Job Description

The Director, Medicinal Chemistry has an outstanding record of enabling drug candidate identification, refining scientific methods, and/or discovering new targets and diseases for the Vertex portfolio. The successful candidate is viewed as an emerging authority in multiples areas of pharmaceutical discovery and medicinal chemistry. The candidate is versatile and multidimensional with a superior command of knowledge in most areas relevant to his/her/their own area of medicinal chemistry. The Director, Medicinal Chemistry exhibits acumen in directing drug discovery to more productive ends and displays success and/or skills connecting diverse activities to address complicated project goals. A Director may coordinate the activities of multiple Groups when the activities and goals of the Groups overlap. The Director's responsibilities include the maintenance of organizational balance across the Group(s), as well as setting the scientific directions for personnel. The Director optimizes interdisciplinary understanding and synergy within the Group(s) and integrates activities with those of other Departments and Project Teams, to help shape cohesive Research plans. This is an onsite position at our San Diego research site.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Manages activities of the Group(s) across Project boundaries
• Mentors on scientific and ethical development, motivates personnel, and resolves conflicts
• Ensures personnel goal setting is effectively linked to corporate and Department goals
• Monitors the activities of staff and provides them insightful guidance to succeed and grow
• Assists with hiring for the Group(s) as necessary
• Oversees activities of staff and adapts personnel deployment to changing priorities, to ensure key goals of all Projects are met on time
• Helps define scientific direction and develops champions of technological innovation for the Group(s)
• Directs effective, timely and ethical publication and patenting activities for the Group(s)
• Oversees effective management of Group(s)' CRO activities and/or external scientific collaborations
• Maintains high standards for structure and interpretation of all laboratory records, electronic database entries, internal reports, patents and external communications from the Group(s).
• Communicates company objectives and resource availability to the Group(s) in a clear and timely manner while developing abilities of others in this role
• Leads preparation of clear 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
• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Experience / Required Knowledge/Skills

• Established prowess integrating the activities of distinct functional groups across multiple projects in early and late drug discovery
• Aptitude for identifying productive new research initiatives/directions; experience in modalities beyond small molecule research is desired (e.g. PROTACs, peptides, oligonucleotides)
• Experienced mentor who effectively infuses confidence and team commitment
• Exhibits a record of excellent operational and ethical standards and team-improvement
• Clear communicator with experience managing across functional areas
• Possesses knowledge of multiple drug development paradigms
• High distinction achieved resolving important organizational problems and/or infusing innovation

Required Education Level

• Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in chemistry or related science and 9+ 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