Senior Medicinal Chemist

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + bonus

Health, dental, vision insurance

Professional development opportunities

Paid time off + retirement plan

State-of-the-art facilities in Polokwе

Job summary

Placements24 in Polokwane is seeking a Senior Medicinal Chemist to lead the design, synthesis and optimization of novel small molecules for drug discovery. You will work with biologists and pharmacologists to advance programs from hit identification to lead optimization.

The role requires a PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry, 5+ years in medicinal chemistry, and a strong track record in synthesis, SAR, and analytical characterization using NMR, MS, and HPLC.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years of medicinal chemistry experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in modern organic synthesis, reaction optimization, and purification techniques.
• Proficiency in SAR analysis and understanding of drug design principles.
• Experience with computational chemistry tools is a plus.
• Strong publication record and excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute synthetic routes for novel compounds with desired pharmacological properties.
• Perform SAR studies to optimize lead compounds for potency, selectivity, and ADME properties.
• Synthesize and purify target compounds using a wide range of organic chemistry techniques.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using NMR, Mass Spectrometry, HPLC, and other analytical methods.
• Collaborate with external partners and CROs for synthesis and advanced analytical support.
• Mentor junior chemists and contribute to the strategic direction of discovery projects.

Skills

Modern organic synthesis

Reaction optimization

Purification techniques

SAR analysis

Drug design principles

Computational chemistry tools

Education

PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

NMR

Mass Spectrometry

HPLC

Computational chemistry tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and innovative Senior Medicinal Chemist to join their dedicated research team in Polokwane . This pivotal role will involve leading the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel small molecules as potential drug candidates. You will collaborate closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and other scientists to drive drug discovery programs from hit identification through lead optimization. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge pharmaceutical research, work with state-of-the‑art synthetic and analytical equipment, and play a key role in shaping the company's future therapeutic pipeline. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in organic synthesis and a passion for medicinal chemistry.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute synthetic routes for novel compounds with desired pharmacological properties.
• Perform structure‑activity relationship (SAR) studies to optimize lead compounds for potency, selectivity, and ADME properties.
• Synthesize and purify target compounds using a wide range of organic chemistry techniques.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using NMR, Mass Spectrometry, HPLC, and other analytical methods.
• Collaborate with external partners and CROs for synthesis and advanced analytical support.
• Mentor junior chemists and contribute to the strategic direction of discovery projects.

Requirements

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in medicinal chemistry within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in modern organic synthesis, reaction optimization, and purification techniques.
• Proficiency in SAR analysis and understanding of drug design principles.
• Experience with computational chemistry tools and databases is a plus.
• Strong publication record and excellent written and oral communication skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and attractive bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Opportunities for professional growth, conference participation, and advanced training.
• Generous paid time off and retirement savings plan.
• A dynamic and stimulating research environment in Polokwane with access to cutting‑edge facilities.