Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry

As the Senior Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Septerna, you will be leading and directing the chemistry efforts of various drug discovery programs. This includes designing and implementing innovative medicinal chemistry strategies, collaborating across functions, and guiding internal and external chemists. You’ll also play a crucial role in ensuring that compounds proceed successfully through the drug discovery pipeline, providing strategic input and insights into projects along the way.

To qualify for the Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry role at Septerna, candidates must possess a PhD in organic chemistry along with a minimum of 15 years of experience in drug discovery within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting. Proven leadership in managing chemistry efforts across diverse target classes and having a track record of contributing to clinical development are vital. Strong expertise in medicinal chemistry and experience with structure-based drug design are also essential.

The Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry at Septerna plays a pivotal role in shaping the drug discovery process by strategically guiding chemistry efforts to ensure high-quality development candidates are optimized. They provide critical insights and direction from early discovery through to IND filing, facilitating collaboration between chemists and other research functions to promote innovative therapeutic solutions.

In the role of Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry at Septerna, you will oversee diverse drug discovery projects that focus on GPCRs and other target classes. This includes managing both internal teams and external collaborations, utilizing your significant expertise to propel projects from initial conception through to clinical candidate selection, all while aligning with the company’s mission of addressing unmet patient needs.

Septerna seeks a Senior Director of Medicinal Chemistry who is not only technically proficient but also a visionary leader with outstanding communication skills. The ideal candidate will demonstrate robust collaboration and mentorship abilities, a record of innovative problem-solving, and a genuine passion for developing therapeutics that impact patients' lives positively.

When discussing your experience in leading drug discovery programs, highlight specific projects where you implemented strategy, worked with cross-functional teams, and propelled candidates towards clinical development. It's important to detail your role in guiding medicinal chemistry efforts and how your leadership positively influenced project outcomes.

Articulate your approach to compound design and optimization by discussing any frameworks or methodologies you rely on. Explain how you utilize structure-based drug design and how you assess physicochemical properties, scalability, and biological relevance when optimizing compounds.

When answering this question, provide examples of specific challenges you’ve encountered in prior projects. Describe your problem-solving approach, including collaboration with team members and how you adapted strategies to overcome obstacles while keeping project timelines on track.

Discuss any specific projects focused on GPCRs that you have worked on. Highlight your familiarity with the unique challenges presented by GPCR drug discovery, your approach in navigating those challenges, and any successful candidates that were developed under your guidance.

Share insights on how you encourage creativity within your team, whether through promoting open discussions, facilitating brainstorming sessions, or creating a supportive environment where new ideas are welcomed. Mention specific incidents where fostering innovation yielded successful project outcomes.

Outline the criteria you use for evaluating drug candidates, including effectiveness in preclinical studies, pharmacokinetics, ADME properties, and preliminary safety data. Touch on how you integrate this evaluation into broader project strategies to ensure optimal outcomes.

Provide a detailed case study of a project where you led cross-functional teams. Discuss your leadership style, how you ensured communication and engagement between stakeholders, and the resulting impact on project advancement, ultimately leading to the success of the initiative.

Explain your philosophy on maintaining scientific integrity while adhering to project deadlines. Share strategies such as prioritizing tasks, setting realistic goals, and being agile in project management to ensure both quality and timeline adherence.

Discuss the importance of mentorship in developing talent within your team. Share how you have mentored junior scientists or new hires, including growth and development initiatives you have implemented to enhance their skill sets and career trajectories.

Express your enthusiasm for Septerna’s mission and innovative approach to drug discovery, particularly regarding GPCRs. Highlight how the company's values resonate with your own, and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful therapeutic advancements is what genuinely excites you about this position.