Senior Medicinal Chemist

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 in Vereeniging, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Medicinal Chemist to join a pioneering drug discovery team. You will design, synthesize, and optimize novel small molecules with therapeutic potential, collaborating with biologists and computational chemists to advance candidates.

The ideal candidate has a PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry and at least 5 years of hands-on experience in medicinal chemistry within pharma/biotech, with a strong SAR and PK knowledge base.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on medicinal chemistry experience in pharma/biotech.
• Proven track record in designing and synthesizing biologically active small molecules.
• Expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and reaction mechanisms.
• Strong understanding of drug discovery, ADME/Tox properties, and SAR analysis.
• Proficiency with analytical characterization (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC).
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules for therapeutic targets identified by R&D.
• Optimize lead compounds for potency, selectivity, PK properties, and safety.
• Collaborate with biologists to interpret SAR studies.
• Utilize computational chemistry to guide design decisions.
• Develop robust synthetic routes and troubleshoot challenges.
• Characterize compounds using NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC.
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks and contribute to patents/publications.
• Stay updated with advancements in medicinal and synthetic chemistry.

Skills

Medicinal chemistry

Small molecule design

SAR analysis

ADME/Tox knowledge

NMR/LC-MS/HPLC

Computational chemistry

Education

PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

NMR

LC-MS

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic pharmaceutical research company, is seeking an accomplished Senior Medicinal Chemist to join their innovative drug discovery team. This key role, situated in Vereeniging, Gauteng , will involve designing, synthesizing, and optimizing novel small molecules with therapeutic potential. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and computational chemists to advance drug candidates through the discovery pipeline. We are looking for a creative and results-oriented chemist with a proven ability to tackle challenging synthetic problems and a deep understanding of structure-activity relationships. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of groundbreaking medicines and to work in a collaborative, cutting-edge research environment that fosters scientific excellence and innovation in Vereeniging, Gauteng .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules for therapeutic targets identified by the R&D team.
• Optimize lead compounds to improve potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties, and safety profiles.
• Collaborate with biologists to design and interpret structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.
• Utilize computational chemistry tools and insights to guide compound design.
• Develop robust synthetic routes for target compounds and troubleshoot synthetic challenges.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using analytical techniques such as NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC.
• Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory notebooks and contribute to patent applications and publications.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in medicinal chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in medicinal chemistry within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Proven track record in designing and synthesizing biologically active small molecules.
• Expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and reaction mechanisms.
• Strong understanding of drug discovery principles, ADME/Tox properties, and SAR analysis.
• Proficiency with analytical techniques for compound characterization (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC).
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with managing external synthetic chemistry collaborations is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual performance bonus.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous retirement savings plan.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Opportunities for scientific advancement and career growth.
• Access to state-of-the-art synthetic and analytical laboratories.
• A dynamic and supportive team environment.