Senior Organic Chemist (Medicinal Chemistry)

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Performance bonus

Retirement savings plan

Professional growth opportunities

State-of-the-art facilities

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, is seeking a Senior Organic Chemist with a Medicinal Chemistry focus to join our pharmaceutical R&D team. You will design, synthesize, and purify small molecules with therapeutic potential to advance drug discovery projects.

The role requires a PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry and at least five years of experience. You will mentor junior chemists, optimize routes, and collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to evaluate activity and

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry.
• 5+ years post-PhD in medicinal chemistry.
• Expertise in multi-step synthesis and route design.
• Proficiency in purification and analytical methods (NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Strong SAR understanding and drug-design mindset.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules for drug candidates.
• Optimize synthetic routes for efficiency, yield, and purity.
• Purify and characterize compounds using NMR, MS, and HPLC.
• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to assess activity and properties.
• Mentor junior chemists and maintain detailed lab notebooks.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Medicinal chemistry

SAR analysis

Drug design

Analytical methods

Team collaboration

Scientific writing

Computational chemistry

Education

PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading pharmaceutical research and development company, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Organic Chemist with a focus on Medicinal Chemistry to join their innovative team in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. This role is pivotal in the discovery and optimization of novel drug candidates. You will be responsible for the design, synthesis, and purification of small molecules with therapeutic potential, playing a key role in advancing our drug discovery pipeline. We are looking for an expert chemist with a strong track record in synthetic organic chemistry, a deep understanding of medicinal chemistry principles, and the ability to contribute to critical drug discovery projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules as potential drug candidates, utilizing a range of organic chemistry techniques.


• Optimize synthetic routes to improve efficiency, yield, and purity of target compounds.


• Purify and characterize synthesized compounds using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods (NMR, MS, HPLC).


• Collaborate with biologists and pharmacologists to test and evaluate the activity and properties of synthesized molecules.


• Interpret experimental results and data, and contribute to the development of structure-activity relationships (SAR).


• Manage laboratory activities, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and efficient use of resources.


• Stay updated on the latest advancements in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry.


• Mentor junior chemists and contribute to the overall scientific strategy of the discovery chemistry group.


• Maintain accurate and detailed laboratory notebooks and contribute to scientific reports and publications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related field.


• Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in medicinal chemistry.


• Demonstrated expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, including multi-step synthesis and route design.


• Proficiency in modern purification techniques (e.g., column chromatography, preparative HPLC) and analytical methods (NMR, MS).


• Strong understanding of medicinal chemistry principles, including SAR analysis and drug design strategies.


• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to research challenges.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively present scientific findings.


• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.


• Experience with computational chemistry tools is an advantage.


• Commitment to safe laboratory practices.

Benefits

• Our client provides a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package, including comprehensive health coverage, performance bonuses, and a retirement savings plan.


• We offer significant opportunities for professional growth through continuous learning, workshops, and attendance at scientific conferences.


• Employees gain access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and cutting-edge instrumentation.


• Joining our team in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, means contributing to the development of life-saving medicines in a stimulating and innovative research environment.


• We are committed to fostering a culture of scientific excellence and career development.