Director / Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry

About us

Ridgeline Discovery, a Versant Ventures Discovery Engine, creates and operates Versant-financed innovative biotech companies in partnership with entrepreneurs, industry, and leading academics across Europe. In recent years, Ridgeline has assembled an international team of >50 highly experienced drug discovery and industry professionals and built and operated multiple new successful companies; these companies have raised significant funds through Series B, IPO and an exit through a trade sale.
We are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial Director / Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry to lead small molecule drug discovery efforts across one of Ridgeline Discovery’s innovative portfolio companies.

The successful candidate will play a central scientific leadership role in advancing first-in-class therapeutic programs directed against novel intracellular targets. Working closely with biology, DMPK, computational chemistry and project leadership teams, this individual will drive medicinal chemistry strategy from hit identification through candidate nomination.

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the direction of an emerging biotech company while contributing directly to innovative drug discovery programs with significant therapeutic potential.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute medicinal chemistry strategies from hit identification through candidate nomination.
• Lead SAR development across multiple chemical series and establish data-driven decision-making processes to maximize project progression.
• Drive molecular design efforts balancing potency, selectivity, PK/PD properties, safety, developability and intellectual property considerations.
• Apply modern medicinal chemistry approaches to challenging intracellular targets and novel biological mechanisms.
• Leverage structure-based drug design and multidisciplinary data to guide optimization strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Biology, DMPK and Computational Chemistry teams to accelerate progression of small molecule programs.
• Provide scientific leadership to internal and external medicinal chemistry teams.
• Manage and mentor medicinal chemists and external CRO partners.
• Contribute to portfolio strategy, target evaluation and candidate selection discussions.
• Support patent strategy and contribute to invention disclosures and patent filings.
• Represent the company in interactions with external collaborators, scientific advisors and investors as appropriate.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.
• Typically 15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery.
• Demonstrated track record of advancing small molecule programs through lead optimization and candidate nomination.
• Extensive expertise in medicinal chemistry, SAR strategy and contemporary drug discovery approaches.
• Strong understanding of ADME, pharmacokinetics, developability and translational considerations.
• Experience working on structurally enabled drug discovery programs is highly desirable.
• Track record of scientific leadership within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience managing external CRO networks and scientific collaborations.
• Strong appreciation of intellectual property strategy and patent generation.

Personal Profile

• Outstanding medicinal chemist with a passion for innovative drug discovery.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to thrive in a dynamic biotech environment.
• Strategic thinker capable of balancing scientific rigor with rapid execution.
• Strong collaborator who works effectively across Biology, DMPK, Computational Chemistry and executive leadership.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to influence scientific direction and project strategy.
• Hands-on leader who remains actively engaged in molecular design and data interpretation.
• Proven ability to drive programs against novel biological targets where creativity and scientific insight are required.
• Passionate about mentoring scientists and building high-performing teams.
• Accountable, decisive and focused on delivering differentiated development candidates.

What we currently offer

• People: We are an international and diverse team with talented and passionate people.
• Creativity: We offer an innovative and creative environment.
• Development: We support the individual development of our employees.
• Fun: From time-to-time we organise cool off-site summer and winter team events.
• Offices: Our well-equipped laboratories and offices are located at the Tech Park, a premier address for early-stage start-ups in Basel.
• Commuter Benefits: We support our employees tailored to their personal needs in commuting to work and offer parking facilities or a commuter contribution.
• Flexible Working: We support flexible working as appropriate.
• Christmas Closure: In addition to the 24 holidays per year, our offices/labs are closed between Christmas and New Year.
• Birthday Retreat: On top of that, your birthday is your personal holiday - our employees enjoy their birthday with a day off.
• Food: We like get-togethers during lunch time. Enjoy tasty, subsidised meals from our FELFEL food fridge.

Please note that these benefits are subject to change at the company’s discretion and do not constitute a contractual entitlement.