Senior Organic Chemist - Complex Synthesis & Mentoring

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Career advancement

Modern lab

Conference attendance

Paid time off

Work-life balance

Job summary

WhatJobs Direct in East London, Eastern Cape, is seeking a Senior Organic Chemist to lead design and synthesis of novel organic molecules for pharma, agrochemical, and materials applications. You will develop synthetic routes, optimize conditions, and mentor junior chemists in a collaborative R&D setting.

The ideal candidate holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with at least six years of post‑doctoral or industrial experience, extensive hands-on expertise in a broad range of reactions,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of post-doctoral or industrial research experience in synthetic organic chemistry.
• Extensive hands-on experience with a wide range of organic reactions and transformations.
• Proficiency in modern synthetic techniques and purification methods.
• Strong knowledge of organic reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry.
• Experience with spectroscopic characterization techniques (NMR, MS, IR, UV-Vis).
• Familiarity with common laboratory software for data analysis and literature searching.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative research team.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute complex multi-step synthetic routes for novel organic molecules.
• Optimize reaction conditions to improve yield, purity, and scalability.
• Purify synthesized compounds using column chromatography, recrystallization, and distillation.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using spectroscopic methods (NMR, MS, IR).
• Troubleshoot synthetic challenges and identify alternative pathways.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including medicinal chemists and process chemists.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and prepare technical reports.
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in synthetic organic chemistry and related fields.
• Mentor and guide junior chemists in synthetic methodologies and laboratory practices.

Skills

Synthetic organic chemistry

Reaction mechanisms

Purification techniques

NMR

MS

IR

UV-Vis

Data analysis

Literature search

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry

Job description

WhatJobs Direct in East London, Eastern Cape, is seeking a Senior Organic Chemist to lead design and synthesis of novel organic molecules for pharma, agrochemical, and materials applications. You will develop synthetic routes, optimize conditions, and mentor junior chemists in a collaborative R&D setting.

The ideal candidate holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with at least six years of post‑doctoral or industrial experience, extensive hands-on expertise in a broad range of reactions,