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Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry information

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$30.5K

$102.7K

$173K

How much do associate director medicinal chemistry jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate director medicinal chemistry in the United States is $102,728.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $141,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an associate director medicinal chemistry do?

An Associate Director of Medicinal Chemistry leads a team of chemists in the design and synthesis of new compounds for drug discovery and development. They oversee research projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and help shape scientific strategy in medicinal chemistry programs. Their responsibilities also include mentoring junior scientists, managing budgets, and ensuring research goals align with company objectives. This role requires a deep knowledge of organic chemistry, leadership skills, and experience in pharmaceutical research.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate director medicinal chemistry?

To thrive as an Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry, you need a Ph.D. in chemistry or a related field, extensive experience in drug discovery, and a proven track record of leading medicinal chemistry projects. Familiarity with cheminformatics tools, analytical instrumentation, and software for molecular modeling is typically required, along with knowledge of regulatory and laboratory best practices. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills are crucial for managing teams and collaborating across multidisciplinary groups. These skills ensure the effective progression of drug discovery programs and drive innovation within pharmaceutical research environments.

What are some common challenges faced by associate directors in medicinal chemistry, and how can they be effectively managed?

Associate Directors in Medicinal Chemistry often face challenges such as balancing project management responsibilities with scientific oversight, ensuring effective cross-functional collaboration, and keeping up with advancements in drug discovery technologies. Managing these challenges requires strong leadership, clear communication, and the ability to prioritize tasks. Building a collaborative team culture and staying current with industry trends can help address scientific and operational hurdles, making it easier to drive projects forward and achieve organizational goals.

What is the difference between Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry vs Senior Medicinal Chemist?

AspectAssociate Director Medicinal ChemistrySenior Medicinal Chemist
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple projects, manages teams, strategic planningLeads individual projects, executes synthesis and design
ExperienceTypically 8+ years, leadership skills requiredTypically 5-8 years, strong technical expertise
Work EnvironmentCollaborative, cross-functional teams, managerial dutiesLaboratory-focused, hands-on research
CredentialsPhD in Chemistry or related field, extensive industry experiencePhD or MS in Chemistry, significant research background

The Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry role involves strategic oversight and team management, whereas the Senior Medicinal Chemist focuses on technical research and project execution. Both roles require advanced degrees and industry experience, but the associate director has broader responsibilities including leadership and planning.

More about Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry jobs

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Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,728 per year, or $49.4 per hour.

Director, Medicinal Chemistry

South San Francisco, CA

Kardigan
See more jobs at Kardiganexternal

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Position Title: Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Department: Medicinal Chemistry

Reports To: Senior Director, Discovery Sciences

Location: South San Francisco, CA - On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)

Job Overview

The Director, Medicinal Chemistry will provide experienced chemistry leadership to small molecule drug discovery programs in Kardigan's preclinical portfolio. This role involves providing leadership to cross-functional project teams and effectively collaborating to advance preclinical programs from initiation to delivery of a development candidate.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Serve as the Chemistry Lead for preclinical drug discovery programs.
  • Co-lead the preclinical project team, working closely with Biology co-lead to develop and execute project plans, manage ongoing activities, and ensure project success.
  • Lead new molecule design on Integrate potency, selectivity, DMPK, safety, and in vivo pharmacology data to guide new compound design and address liabilities.
  • Provide oversight of CRO-executed chemical synthesis and assays, ensuring a high standard for productivity and data quality.
  • Collaborate with IP Legal to deliver strong intellectual property.
  • Effectively communicate complex scientific data, analyses, and strategies to project teams and in governance meetings.
  • Recruit, mentor, and manage medicinal chemists as the group grows.

Qualifications and Preferred Skills

  • PhD in Chemistry with a focus on Organic or Medicinal Chemistry.
  • 8+ years of pharma/biotech industry drug discovery experience with a strong track record of leading medicinal chemistry across hit identification, hit-to-lead, lead optimization, and development candidate nominations. Prior experience delivering a development candidate or equivalent is a plus.
  • Experience managing teams of external chemistry FTEs at CRO collaborators is strongly preferred.
  • Deep expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, physicochemical property-based design, structure-based design, and relevant drug discovery disciplines (e.g., biology, DMPK, and material science). Prior experience in cardiovascular disease is a plus.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex scientific concepts to a broad range of collaborators, leaders, and stakeholders.
  • Track record of consistent scientific achievement and successful drug discovery work (peer-reviewed publications, patent inventorship, conference presentations).
  • Prior direct management experience, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management of chemists.

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