Senior Research Chemist - Organic Synthesis

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical & retirement benefits

Generous annual leave

Professional development

Advanced instrumentation access

Job summary

Placements24 in Durban seeks a Senior Research Chemist with expertise in Organic Synthesis to join its R&D department. You will design and execute complex multi-step syntheses, troubleshoot routes, and contribute to scale-up in a state-of-the-art lab in KwaZulu-Natal.

You will collaborate with a team of scientists, document work precisely, and drive projects from early research through process development. PhD and 5+ years of synthetic organic chemistry experience are required.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry.
• Proven track record of designing and executing challenging synthetic routes.
• Strong expertise in modern synthetic methodologies and reaction mechanisms.
• Proficiency in analytical techniques for compound characterization.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and teamwork in Durban.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute complex multi-step organic syntheses to prepare novel compounds.
• Optimize synthetic routes for yield, purity, and scalability.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, IR) and chromatography (HPLC, GC).
• Troubleshoot challenging synthetic problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Collaborate with analytical chemists and process engineers to facilitate compound scale-up.
• Maintain meticulous laboratory notebooks and prepare detailed technical reports.

Skills

NMR analysis

MS analysis

IR analysis

HPLC

GC

Organic synthesis

Multi-step synthesis

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

IR

HPLC

GC

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Research Chemist with expertise in Organic Synthesis to join their dynamic research and development department in Durban . This role is critical for driving innovation in the discovery and development of new chemical entities. You will be responsible for designing and executing complex multi-step syntheses, troubleshooting synthetic routes, and contributing to the scale-up of promising compounds. Working within a state-of-the-art laboratory, you will collaborate with a team of scientists and engineers to advance projects from early-stage research through to process development in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute complex multi-step organic syntheses to prepare novel compounds.
• Optimize synthetic routes for yield, purity, and scalability.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, IR) and chromatography (HPLC, GC).
• Troubleshoot challenging synthetic problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Collaborate with analytical chemists and process engineers to facilitate compound scale-up.
• Maintain meticulous laboratory notebooks and prepare detailed technical reports.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry, preferably in a research or pharmaceutical setting.
• Proven track record of designing and executing challenging synthetic routes.
• Strong expertise in modern synthetic methodologies and reaction mechanisms.
• Proficiency in analytical techniques for compound characterization.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and strong communication skills for team collaboration in Durban .

Benefits

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive medical and retirement benefits.
• Generous annual leave and professional development opportunities.
• Access to advanced instrumentation and resources in a collaborative research environment.
• Opportunity to contribute to impactful research and development projects in Durban .