Senior Medicinal Chemist

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Híbrido; ZAR 900.000 - 1.500.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plan with company matching

Generous paid time off and development

Descripción de la vacante

Placements24 seeks a Senior Medicinal Chemist in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, to lead synthetic chemistry for drug discovery. You will design and optimize novel molecules, perform SAR studies, and collaborate with biologists and DMPK scientists in a hybrid role.

The candidate will manage external CROs, mentor junior chemists, and contribute to strategic directions while utilizing NMR, MS, and HPLC for characterization.

Formación

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry.
• Minimum 5 years post-doctoral or industrial experience in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
• Proven track record of designing and synthesizing novel compounds for drug discovery.

Responsabilidades

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules with therapeutic activity.
• Lead complex multi-step organic syntheses and purification techniques.
• Conduct SAR studies to optimize potency, selectivity and PK properties.
• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to evaluate compounds.
• Utilize modern synthetic methodologies and instrumentation (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Mentor junior chemists and manage external CRO collaborations as needed.
• Maintain meticulous lab notebooks and prepare technical reports.
• Contribute to strategic drug discovery directions.

Conocimientos

Synthesis

SAR studies

NMR

MS

HPLC

Drug discovery

Collaboration

Communication

Educación

PhD in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry

Herramientas

NMR

MS

HPLC

Chromatography

Descripción del empleo

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking pharmaceutical research and development company, is seeking an experienced Senior Medicinal Chemist to join their innovative team in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal . This role is central to the discovery and optimization of novel drug candidates. The Senior Medicinal Chemist will lead synthetic chemistry efforts, design and execute multi-step syntheses, and contribute to structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. This hybrid role offers a blend of on-site laboratory work and remote responsibilities, providing a flexible and productive work environment. The successful candidate will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of biologists, pharmacologists, and DMPK scientists to advance drug discovery programs from hit identification through lead optimization. Our client is committed to tackling unmet medical needs through cutting-edge chemical synthesis and drug design.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules with potential therapeutic activity.
• Execute complex multi-step organic syntheses and purification techniques.
• Conduct structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize compound potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties.
• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to test and evaluate synthesized compounds.
• Utilize modern synthetic methodologies and instrumentation (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Manage external synthesis projects and CRO collaborations as needed.
• Maintain meticulous laboratory notebooks and prepare technical reports.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of drug discovery projects.
• Mentor junior chemists and contribute to a positive team environment.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industrial experience in medicinal chemistry, drug discovery.
• Proven track record of designing and synthesizing novel compounds for drug discovery programs.
• Extensive knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, including modern synthetic methodologies.
• Experience with SAR studies and lead optimization.
• Proficiency in spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques for compound characterization (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Strong understanding of drug discovery processes and therapeutic areas.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, with remote work capabilities.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Generous paid time off and professional development opportunities.
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and research tools.
• Opportunity to work on innovative drug discovery projects.
• Hybrid work model promoting work-life integration.