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Medicinal Chemistry Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Vrtx

Director, Medicinal Chemistry

San Diego, CA

$197K - $296K/yr

Vertex is seeking a Director, Medicinal Chemistry to provide people management and strategic leadership for small-molecule discovery programs and to help advance compounds from early discovery ...

Inductive Bio

Medicinal Chemist

New York, NY · On-site

$210K - $250K/yr

... chemistry assistant. Through partnerships with CROs, we also offer innovative synthesis approaches, direct-to-dose testing, and cost-effective tier 1 ADME panels that enable initial human PK ...

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How much do medicinal chemistry director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for medicinal chemistry director in the United States is $143,750.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $175,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a medicinal chemistry director?

A Medicinal Chemistry Director leads drug discovery efforts by overseeing the design, synthesis, and optimization of potential pharmaceutical compounds. They manage teams of scientists, collaborate with cross-functional departments, and guide research strategies to develop safe and effective therapeutics. Their role involves interpreting biological data, refining molecular properties, and ensuring that candidate compounds meet regulatory and industry standards.

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

A Medicinal Chemistry Director must have an advanced degree in chemistry (typically a Ph.D.), extensive experience in drug discovery, and a strong background in synthetic organic chemistry. Proficiency in laboratory automation tools, chemical analysis software, and familiarity with regulatory standards such as GLP or GMP are commonly required. Exceptional leadership, project management, and collaborative communication skills set successful candidates apart in this highly interdisciplinary field. These competencies are vital to guide teams, drive research innovation, and ensure alignment with organizational goals in pharmaceutical development.

What are some typical challenges faced by a medicinal chemistry director in a pharmaceutical company?

Medicinal Chemistry Directors frequently encounter challenges such as balancing tight project timelines with scientific rigor, managing resources efficiently, and overseeing multidisciplinary teams across various stages of drug discovery. Navigating regulatory requirements, adapting to shifting project priorities, and staying current with emerging technologies in the field can also be demanding aspects of the job. Collaboration with biologists, pharmacologists, and external partners is integral, requiring strong communication to align goals and overcome obstacles. These challenges make the role both dynamic and rewarding for professionals seeking leadership opportunities in scientific innovation.

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Medicinal Chemistry Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Medicinal Chemistry Director job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 98% Full Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,750 per year, or $69.1 per hour.

Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Eli Lilly and Company

Louisville, CO • On-site

$163K - $257K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

Eli Lilly and Company rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 64 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

9th of 86 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work-but it's work worth doing. If you're driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.
Overview
  • Lilly's Early Molecule Discovery team drives small-molecule hit identification and hit-to-lead progression through structure-based, mechanism-informed, and data-driven design.

  • We are seeking a hands-on medicinal chemistry leader with direct experience advancing molecular glue programs, from hit finding through candidate selection.

  • The role requires close collaboration across pharmacology, structural biology, computational chemistry, and DMPK to translate mechanistic hypotheses into optimized molecules.

  • Success requires both deep bench-level chemistry expertise and the interpersonal and cross-functional leadership skills to guide internal and external teams.

Responsibilities
  • Lead hit-to-lead optimization of screening hits, improving potency, selectivity, physicochemical properties, and ADMET.

  • Apply structure-based and data-driven design, incorporating ternary complex structural data where relevant.

  • Design and synthesize novel molecules to test mechanistic hypotheses, including cooperativity-driven SAR for molecular glue chemotypes.

  • Design and implement screening cascades tailored to molecular glue pharmacology.

  • Direct internal and external medicinal chemistry resources, including CRO relationships, to keep programs aligned with strategy and timelines.

  • Oversee high-throughput synthesis, route scouting, and scale-up to enable efficient compound delivery.

  • Maintain a strong safety culture and efficient lab operations.

Basic Qualifications
  • PhD in Organic Chemistry or related Chemistry field with 8+ years of relevant experience in small molecule drug discovery; MS with 10+ years; or BS with 12+ years.

Preferred Skills and Experience
  • Extensive experience in medicinal chemistry, SAR analysis, and structure- and mechanism-based molecular design.
  • Direct experience designing or optimizing molecular glue degraders, including protein-protein interface engagement, E3 ligase biology, and neosubstrate identification.

  • Demonstrated leadership as a chemistry lead on programs of any mechanism-ideally including a molecular glue program-that reached candidate selection.

  • Track record of scientific contributions through publications, patents, or external presentations.

  • Experience managing or collaborating with external chemistry teams and CROs.

  • Experience with novel modalities, such as targeted protein degradation and covalent chemistry, and biophysical techniques to mechanistically understand molecular glue SAR.

  • Familiarity with computational drug design tools (e.g., LiveDesign, MOE, Maestro) and AI-enabled chemistry tools.

  • Self-driven, with a growth mindset and adaptability to fast-evolving science.

  • Strong communication and collaboration skills in multidisciplinary, matrixed environments.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women's Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$163,500 - $257,400
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
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About Eli Lilly

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Eli Lilly, based in Indianapolis, IN, US, is one of the pioneers in the pharmaceutical industry with a rich history dating back to 1876. This global pharmaceutical company focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and selling pharmaceutical products in approximately 120 countries. The company's product categories include endocrinology, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience, and immunology. Having invested over $9 billion in research and development in the past decade, Eli Lilly is also committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs. As a recipient of several awards and recognitions, Eli Lilly is known for its focus on life-saving research and drug development. Their mission is to make medicines that help people live longer, healthier, and more active lives.

Industry

Pharmaceutical product wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Indianapolis, IN, US

Year founded

1876

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