Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Hybrid work model

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is assisting a leading pharmaceutical company in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, to recruit a Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist for their Drug Discovery team. You will drive the identification, synthesis, and optimization of novel small molecules from hit identification through lead optimization.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry with 5+ years in drug discovery, strong SAR/ADMET knowledge, and hands-on experience with NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry required.
• 5+ years post-PhD in drug discovery or industry.
• Expertise in multi-step synthesis and stereoselective reactions.
• Strong SAR and ADMET understanding.
• Experience with NMR, LC-MS and HPLC.
• Ability to manage multiple research projects.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules with therapeutic activity.
• Optimize lead compounds for potency, selectivity, PK and safety.
• Collaborate with biologists, pharmacologists and DMPK scientists.
• Develop scalable synthetic routes for manufacturing.
• Characterize compounds using NMR/LC-MS/HPLC and assess purity.
• Maintain meticulous electronic lab notebook records.
• Contribute to patents and scientific publications.
• Mentor junior chemists in the team.
• Participate in target validation and hit-to-lead strategies.

Skills

Synthetic organic chemistry

SAR and ADMET

Analytical techniques (NMR LCMS HPLC)

Parallel synthesis

High-throughput screening support

Problem-solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

NMR spectroscopy

LC-MS

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing life‑saving medicines, is seeking an experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Chemist to join their innovative Drug Discovery team. This role is critical in identifying, synthesizing, and optimizing novel small molecule drug candidates. You will work at the forefront of medicinal chemistry, contributing to the development pipeline from early‑stage hit identification through to lead optimization. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in organic synthesis, a deep understanding of drug design principles, and a passion for advancing therapeutic innovation. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a tangible impact on patient lives from our advanced research facilities in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, ZA .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules with potential therapeutic activity using modern organic chemistry techniques.
• Optimize lead compounds to improve potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties, and safety profiles.
• Collaborate closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and DMPK scientists to advance drug candidates through the discovery pipeline.
• Develop and validate synthetic routes suitable for scale‑up and potential manufacturing.
• Utilize analytical techniques (NMR, Mass Spectrometry, HPLC) to characterize synthesized compounds and assess purity.
• Maintain meticulous records of experimental procedures and results in electronic lab notebooks.
• Stay current with the latest trends and methodologies in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
• Contribute to patent filings and scientific publications.
• Provide scientific mentorship to junior chemists within the team.
• Participate in target validation and hit‑to‑lead optimization strategies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of post‑doctoral or industry experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery.
• Proven expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, including multi‑step synthesis and stereoselective reactions.
• Strong understanding of medicinal chemistry principles, structure‑activity relationships (SAR), and ADMET properties.
• Proficiency in modern analytical techniques for compound characterization (NMR, LC‑MS, HPLC).
• Experience with parallel synthesis and high‑throughput screening support is desirable.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to think creatively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data clearly.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple research projects concurrently.

Benefits

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

We are committed to employee growth and offer extensive opportunities for professional development, including attendance at key scientific conferences and access to state‑of‑the‑art research facilities.

This hybrid role allows for a balance between in‑office laboratory work and the flexibility of remote engagement for data analysis and reporting.

Employees will have the chance to contribute to impactful research in a vibrant academic and technological hub.