Job Description

General Summary:

The Discovery Process Chemistry group is strategically placed between the Medicinal and Process Chemistry groups to facilitate the progression of candidate molecules towards clinical development. The Director, Discovery Process Chemistry (Medicinal Chemistry Operations) is responsible for outstanding cross-functional collaboration enabling compound advancement through synthetic chemistry innovation. These cross-functional contributions extend from the identification of lead candidates with Medicinal Chemistry teams to providing API for pre-clinical safety studies to route design supporting early clinical development in conjunction with Process Chemistry stakeholders. The successful candidate will be responsible for inspiring the highest level of excellence in modern synthetic chemistry methods as well as defining the future vision for accelerating the development of breakthrough drug candidates to clinical studies. This position will be responsible for supporting the growth and development of group members both personally and scientifically within and beyond the Chemistry function. The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of project impacts potentially including acceleration of drug candidate progression, presentations, patents, and publications. This is an onsite position at our San Diego research site.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Sets Medicinal Chemistry Scale Up strategic direction to enable API route development to support project goals.
• Encourages and enables cross-functional collaboration with Medicinal and Process Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Development, Formulation, and Drug Metabolism to support API deliveries for pre-clinical evaluation
• Provides mentorship supporting scientific and personal development, motivates personnel, and resolves conflicts utilizing an individualized approach
• Ensures personnel goal setting is effectively linked to corporate and department goals
• Adapts personnel deployment to changing priorities to ensure key project goals are accomplished
• Provides strategic direction supporting planning and execution of activities provided by CRO partners and/or external scientific collaborations
• Maintains a standard of excellence for interpretation of all laboratory records, electronic database entries, internal reports, patents and external communications
• Communicates company objectives and availability of resources to the group and to project team(s) in a clear and timely manner
• Leads preparation of lucid scientific reports for all other branches and levels of the organization and its collaborators, presents expertly when called upon, and develops abilities of others in this role
• Contributes to synthetic chemistry innovation in the laboratory when necessary

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience integrating the activities of distinct functional groups across multiple projects
• Experience identifying and establishing productive new research initiatives/directions as they apply to a future state of laboratory technologies
• Experienced mentor who effectively infuses confidence and team commitment
• Exhibits a record of excellent operational and ethical standards and team improvement
• Possesses knowledge of drug discovery and development including requirements for compound advancement through GLP, GMP, CMC, Analytical Development, and formulation science.
• Experience resolving important organizational problems through innovation and collaboration
• Experience with reaction analytics and high-throughput experimentation

Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in chemistry or related science and 10+ years of relevant postdoctoral employment experience, or
• Masters Degree (or equivalent degree) in chemistry or related science and 12+ years of relevant employment experience, or
• Bachelors Degree (or equivalent degree) in chemistry or related science and 15+ years of relevant employment experience

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Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com