Associate Director - Medicinal Chemistry

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Associate Director in Medicinal Chemistry will lead drug discovery projects within the Small Molecule Research from target selection and hit validation to development candidate nomination. Responsibilities include: setting the chemistry strategy for projects and advancing drug discovery programs by collaboratively interacting cross-functionally within BPGbio; being the co-project lead on the overall program strategy to meet target product profiles (TPP); leading and managing several contract research organizations (CRO) and external academic chemistry partners across the globe; leading the preparation of patents, reports, and scientific publication; and serving as a functional expert in due diligences for discovery partnerships.

The role will entail coordinating a medicinal chemistry team with internal and external experimental capabilities and proactively interfacing with diverse teams working on automated experimentation, AI-driven molecular generation, property predictions, and bioassay data generation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead small molecule inhibitor and company’s proprietary degrader programs for novel targets identified by BPGbio’s proprietary NAi platform -Bifunctional Degraders and Molecular Glue Degraders ( MGDs) -with creativity and innovative approaches.
• Design and execute screening platforms employing cutting-edge technology (DEL, Fragment Library) for the discovery of MGDs
• Use state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry approaches to advance the programs effectively.
• Work seamlessly with members of the chemistry and other discovery disciplines including structural biology, computational chemistry, proteomics, assay development, and Analytics.
• Keep up to date with the current literature connected with the programs and update the group as needed.
• Manage groups of CRO chemists with chemistry assignments, follow-up, and guidance for the successful execution of the projects.
• Represent the programs within the R&D organization and outside the organization at partnership meetings and conferences.
• Provide program status updates to senior management and provide guidance and mentor the junior chemists/personnel
• Other duties, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ph.D. in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry with 10+ years of experience in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry as a leader/program lead.
• Prior leadership of running chemistry and collaborative work with other disciplines that led to a successful IND is desirable.
• Excellent familiarity with current medicinal chemistry methods for developing small-molecule drugs with on-target potency, physicochemical, ADME, and safety features.  A key understanding of issues and problem-solving at each of these important sub-disciplines is required.
• Chemistry leadership that extends beyond chemistry, with a general understanding of the entire drug discovery paradigm for cross-functional, collaborative research is preferred.
• Prior experience in running fragment-based drug screening, DEL-screening, and AI-based screening methods to identify key hit compounds is highly preferred.
• Excellent communication skills for internal and external management of programs.
• Ability to work on and manage multiple projects with clear deliverables.