Supernus Pharmaceuticals

Associate Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Supernus Pharmaceuticals$170K — $206K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in organic or medicinal chemistry, or master's degree with significant experience.
  • 5+ years of proven work experience in drug development.
  • Demonstrated scientific innovation with a strong publication record.
  • Deep understanding of drug R&D processes, including ADME/PK and pharmacology.
  • Experience managing external chemistry contract research organizations (CROs).
  • Strong problem-solving and collaboration abilities.
  • Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

  • Design and execute medicinal chemistry strategies across various CROs.
  • Establish legit partnerships and efficiently allocate resources to meet team objectives.
  • Work collaboratively within cross-functional teams in drug discovery projects.
  • Regularly update project teams and senior management with organized reports.
  • Engage with departmental managers to enhance collaborative efforts.
  • Contribute to patent preparations for Supernus research ventures.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Paid time off and a competitive 401k with company match.
  • Company-paid life insurance.
  • Health and wellness benefits.
  • Equity awards and employee stock purchase program.
  • Participation in a discretionary annual bonus program.
Full Job Description


Job Summary:

This position will support Supernus' drug discovery and preclinical development efforts by contributing directly to medicinal chemistry programs focused on small molecule therapeutics for CNS disorders.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of advancing multiple compounds from lead generation through development candidate nomination, with demonstrated impact on projects reaching IND-enabling studies or beyond.

This role requires deep expertise in modern medicinal chemistry, including structure-based design, SAR optimization, and integration of ADME/PK and safety considerations, along with a strong understanding of the interdisciplinary drug discovery process. The candidate will collaborate closely with biology, DMPK, and toxicology teams and may lead cross-functional project efforts.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
  • Design, implement and execute medicinal chemistry strategies managing various CRO's.
  • Establish partnering strategies and effectively plan resource allocation to achieve team goals.
  • The ability to work with and influence drug discovery cross-functional teams is essential.
  • Provide timely and well-organized reports to project teams and senior management team forums.
  • Collaborate effectively with other departmental managers and functions.
  • Participate in the preparation of patents regarding Supernus research projects.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • N/A- No current direct reports.

Knowledge & Other Qualifications:
  • PhD in organic or medicinal chemistry with a minimum of 5+ years of relevant work experience or master's degree with 6+ years minimum relevant work experience.
  • Strong track record of scientific innovation, publication, and delivery of clinical candidates.
  • In-depth knowledge of the entire drug R&D processes, expertise in ADME/PK, pharmacology, CMC, formulations and computational chemistry.
  • Experience managing/working with chemistry CROs.
  • Excellent problem solving and collaboration skills.
  • Strength in delivering results on agreed timelines.
  • Strong motivation and independence to work in a dynamic and high-achieving environment.
  • Experience with budget planning.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Other Characteristics:
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team and maintain high ethical standards of integrity and quality.
  • Ability to approach work in an innovative and dynamic manner.
  • A self-starter able to work independently but comfortable working in a team environment.
  • Ability to consistently exhibit Supernus Values in interactions with employees at all levels of the organization, vendors, customers and others.
  • Capable of performing other duties as assigned by Management.
  • Authorized to legally work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment/Travel Requirements:
  • Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or carrying objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
  • The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer screen, iPad, or other electronic device; and extensive reading.
  • The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Compensation:

At Supernus, we offer a competitive compensation package that reflects your experiences and contributions. The expected salary range for fully qualified candidates applying for this role is $170,000 to $206,000. This range is what the Company reasonably expects to offer for the position and is not reflective of the full compensation scale of the role. This range may be modified in the future. An individual's salary within the range is based on multiple factors, which may include and are not limited to education, relevant experience, knowledge, length of industry experience and organizational needs.

You also will be able to participate in a competitive benefits package, including but not limited to: health, dental, vision, paid time off, 401k company match, company paid life insurance and health and wellness benefits. The total compensation package for this position also includes other compensation elements such as stock equity awards, employee stock purchase programs and participation in our Company's discretionary annual bonus program.

About Supernus Pharmaceuticals

Supernus Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in developing and commercializing drugs for central nervous system disorders. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Supernus Pharmaceuticals has a portfolio of products that includes treatments for epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other neurological conditions. The company's products are sold in the United States and other countries, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals has partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies to develop and market new drugs. Supernus Pharmaceuticals is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol SUPN.
Learn more about Supernus Pharmaceuticals
Size
575 employees
Market Cap
$1.9 billion
Industry
Net Income
$126.9 million
Founded
2005
5 Year Trend
+21.9%
Revenue
$520.4 million
NASDAQ

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