Executive Director, Medicinal Chemistry
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, CA, United States
If you are a current Jazz employee please apply via the Internal Career site.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases — often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide. Please visit www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com for more information.
The Executive Director, Head of Discovery Chemistry is accountable for the scientific leadership, strategic direction, and operational excellence of small‑molecule drug discovery from target validation through candidate nomination and transition into Early Development. The role ensures the delivery of high‑quality, differentiated molecules across Neuroscience and Oncology programs, integrating medicinal, computational, and AI/ML‑enabled drug design approaches to maximize probability of technical and clinical success. Essential Functions / Responsibilities Serve as global head of Discovery Chemistry with end‑to‑end accountability for small‑molecule discovery programs from hit identification through candidate
nomination
(Decision Point 0), including discovery formulation and synthesis enablement of transfer to Pharmaceutical Development partners
Define and execute a Discovery Chemistry strategy aligned with portfolio priorities in Neuroscience and Oncology, emphasizing
molecule
quality, translation, and long‑term value.
Ensure rigorous molecular design standards addressing potency, selectivity, CNS exposure where applicable, safety margins, and developability.
Lead and integrate medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and structure‑based design capabilities across internal teams and external partners.
Oversee
state of the art
and future-facing
disciplined use of AI/ML‑enabled drug design platforms to accelerate design cycles, improve decision quality, and reduce technical risk.
Ensure quality of due diligence activities within chemistry and discovery domain of corporate development evaluations
Drive
timely
and high‑confidence candidate nominations, ensuring
transfer and
chemistry readiness for IND‑enabling activities.
Represent Discovery Chemistry at
the level of
Research
and Non-Clinical Leadership Team
, Scientific Review meetings, and Early Development Portfolio Review Committee
governance forums, and development transition reviews.
Partner with
Neuroscience and Oncology
Research
, Translational
Science
, DMPK, Toxicology, CMC, Regulatory,
Pharmaceutical Development, and
Clinical
Development
to ensure seamless progression into development.
Provide executive scientific leadership in external collaborations, alliances, and due diligence evaluations for in‑licensing and M&A opportunities.
Develop, mentor, and
retain
senior chemistry leaders, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, and continuous innovation.
Manage
chemistry
contribut
ions
to
Oncology, Neuroscience new target
prioritization
working teams and
process
, ensuring
med chem, structural inform
ation
, tractability
tools appropriately integrated into
target matrix assessments
.
Ensure Chemistry functional and capacity discipline and continuous improvement
Governance & Portfolio Accountability Serve as the Discovery Chemistry representative and accountable leader at Early Development Project Review Committee (EDPRC), Development Project Review Committee (DPRC), and other portfolio governance forums as
appropriate
.
Prepare, present, and defend Discovery Chemistry strategies, molecular design rationale, candidate quality attributes, and risk assessments at stage‑gate, portfolio, and governance reviews.
Ensure the
timely
escalation of scientific, technical, and resourcing risks related to
molecule
quality, developability, or program execution to EDPRC, DPRC, and senior R&D leadership.
Partner closely with
Co-CSOs,
Therapeutic Area Heads, EDTLs, Project Management,
Pipeline Innovation,
and functional leaders to
enable
sound portfolio decision‑making, prioritization, and investment allocation across Neuroscience and Oncology programs.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Executive‑level Discovery Chemistry leader with extensive progressive experience in medicinal chemistry and small‑molecule drug discovery within pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology organizations.
Demonstrated
track record
of pipeline impact, including:
Multiple high‑quality clinical candidate nominations, and
Documented contributions to late‑stage development assets and/or approved medicines.
Deep scientific
expertise
in medicinal chemistry, lead identification and optimization, and structure‑activity relationships across complex target classes relevant to Neuroscience and Oncology, including CNS‑penetrant small molecules.
Proven experience
establishing
and enforcing molecule quality standards, including potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, CNS exposure where applicable, safety margins, chemical developability, and differentiation versus standard of care.
Extensive experience leading and integrating computational chemistry, structure‑based drug design, and AI/ML‑enabled drug discovery approaches, with clear understanding of:
Model validation and limitations
Data integrity and provenance
Appropriate application to decision‑making rather than exploratory novelty.
Demonstrated ability to balance innovation, speed, and scientific rigor in early discovery environments characterized by uncertainty and evolving targets.
Successful leadership
in
global, matrixed discovery organizations, with proven ability to influence outcomes and align diverse functional teams toward common
objectives
.
Strong strategic and portfolio‑level thinking, with experience shaping discovery strategy to maximize probability of technical success and long‑term patient and business value.
Established external scientific credibility, with the ability to engage effectively with academic leaders, industry peers, alliance partners, and key opinion leaders.
Exceptional communication and influencing skills, capable of translating complex scientific data and
trade‑offs
into clear, actionable recommendations for senior governance bodies and executive leadership.
Proven commitment to talent development, succession planning, and inclusive leadership, with
a track record
of building high‑performing, diverse Discovery Chemistry organizations
Extensive experience with internal discovery as well as externalized operating models through CROs and biotech partnerships
.
Required Experience and Qualifications Experience Extensive progressive experience in medicinal chemistry and small‑molecule drug discovery within pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology organizations.
Demonstrated success in senior scientific leadership roles (Director, Senior Director, Executive Director, or equivalent), with accountability for strategy, delivery, and organizational performance.
Proven
track record
of pipeline impact, including:
Multiple clinical candidate nominations, and
Clear ownership of molecule quality and developability through discovery and early development transition.
Significant experience
leading discovery programs in Neuroscience and/or Oncology, including complex target classes and, where applicable, CNS‑penetrant small‑molecule design.
Extensive experience directing and integrating medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and structure‑based drug design capabilities within a matrixed R&D environment.
Demonstrated ability to lead and govern the validated use of computational chemistry and AI/ML‑enabled drug design tools, with
clear
understanding of their
appropriate application
, limitations, and impact on decision‑making.
Experience
representing
discovery functions in portfolio governance and decision‑making forums (e.g., research review committees, early
development
or portfolio review committees).
Proven ability to lead global, cross‑functional organizations, including mentoring senior leaders, setting performance expectations, and building high‑performing teams.
Education PhD in Chemistry (Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or closely related discipline) or equivalent scientific degree
required
.
Preferred Experience and Qualifications Experience Direct
contribution
to late‑stage clinical development programs and/or approved medicines.
Experience leading discovery organizations across multiple therapeutic areas, with depth in both Neuroscience and Oncology portfolios.
Hands‑on or leadership experience
establishing
molecule quality bars, including CNS exposure, safety margins, physicochemical optimization, and chemistry readiness for IND‑enabling studies.
Experience serving as a senior scientific leader in Early Development governance bodies (e.g., EDPRC / DPRC equivalents), including preparation and presentation of stage‑gate and portfolio materials.
Experience with external collaborations and alliances, including joint governance, CRO strategy, and scientific oversight of external partners.
Participation in
or
leadership of scientific due diligence activities for in‑licensing, acquisitions, or strategic partnerships.
Recognized external scientific credibility,
demonstrated
through publications, patents, invited presentations, or leadership within the broader discovery chemistry community.
Education and Training Postdoctoral training in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, computational chemistry, or
a related
discipline.
Formal or experiential training in computational chemistry, data science, or AI/ML applications in drug discovery.
#LI-JC1 #LI-Remote Jazz Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law. The successful candidate will also be eligible to participate in various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental and vision insurance, retirement savings plan, and flexible paid vacation. For more information on our Benefits offerings please click here:
https://careers.jazzpharma.com/benefits.html .
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases — often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide. Please visit www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com for more information.
The Executive Director, Head of Discovery Chemistry is accountable for the scientific leadership, strategic direction, and operational excellence of small‑molecule drug discovery from target validation through candidate nomination and transition into Early Development. The role ensures the delivery of high‑quality, differentiated molecules across Neuroscience and Oncology programs, integrating medicinal, computational, and AI/ML‑enabled drug design approaches to maximize probability of technical and clinical success. Essential Functions / Responsibilities Serve as global head of Discovery Chemistry with end‑to‑end accountability for small‑molecule discovery programs from hit identification through candidate
nomination
(Decision Point 0), including discovery formulation and synthesis enablement of transfer to Pharmaceutical Development partners
Define and execute a Discovery Chemistry strategy aligned with portfolio priorities in Neuroscience and Oncology, emphasizing
molecule
quality, translation, and long‑term value.
Ensure rigorous molecular design standards addressing potency, selectivity, CNS exposure where applicable, safety margins, and developability.
Lead and integrate medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and structure‑based design capabilities across internal teams and external partners.
Oversee
state of the art
and future-facing
disciplined use of AI/ML‑enabled drug design platforms to accelerate design cycles, improve decision quality, and reduce technical risk.
Ensure quality of due diligence activities within chemistry and discovery domain of corporate development evaluations
Drive
timely
and high‑confidence candidate nominations, ensuring
transfer and
chemistry readiness for IND‑enabling activities.
Represent Discovery Chemistry at
the level of
Research
and Non-Clinical Leadership Team
, Scientific Review meetings, and Early Development Portfolio Review Committee
governance forums, and development transition reviews.
Partner with
Neuroscience and Oncology
Research
, Translational
Science
, DMPK, Toxicology, CMC, Regulatory,
Pharmaceutical Development, and
Clinical
Development
to ensure seamless progression into development.
Provide executive scientific leadership in external collaborations, alliances, and due diligence evaluations for in‑licensing and M&A opportunities.
Develop, mentor, and
retain
senior chemistry leaders, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, and continuous innovation.
Manage
chemistry
contribut
ions
to
Oncology, Neuroscience new target
prioritization
working teams and
process
, ensuring
med chem, structural inform
ation
, tractability
tools appropriately integrated into
target matrix assessments
.
Ensure Chemistry functional and capacity discipline and continuous improvement
Governance & Portfolio Accountability Serve as the Discovery Chemistry representative and accountable leader at Early Development Project Review Committee (EDPRC), Development Project Review Committee (DPRC), and other portfolio governance forums as
appropriate
.
Prepare, present, and defend Discovery Chemistry strategies, molecular design rationale, candidate quality attributes, and risk assessments at stage‑gate, portfolio, and governance reviews.
Ensure the
timely
escalation of scientific, technical, and resourcing risks related to
molecule
quality, developability, or program execution to EDPRC, DPRC, and senior R&D leadership.
Partner closely with
Co-CSOs,
Therapeutic Area Heads, EDTLs, Project Management,
Pipeline Innovation,
and functional leaders to
enable
sound portfolio decision‑making, prioritization, and investment allocation across Neuroscience and Oncology programs.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Executive‑level Discovery Chemistry leader with extensive progressive experience in medicinal chemistry and small‑molecule drug discovery within pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology organizations.
Demonstrated
track record
of pipeline impact, including:
Multiple high‑quality clinical candidate nominations, and
Documented contributions to late‑stage development assets and/or approved medicines.
Deep scientific
expertise
in medicinal chemistry, lead identification and optimization, and structure‑activity relationships across complex target classes relevant to Neuroscience and Oncology, including CNS‑penetrant small molecules.
Proven experience
establishing
and enforcing molecule quality standards, including potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, CNS exposure where applicable, safety margins, chemical developability, and differentiation versus standard of care.
Extensive experience leading and integrating computational chemistry, structure‑based drug design, and AI/ML‑enabled drug discovery approaches, with clear understanding of:
Model validation and limitations
Data integrity and provenance
Appropriate application to decision‑making rather than exploratory novelty.
Demonstrated ability to balance innovation, speed, and scientific rigor in early discovery environments characterized by uncertainty and evolving targets.
Successful leadership
in
global, matrixed discovery organizations, with proven ability to influence outcomes and align diverse functional teams toward common
objectives
.
Strong strategic and portfolio‑level thinking, with experience shaping discovery strategy to maximize probability of technical success and long‑term patient and business value.
Established external scientific credibility, with the ability to engage effectively with academic leaders, industry peers, alliance partners, and key opinion leaders.
Exceptional communication and influencing skills, capable of translating complex scientific data and
trade‑offs
into clear, actionable recommendations for senior governance bodies and executive leadership.
Proven commitment to talent development, succession planning, and inclusive leadership, with
a track record
of building high‑performing, diverse Discovery Chemistry organizations
Extensive experience with internal discovery as well as externalized operating models through CROs and biotech partnerships
.
Required Experience and Qualifications Experience Extensive progressive experience in medicinal chemistry and small‑molecule drug discovery within pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology organizations.
Demonstrated success in senior scientific leadership roles (Director, Senior Director, Executive Director, or equivalent), with accountability for strategy, delivery, and organizational performance.
Proven
track record
of pipeline impact, including:
Multiple clinical candidate nominations, and
Clear ownership of molecule quality and developability through discovery and early development transition.
Significant experience
leading discovery programs in Neuroscience and/or Oncology, including complex target classes and, where applicable, CNS‑penetrant small‑molecule design.
Extensive experience directing and integrating medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and structure‑based drug design capabilities within a matrixed R&D environment.
Demonstrated ability to lead and govern the validated use of computational chemistry and AI/ML‑enabled drug design tools, with
clear
understanding of their
appropriate application
, limitations, and impact on decision‑making.
Experience
representing
discovery functions in portfolio governance and decision‑making forums (e.g., research review committees, early
development
or portfolio review committees).
Proven ability to lead global, cross‑functional organizations, including mentoring senior leaders, setting performance expectations, and building high‑performing teams.
Education PhD in Chemistry (Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or closely related discipline) or equivalent scientific degree
required
.
Preferred Experience and Qualifications Experience Direct
contribution
to late‑stage clinical development programs and/or approved medicines.
Experience leading discovery organizations across multiple therapeutic areas, with depth in both Neuroscience and Oncology portfolios.
Hands‑on or leadership experience
establishing
molecule quality bars, including CNS exposure, safety margins, physicochemical optimization, and chemistry readiness for IND‑enabling studies.
Experience serving as a senior scientific leader in Early Development governance bodies (e.g., EDPRC / DPRC equivalents), including preparation and presentation of stage‑gate and portfolio materials.
Experience with external collaborations and alliances, including joint governance, CRO strategy, and scientific oversight of external partners.
Participation in
or
leadership of scientific due diligence activities for in‑licensing, acquisitions, or strategic partnerships.
Recognized external scientific credibility,
demonstrated
through publications, patents, invited presentations, or leadership within the broader discovery chemistry community.
Education and Training Postdoctoral training in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, computational chemistry, or
a related
discipline.
Formal or experiential training in computational chemistry, data science, or AI/ML applications in drug discovery.
#LI-JC1 #LI-Remote Jazz Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law. The successful candidate will also be eligible to participate in various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental and vision insurance, retirement savings plan, and flexible paid vacation. For more information on our Benefits offerings please click here:
https://careers.jazzpharma.com/benefits.html .