Senior Medicinal Chemistry Lead - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 in Durban seeks a Principal Scientist specializing in Pharmaceutical Chemistry to lead medicinal chemistry for drug discovery, guiding projects from hit identification to lead optimization.

You will mentor chemists, collaborate with biology and ADME/Tox teams, and shape strategic research directions while delivering scalable synthetic routes and novel small-molecule candidates.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery with a strong emphasis on medicinal chemistry.
• Demonstrated success leading chemistry efforts on multiple drug discovery projects from hit identification to lead optimization.
• Expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and purification methods.
• Proficiency in using computational chemistry tools for molecular design and analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead medicinal chemistry efforts for drug discovery programs, designing and synthesizing novel small molecules with desired pharmacological profiles.
• Collaborate closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and ADME/Tox scientists to establish SAR and SPR.
• Oversee the optimization of lead compounds, balancing potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties.
• Develop and implement synthetic strategies for complex molecules, ensuring efficient and scalable routes.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of research programs and identify new opportunities for drug discovery.
• Mentor and guide junior medicinal chemists, fostering their scientific and professional growth within the team.

Skills

Medicinal chemistry leadership

SAR/SPR analysis

Synthetic organic chemistry

Computational chemistry

Team mentorship

Scientific communication

Education

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

Computational chemistry tools

Purification techniques (chromatography, HPLC)

Job description

Placements24 in Durban seeks a Principal Scientist specializing in Pharmaceutical Chemistry to lead medicinal chemistry for drug discovery, guiding projects from hit identification to lead optimization.

You will mentor chemists, collaborate with biology and ADME/Tox teams, and shape strategic research directions while delivering scalable synthetic routes and novel small-molecule candidates.