Group Leader - Medicinal Chemistry

6d6 days ago

Cancer Research UK

GB · Full-time · £67,000 – £76,000

About this role

Cancer Research UK exists to beat cancer. This role offers an exciting opportunity within the Drug Discovery team for an experienced individual to lead and drive Medicinal Chemistry strategy. Reporting to the Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry and DMPK, you will set the vision and inspire commitment for preclinical Discovery.

As Group Leader, you will lead a high-performing team to deliver excellence in synthetic and medicinal chemistry across the small molecule oncology portfolio. The Chemistry Group emphasizes early-stage hit identification, working closely with the co-located Target Validation Group. You will strengthen this capability while bringing late-stage lead optimisation experience to progress drug discovery programmes.

You will represent the department across therapeutic projects, cross-site initiatives, and externally. Contribute to scientific and technical innovation, including novel modalities, through external collaborations and internal builds. Play a leadership role in the wider Chemistry department, shaping strategic direction within Cancer Research Horizons.

Manage internal expertise, capacity, and resources to drive governance and decision-making for portfolio support and technology development. Ensure equality and diversity in all decisions. Accelerate novel therapies into clinical development through innovative hit finding strategies at the intersection of key disciplines.

Requirements

PhD or equivalent in Chemistry with significant experience and expertise in medicinal chemistry in a drug discovery environment
Proven track record of innovative medicinal chemistry design strategies and synthetic and medicinal chemistry problem solving within drug discovery
Accomplished scientific and people leader able to articulate a vision and inspire commitment
Significant late-stage lead optimisation experience supporting progression to candidate nomination
Experience leading high-performing teams in synthetic and medicinal chemistry for oncology portfolio
Ability to represent the department across therapeutic projects, cross-site initiatives and externally

Responsibilities

Provide scientific and people leadership to the Chemistry team to drive innovation and portfolio success
Work at the intersection of medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, mechanistic pharmacology, structural biology and DMPK to define and prosecute hit finding strategies delivering novel chemical equity across challenging target classes
Contribute to the definition and leadership of departmental strategies
Communicate effectively to influence multiple stakeholders and collaborate across projects and sites
Ensure equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken
Manage internal expertise, capacity and resources to drive governance and decision-making regarding scientific portfolio support and technology development