About the Role

Our client, a pioneering force in pharmaceutical research and development, is actively seeking a highly accomplished Senior Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemist to join their cutting-edge team. This is a fully remote position, offering unparalleled flexibility to contribute your expertise from anywhere in South Africa. You will be instrumental in the design, synthesis, and optimization of novel small molecule drug candidates aimed at addressing unmet medical needs. This role demands a deep understanding of organic synthesis, structure-activity relationships (SAR), and drug discovery principles. You will collaborate extensively with biologists, pharmacologists, and computational chemists within a distributed team environment. We are dedicated to fostering a highly collaborative and intellectually stimulating remote workplace, providing you with the necessary resources and support to excel. Your innovative contributions will be vital in advancing our pipeline and shaping the future of medicine. This position is perfect for a seasoned chemist driven by discovery and passionate about making a tangible difference.

Key Responsibilities

- Design and synthesize novel small molecule compounds with potential therapeutic applications using modern organic chemistry techniques.
- Optimize lead compounds through iterative cycles of design, synthesis, and biological testing, guided by SAR.
- Utilize computational chemistry tools and databases (e.g., SciFinder, Reaxys) to inform compound design.
- Characterize synthesized compounds using analytical techniques such as NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC.
- Collaborate effectively with biologists and other scientists to interpret biological data and guide medicinal chemistry efforts.
- Troubleshoot synthetic challenges and develop innovative solutions for compound synthesis.




- Prepare detailed reports on experimental procedures, results, and conclusions for internal presentations and publications.
- Contribute to the development of intellectual property through patent applications.
- Manage research timelines and priorities in a work from home setting.
- Stay current with the latest advancements in medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and relevant scientific literature.
- Mentor junior chemists and contribute to a culture of scientific excellence.

Requirements

- PhD in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of industry experience in medicinal chemistry, focusing on small molecule drug discovery.
- Demonstrated success in designing and synthesizing diverse chemical libraries and optimizing lead compounds.
- Proficiency in modern synthetic organic chemistry, including asymmetric synthesis and multi-step synthesis.
- Experience with analytical techniques for compound characterization (NMR, MS, HPLC).
- Strong understanding of SAR principles and structure-based drug design.
- Proven ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and collaborate in a remote team environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience with computational chemistry tools and cheminformatics is a plus.
- A strong commitment to innovation and a passion for drug discovery.

Benefits

- Our client offers a highly competitive salary and bonus structure, commensurate with experience.
- Comprehensive health insurance, retirement savings plans, and generous paid time off are provided.
- This fully remote role offers exceptional work-life balance and the flexibility to work from your preferred location.
- We provide a supportive and collaborative team environment, dedicated to scientific breakthroughs.
- Opportunities for career advancement within a leading pharmaceutical organization are abundant.

📌 Senior Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemist (Kimberley)
🏢 Placements24
📍 Kimberley