Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Job Description

Alkermes has an exciting opportunity for a talented scientist to join our Research Organization as a Director to help lead medicinal chemistry efforts from target ideation through to candidate nomination for neurological disease indications. The desired candidate will be a recognized expert in successfully initiating and managing the medicinal chemistry activities inside a given portfolio and will play a key strategic role in shaping discovery direction and compound design strategy.

The candidate will have a proven track record of utilizing structure‑based drug design (SBDD) to rationally design compounds that have progressed to candidate delivery. Additionally, the candidate must have direct experience working with both internal and external partners (e.g., CROs) to facilitate medicinal chemistry activities. Exceptional cross‑functional communication skills and experience in leading drug discovery teams are also required.

• Lead medicinal chemistry projects to ensure project progression and candidate drug delivery using state‑of‑the‑art design principles and strategies.
  • Work closely with computational chemistry to implement relevant predictive models to aid in the design of new compounds.
  • Foster close collaboration with synthetic chemistry to enhance design through synthesis.
  • Utilize state‑of‑the‑art design tools to provide systematic data analysis to assist in hypothesis‑driven compound design.
  • Collaborate with cross‑functional colleagues to focus project priorities, objectives, and outcomes.
  • Advise and assist project leaders in developing strategic, scientific, and technical strategies for the progression of molecules across the portfolio.
• Provide medicinal chemistry insight for new target and lead identification.
• Lead strategic efforts to shape discovery direction, guide compound design strategies, and influence portfolio decision making.
• Help build and expand internal chemistry capabilities.

• PhD in chemistry with 10+ years of medicinal chemistry experience; direct experience in CNS drug discovery is a plus.
• Recognized expert in contemporary medicinal chemistry approaches and principles that contribute to the delivery of candidate drugs.
• Strong expertise in utilizing SBDD to guide hypothesis‑driven compound design.
• Demonstrated delivery of clinical compounds through medicinal chemistry design principles.
• Adept at using medicinal and computational chemistry software tools.
• Understanding of the overall drug discovery process and how to drive compound design.
• Ability to independently define key scientific questions and design rigorous experiments in collaboration with internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work seamlessly in a cross‑functional matrixed environment.
• Track record of training, development, and mentoring of scientific personnel, including PhD‑level scientists.
• Record of publishing peer‑reviewed scientific articles and presenting at professional conferences.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, with excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Excellent time‑management skills.
• Be a role model in behaviors and Alkermes’ way of working.
• Act in accordance with all Alkermes’ policies for personnel, EHS, etc.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $223,000 – $234,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website:

Alkermes applies its deep neuroscience expertise to develop medicines designed to help people living with complex and difficult‑to‑treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. A fully‑integrated, global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Ireland with U.S. locations in Massachusetts and Ohio, we are committed to pursuing great science, driven by deep compassion to make a real impact in the lives of patients. Alkermes has a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for various neurological disorders, including narcolepsy.

Alkermes, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA.

Alkermes is an E‑Verify employer.