

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Qualifications

• 15+ years of industrial drug discovery experience.
• Experience with cyclic peptide design and PROTAC.
• Hands-on experience in synthetic and medicinal chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Lead a drug discovery team for scientific excellence.
• Design and implement medicinal chemistry strategies.
• Oversee and manage external CRO relationships.

Skills

Leadership of cross-functional teams

Medicinal chemistry expertise

Problem-solving

Creativity

Communication skills in English and Chinese

Education

Ph.D. in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

Computational chemistry tools

Job description

Principal/Senior Principal Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry

Humanwell Pharmaceutical US, Inc. is a St. Louis, MO–based pharmaceutical research and development company focused on creating novel therapeutics to address unmet medical needs. At Humanwell, we strive to improve patients’ quality of life and are dedicated to building a happier and healthier world.

We are currently seeking a highly motivated Medicinal Chemistry Leader with broad drug discovery expertise, proven project management skills, and a strong track record of leading teams. This individual will play a pivotal role in our Drug Discovery Department, directing multidisciplinary efforts to identify innovative clinical candidates.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary drug discovery team to ensure scientific excellence and operational efficiency.
• Design and implement medicinal chemistry strategies that incorporate structural, physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and safety considerations to drive discovery of novel and differentiated development candidates.
• Evaluate and refine design proposals from the computational chemistry group.
• Direct and execute synthetic chemistry strategies to support discovery efforts.
• Identify and apply emerging synthetic and purification technologies to enable efficient synthesis of novel compounds.
• Assess and recommend cutting-edge technologies in drug design and discovery.
• Oversee and manage external CRO relationships to ensure seamless, high-quality project execution.
• Collaborate effectively with leadership and provide timely, well-organized reports.
• Facilitate effective communication and interaction across functions including computational chemistry, biology, CMC, safety, and external collaborators.
• Lead preclinical studies and support IND filings.
• Establish intellectual property strategies for discovery programs and drive patent preparation in partnership with patent counsel.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry and at least 15+ years of industrial drug discovery experience with a strong track record of scientific innovation and clinical candidate delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional drug discovery teams.
• Broad knowledge of medicinal chemistry and related disciplines (computational chemistry, DMPK, pharmacology, and process chemistry) to progress programs from lead identification to development candidate and IND filing.
• Experience with cyclic peptide design, PROTAC and Molecular Glue will be preferred.
• Experience managing timelines and external chemistry resources to meet key decision points with high-quality outcomes.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships across cultures, geographies, and organizations.
• Proven creativity, problem-solving, and relationship-management skills within matrix teams (internal and external).
• Self-driven, entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated success working in fast-paced, diverse teams.
• Hands-on experience using computational chemistry tools and structure-based drug design principles for lead identification and optimization.
• Strong background in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, evidenced by high-quality publications and/or patents.
• Demonstrated ability to lead programs from initiation through lead optimization to clinical lead selection.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and motivational skills to inspire and guide team members.
• Clear, effective communication skills to present project strategies and progress to internal and external stakeholders; ability to communicate in both English and Chinese is preferred.

Why Join Us?

• This is a unique opportunity to lead and innovate in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. You will play a pivotal role in shaping our medicinal chemistry strategy, advancing our pipeline, and translating cutting-edge science into transformative therapies for patients.
• We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, 401K, and a vacation plan. Our company is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
• If you are interested in this position, please submit your resume and a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and qualifications.