Senior Medicinal Chemist

About the Role

Our client is actively seeking a highly skilled Senior Medicinal Chemist to join their dynamic drug discovery team based in Manchester . This role is central to the design and synthesis of novel small molecules with therapeutic potential. You will be instrumental in driving lead optimization projects forward, employing your expertise in synthetic organic chemistry to create compounds with improved potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art facility, contribute to significant drug development programs, and collaborate with leading scientific minds in the pharmaceutical sector, advancing innovative treatments for unmet medical needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel chemical entities for drug discovery programs using advanced synthetic methodologies.
• Optimize drug candidates for improved efficacy, safety, and ADME properties through iterative design-synthesis-test cycles.
• Collaborate closely with biologists and pharmacologists to define structure-activity relationships (SAR) and structure-property relationships (SPR).
• Utilize computational chemistry tools and techniques to guide molecular design.
• Manage external synthesis collaborations and CRO relationships effectively.
• Contribute to scientific strategy, present findings at internal and external meetings, and author publications.

Requirements

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry with a strong focus on synthesis.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry, including asymmetric synthesis and complex molecule construction.
• Proven experience in lead identification and optimization campaigns.
• Familiarity with structure-based drug design and computational chemistry tools.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package and bonus structure.
• State-of-the-art laboratory facilities and cutting-edge equipment.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including private medical care.
• Pension plan with generous employer contributions.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and learning opportunities.