Senior Synthetic Organic Chemist

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Life insurance

Conference attendance

Access to state-of-the-art labs

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Synthetic Organic Chemist to lead critical drug discovery projects in Kimberley, South Africa. You will design and execute complex multi-step syntheses of novel small molecules with therapeutic potential, developing scalable routes and troubleshooting challenging reactions.

Colleagues in medicinal chemistry and other scientists will rely on you to optimize lead compounds and document progress with detailed reports in a dynamic lab environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Synthetic Chemistry required.
• Minimum 5 years post-PhD experience in synthetic organic chemistry.
• Experience with medicinal chemistry or biologically active molecules preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step syntheses for novel organic compounds.
• Optimize reaction conditions for yield, purity, and scalability.
• Characterize compounds using NMR, MS, and HPLC.
• Troubleshoot challenging syntheses and develop creative solutions.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists to advance lead optimization.
• Maintain detailed notebooks and prepare reports on activities.

Skills

Analytical ability

Problem solving

Independence

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Organic/Synthetic Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

HPLC

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Synthetic Organic Chemist to lead critical projects within their drug discovery and development unit in Kimberley . This role involves the design and execution of complex multi-step syntheses of novel small molecules with therapeutic potential. You will be responsible for developing efficient and scalable synthetic routes, troubleshooting challenging reactions, and contributing to the identification and optimization of lead compounds. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic research environment, utilizing cutting-edge synthetic methodologies and contributing directly to the development of new medicines. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in synthetic organic chemistry and a passion for medicinal chemistry.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute sophisticated multi-step synthetic routes for novel organic compounds.
• Optimize reaction conditions to improve yield, purity, and scalability of target molecules.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using modern analytical techniques (e.g., NMR, MS, HPLC).
• Troubleshoot synthetic challenges and identify creative solutions to overcome synthetic hurdles.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists and other scientists to achieve project goals and advance lead optimization efforts.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and prepare comprehensive reports on synthetic activities.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Synthetic Chemistry.
• A minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in synthetic organic chemistry.
• Demonstrated expertise in a wide range of organic reactions and synthetic methodologies.
• Proficiency in modern spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques for compound characterization.
• Experience in medicinal chemistry or the synthesis of biologically active molecules is highly preferred.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, creativity, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in Kimberley .

Benefits

• Competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health, retirement, and life insurance.
• Opportunities for professional development and attendance at scientific conferences.
• Access to state-of-the‑art synthetic chemistry laboratories and instrumentation in Kimberley .
• A collaborative and intellectually stimulating research environment.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Potential for career advancement and increased responsibility within the R&D team.