Senior Medicinal Chemist – Lead Drug Discovery Architect

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration package

Health, dental, vision benefits

Retirement plan

Paid vacation

Professional development andConference

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Medicinal Chemist to lead design, synthesis, and optimization of novel small molecules in a high-impact pharma program in Klerksdorp, North West. The role demands a PhD and deep expertise in medicinal chemistry with a track record in early drug discovery.

The candidate will mentor teams, drive SAR-driven optimization, and collaborate with cross-functional scientists to translate chemistry into viable drug candidates.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry.
• Minimum of 8 years of industry experience in drug discovery with a strong medicinal chemistry focus.
• Proven track record advancing drug candidates from discovery through preclinical stages.
• Expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and purification methods.
• Deep understanding of ADME/Tox principles and their impact on drug design.
• Familiarity with computational chemistry software and molecular modeling techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel chemical entities for therapeutic targets.
• Conduct SAR studies to optimize potency, selectivity, and PK properties.
• Develop innovative synthetic routes for complex molecules with scalable processes.
• Collaborate with biologists, pharmacologists, and DMPK scientists to integrate data.
• Utilize computational tools to support design decisions.
• Lead medicinal chemistry efforts within discovery projects and provide strategic direction.
• Mentor and supervise junior chemists and researchers.
• Present research findings at internal meetings and conferences.
• Ensure laboratory activities comply with safety standards.

Skills

Medicinal chemistry

SAR studies

Project leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Education

PhD in Organic/ Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

Computational chemistry software

Molecular modeling

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Principal Medicinal Chemist to lead design, synthesis, and optimization of novel small molecules in a high-impact pharma program in Klerksdorp, North West. The role demands a PhD and deep expertise in medicinal chemistry with a track record in early drug discovery.

The candidate will mentor teams, drive SAR-driven optimization, and collaborate with cross-functional scientists to translate chemistry into viable drug candidates.