Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Director, Medicinal Chemistry – Bio Space

Non‑Solicitation Policy And Notice To Agencies And Recruiters
: IDEAYA’s Non‑Solicitation Policy strictly prohibits agencies and recruiters from any contact with IDEAYA employees, managers, and leaders to submit unsolicited candidate resumes and/or to solicit business partnerships. Submission of unsolicited candidate resumes by agencies or recruiters will not create any implied obligation. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from current and future business opportunities with IDEAYA. All recruiting decisions are managed by internal HR;

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IDEAYA is a precision medicine oncology company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing transformative therapies for cancer. Our approach integrates expertise in small‑molecule drug discovery, structural biology, and bioinformatics with robust internal capabilities for biomarker validation. We focus on synthetic lethality and antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs) for molecularly defined solid tumor indications. The mission is to bring next‑wave precision oncology therapies that are more selective, effective, and personalized to improve clinical outcomes.

Location:

South San Francisco, CA

We seek a talented, highly motivated senior chemist to lead drug‑challenging, structurally‑enabled, first‑in‑class target projects. The successful candidate will use structure‑based design, collaborate across departments, and drive the internal oncology portfolio. As a senior member of the chemistry team, you will mentor junior chemists, manage external chemistry partners, and identify new technologies. The role is office‑based in our South San Francisco headquarters, required to be on site four days per week.

Reporting to:
Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry

• Serve as project lead for challenging first‑in‑class small‑molecule projects.
• Collaborate closely with research functions and leadership to craft project strategies and deliver on goals.
• Communicate strategy and results across the organization.
• Manage and mentor direct report(s) and external FTEs to high productivity.
• Help craft and execute department strategy as part of the leadership team.
• Monitor new developments in the field and identify new technologies for the organization.

• Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry with 10+ years pharmaceutical medicinal chemistry industrial experience.
• Strong record of delivering portfolio success and driving projects to high‑quality small‑molecule candidates.
• Proven leadership capability in cross‑functional team settings, either as project team leader or co‑lead.
• Expert rational target design skills using structure‑based design and computational tools.
• Deep medicinal chemistry knowledge, including ADME, physicochemical, biochemical, and pharmacological principles.
• Strong synthetic chemistry skills capable of delivering challenging targets on milligram to multi‑gram scale.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Experience partnering with computational chemistry, DMPK, in‑vivo pharmacology, CMC, and other functional areas.
• Awareness of current developments in synthetic and medicinal chemistry to advance science.
• Skills in gathering, documenting, and analyzing competitive information.
• Track record of mentoring junior Ph.D. chemists to enhance skillset and project impact.

IDEAYA offers a competitive total rewards package reflecting our pay‑for‑performance philosophy, including merit‑based salary increases, discretionary short‑term incentive plan participation, and discretionary stock option awards. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage (100% company paid for employees, 90% for dependents), 401(k), ESPP, and wellness programs. The expected salary range for this Director role is $218,000–$270,000, depending on experience, location, and performance.

The Company complies with all laws relating to equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against applicants based on any protected characteristic. This position requires on‑site work with flexibility for work‑from‑home as needed and requires full COVID‑19 vaccination per company policy, with reasonable accommodations for medical or religious reasons.

IDEAYA is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, IDEAYA does not discriminate in hiring or otherwise in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. EOE/AA/Vets.