Remote Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Professional development allowance

Remote-first environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist to join their R&D team in a fully remote role. You will lead synthesis of APIs, perform analytical characterization, and drive scale up considerations for scalable manufacturing.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD or MSc in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry with 5–7 years of hands-on experience, and demonstrated proficiency in NMR, MS, HPLC, and GC in drug discovery.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Organic/MedChem.
• 5–7 years in synthetic organic chemistry for drug discovery.
• Proficiency with analytical instrumentation and modern synthesis.
• Understanding of process chemistry and scale-up preferred.
• Autonomous work style and remote communication ability.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute synthetic routes for APIs and intermediates.
• Perform analytical testing with NMR, MS, HPLC, and GC.
• Optimize processes for scalability and potential manufacturing.
• Prepare technical reports and contribute to publications/patents.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a remote setting.

Skills

Analytical testing

Remote collaboration

Problem solving

Education

PhD or MSc in Organic/MedChem

Tools

NMR

Mass Spectrometry

HPLC

GC

Job description

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist to join their innovative research and development team. This is a fully remote position, offering the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge pharmaceutical projects from anywhere. You will be instrumental in the synthesis, characterization, and development of novel drug candidates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This role requires a deep understanding of organic chemistry, analytical techniques, and the pharmaceutical development process, along with a proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a virtual environment. You will play a key role in advancing our client's pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of synthetic routes for target molecules, including APIs and intermediates.
• Perform rigorous analytical testing and characterization of synthesized compounds using techniques such as NMR, Mass Spectrometry, HPLC, and GC.
• Optimize chemical processes for scalability and efficiency, preparing for potential manufacturing.
• Conduct literature searches and stay updated on the latest advancements in synthetic and medicinal chemistry.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, laboratory notebooks, and contribute to scientific publications and patent applications.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including process development, formulation, and analytical sciences, in a remote setting.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry, with a focus on pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.
• Proficiency in modern synthetic techniques and extensive experience with various analytical instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of process chemistry and scale-up principles is a significant advantage.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a creative approach to synthetic challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, manage priorities, and communicate effectively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
• Professional development allowance for conferences and training.
• The flexibility and autonomy of a remote-first work environment.