Senior Scientist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and life insurance

Relocation assistance may be available

Career advancement opportunities

Access to cutting-edge platforms

Job summary

Placements24 in Centurion seeks a Senior Scientist to lead drug discovery efforts, identify and validate targets, and develop small molecule or biologic candidates using state-of-the-art technologies.

You will direct a multidisciplinary team, design robust assays, collaborate with external partners, interpret complex data, and drive projects to decision points while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in pharma/biotech with a focus on drug discovery.
• Proven track record leading discovery projects from target identification through lead candidate selection.
• Strong understanding of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism principles.
• Experience with high-throughput screening (HTS) and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of discovery research programs to identify and optimize novel drug candidates.
• Manage and mentor a team of scientists and research associates across drug discovery stages.
• Develop and implement robust assays for target validation,Compound screening, and lead optimization.
• Collaborate with external partners and academic institutions to leverage expertise and technologies.
• Analyze and interpret complex experimental data, making critical project decisions.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and company policies in Centurion.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Pharmacology knowledge

Pharmacokinetics

Drug metabolism

HTS

SAR

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a relevant field

Tools

RT HTS data analysis

SAR planning

Job description

About the Role

Our client is actively seeking a highly accomplished Senior Scientist to spearhead their Drug Discovery initiatives in Centurion . This leadership role involves directing research efforts to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets and to develop small molecule or biologic drug candidates. You will work within a multidisciplinary team, utilizing state-of-the-art technologies to accelerate the drug development pipeline. The position demands a strategic thinker with a proven track record in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, or a closely related discipline, committed to bringing innovative medicines to patients.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of discovery research programs aimed at identifying and optimizing novel drug candidates.
• Manage and mentor a team of scientists and research associates involved in various stages of drug discovery.
• Develop and implement robust assays for target validation, compound screening, and lead optimization.
• Collaborate closely with external partners and academic institutions to leverage external expertise and technologies.
• Analyze and interpret complex experimental data, making critical decisions to advance or terminate projects.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory guidelines and company policies in the research conducted in Centurion .

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a relevant field.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with a focus on drug discovery .
• Demonstrated success in leading discovery projects from target identification through to lead candidate selection.
• Strong understanding of pharmacology , pharmacokinetics , and drug metabolism principles.
• Experience with high-throughput screening (HTS) and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and project management skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance.
• Relocation assistance may be available for exceptional candidates.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement and leadership development.
• Access to cutting-edge drug discovery platforms and collaborative research environment.
• A forward-thinking company culture dedicated to scientific innovation in Centurion .