Senior Medicinal Chemist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund contributions

Performance bonuses

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Medicinal Chemist to join a cutting-edge drug discovery team in Soweto, Gauteng. The role focuses on designing, synthesizing, and optimizing small molecule candidates to address unmet medical needs.

The candidate will work closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and other scientists to advance compounds from hit to lead and beyond, contributing to the pipeline and intellectual property through patent filings.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry from a reputable institution.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in medicinal chemistry, focused on drug discovery.
• Extensive experience in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and reaction mechanisms.
• Proven ability to design and execute complex synthetic strategies.
• Strong understanding of SAR, ADME, and pharmacokinetic principles.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel chemical entities with therapeutic potential.
• Optimize lead compounds through iterative design, synthesis, and evaluation.
• Develop synthetic routes for target molecules with efficiency and scalability.
• Characterize compounds using NMR, MS, and HPLC.
• Collaborate with biologists to assess potency, selectivity, and PK properties.
• Contribute to strategic directions of drug discovery projects.
• Maintain lab notebooks and assist in patent applications.
• Stay up-to-date with advances in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry.

Skills

Synthetic organic chemistry

Medicinal chemistry

SAR/ADME

Drug discovery

Analytical thinking

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

PhD in Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

NMR

Mass Spectrometry

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge pharmaceutical research and development company, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Medicinal Chemist to join their drug discovery team in Soweto, Gauteng . This critical role involves the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel small molecule drug candidates to address significant unmet medical needs. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in synthetic organic chemistry, a deep understanding of structure-activity relationships (SAR), and a proven track record in medicinal chemistry programs. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to innovative drug discovery projects within a highly collaborative and scientifically driven environment. You will be at the forefront of developing next-generation therapeutics, working closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and other disciplines to advance compounds from hit to lead and beyond. Your expertise will be vital in shaping the discovery pipeline and identifying promising new chemical entities.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel chemical entities with potential therapeutic applications.
• Optimize lead compounds through iterative cycles of design, synthesis, and biological evaluation.
• Develop and implement synthetic routes for target molecules, ensuring efficiency and scalability.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using analytical techniques such as NMR, Mass Spectrometry, and HPLC.
• Collaborate closely with biologists to assess the potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties of compounds.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of drug discovery projects.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks and contribute to patent applications.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry from a reputable institution.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in medicinal chemistry, with a focus on drug discovery.
• Extensive experience in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and reaction mechanisms.
• Proven ability to design and execute complex synthetic strategies.
• Strong understanding of SAR, ADME, and pharmacokinetic principles.
• Proficiency with analytical techniques for compound characterization.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a creative approach to chemical synthesis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present scientific data effectively.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical aid, retirement fund contributions, performance bonuses, and opportunities for professional development and conference attendance. This position in Soweto, Gauteng , offers the chance to work on exciting drug discovery programs and contribute to the development of novel medicines. Join our client and be part of a dynamic team pushing the boundaries of pharmaceutical innovation.