Remote Principal Scientist - Drug Discovery Leader

Placements24

Durban

Hybrid

ZAR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Fully remote

Pipeline leadership

Health insurance

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a distinguished Principal Scientist to join a remote Drug Discovery team. This senior role drives strategy and execution of early-stage programs, identifying and validating novel targets.

Leverage medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and molecular biology to design innovative plans from home. Lead cross-functional teams, oversee assay development and lead optimization, and mentor scientists while advancing therapeutic innovations for critical diseases with a globally distributed

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related life science discipline.
A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical R&D, with a strong focus on small molecule or biologic drug discovery.
Demonstrated success in identifying and advancing drug candidates through preclinical development.
Expertise in assay development, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis, and PK/PD modeling.
Proven ability to lead and mentor scientific teams in a project-driven environment.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage multiple drug discovery projects from target identification through to lead optimization.
Design and oversee the synthesis and testing of novel small molecules and biologics.
Develop and validate robust assays to assess compound efficacy, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties.
Interpret complex experimental data, make strategic decisions, and guide project teams towards key milestones.
Collaborate closely with internal and external partners, including academic institutions and contract research organizations (CROs).
Stay abreast of the latest advancements in drug discovery technologies and therapeutic areas, and integrate them into research strategies.