Principal Scientist​/ (Associate) Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Principal Scientist/ (Associate) Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Full-time

SERAC Biosciences AG is looking for a Principal Scientist/ (Associate) Director, Medicinal Chemistry. Ridgeline Discovery, a Versant Ventures Discovery Engine, creates and operates Versant‑financed innovative biotech companies in partnership with entrepreneurs, industry, and leading academics across Europe. In recent years, Ridgeline has assembled an international team of >50 highly experienced drug discovery and industry professionals and built and operated multiple new successful companies;

these companies have raised significant funds through Series B, IPO and an exit through a trade sale. For our portfolio company SERAC Biosciences AG, we are looking for a motivated and experienced medicinal chemist who wants to play a key role in shaping our early discovery and drug design programs. The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, contributes scientific leadership, and enjoys solving complex challenges using modern tools and innovative approaches.

At Serac, this person will help drive projects from idea to clinical candidate while working closely with cross‑functional experts. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to make a meaningful impact in advancing new therapies.

• Collaborate with senior leadership to define and execute medicinal chemistry strategy across multiple early discovery and lead optimization programs.
• Actively contributes to Serac’s medicinal chemistry effort, advancing projects from early discovery through clinical candidate nomination.
• Apply advanced, multi-parameter optimization approaches to drive SAR, ADME, and efficacy in target molecules and actively promotes the use of enabling technologies. Fluent in data analysis software.
• Define project goals, set key scientific milestones, and ensure that programs remain on track through critical mandation.

• Build strong collaborations across functions.
• with Ability to manage CRO relationships, ensuring the quality and efficiency of outsourced chemistry activities.
• Strong contributions/leadership of cross-functional project teams, contributing medicinal chemistry expertise and providing guidance to biology, pharmacology, DMPK, and toxicology functions.
• Contribute to strategic discussions within a multidisciplinary matrix team environment, promoting data-driven development and innovation.

• Maintain a high level of technical skill and scientific knowledge, staying abreast of new methodologies and advancements in medicinal chemistry.
• Engage in scientific problem-solving to address challenges in lead discovery and optimization, utilizing insights from structural biology and computational chemistry.
• Represents Serac in interactions with stakeholders, external collaborators, and within the scientific community.

• Job level is based on experience.
• Ph.D. in Chemistry with 5+ years of experience in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, with a proven track record of advancing drug discovery programs from target  clinical candidate stage.
• Strong publication and/or patent record in the field of drug design, reflecting significant contributions to medicinal chemistry and hit-to-lead optimization.
• Experience in collaborating with CROs and managing multidisciplinary project teams.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to challenges with excellent communication skills in English, enabling productive collaboration in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

• Offices: Our well‑equipped…