Senior Organic Synthesis Lead – Drug Discovery

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Retirement benefits

Growth opportunities

Modern labs

Job summary

Placements24 in Mahikeng, North West, is seeking a highly skilled Lead Research Scientist in Organic Synthesis to join our pharmaceutical R&D team. This senior role drives discovery and development of novel small molecules and mentors a team of talented organic chemists.

You will design and execute complex multi-step syntheses, optimize reaction conditions for yield and purity, and characterize compounds using NMR, MS, and HPLC.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or closely related field.
• 7+ years post-doctoral or industry experience in synthetic organic chemistry, preferably in drug discovery.
• Strong knowledge of modern synthetic methodologies, including asymmetric synthesis, catalysis, and heterocyclic chemistry.
• Proven ability to design and execute complex multi-step syntheses.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage organic synthesis projects from target identification through to lead optimization.
• Design and execute complex, multi-step synthetic routes for novel small molecules.
• Develop and optimize reaction conditions to improve yield, purity, and efficiency.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using advanced analytical techniques (e.g., NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Troubleshoot synthetic challenges and develop innovative solutions.
• Mentor and guide junior synthetic organic chemists, fostering their professional development.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to advance drug discovery programs.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in synthetic organic chemistry and related fields.
• Contribute to patent filings and scientific publications.
• Ensure adherence to all laboratory safety procedures and best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Teamwork

Independent work

Education

Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

HPLC

Job description

Placements24 in Mahikeng, North West, is seeking a highly skilled Lead Research Scientist in Organic Synthesis to join our pharmaceutical R&D team. This senior role drives discovery and development of novel small molecules and mentors a team of talented organic chemists.

You will design and execute complex multi-step syntheses, optimize reaction conditions for yield and purity, and characterize compounds using NMR, MS, and HPLC.