Associate Director, Medicinal Chemistry

Overview:

Medicinal Chemistry group at Alnylam is seeking a highly motivated and accomplished scientist to join our dynamic drug discovery team. The successful candidate will play a critical role in the design, synthesis, and optimization of small molecules aimed as delivery agents of oligonucleotides to extra-hepatic tissues. This individual will be responsible for driving project strategy and overseeing progression of our small molecule effort from hit identification through lead optimization, with a particular emphasis on suitability for clinical development as oligo conjugates.

Key Responsibilities:

Scientific Contribution:

• Design and execute synthetic routes for novel small molecules with desired pharmacological profiles, ADME properties, and physicochemical characteristics in the context of oligo delivery.
• Critically analyze SAR (Structure-Activity Relationships) and SPR (Structure-Property Relationships) data to guide compound design and optimization efforts.
• Drive the strategic direction of medicinal chemistry efforts within projects, ensuring alignment with program goals and timelines.
• Stay abreast of current literature, emerging technologies, and competitive landscape in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
• Contribute to the identification of new drug targets and therapeutic hypotheses.

Project Progression & Collaboration:

• Serve as a key medicinal chemistry leader on one or more drug discovery projects, actively participating in and contributing to cross-functional project teams (e.g., biology, pharmacology, DMPK, toxicology, CMC).
• Present data, conclusions, and recommendations to project teams and senior management effectively and concisely.
• Collaborate closely with computational chemists to leverage advanced modeling techniques for compound design and lead optimization.
• Identify and manage CROs for synthetic chemistry, assay development, or other outsourced activities, ensuring quality and timely delivery.
• Provide scientific guidance and mentorship to more junior chemists, fostering a culture of scientific rigor and continuous learning.
• Contribute to the generation and defense of intellectual property (e.g., patent applications, scientific publications).

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry.
• Greater than 8 years of progressively responsible experience in small molecule drug discovery within a pharmaceutical setting.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing at least one compound into clinical development as a group leader or key contributor.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of modern synthetic organic chemistry, reaction mechanisms, and retrosynthetic analysis.
• Extensive experience in small molecule design and optimization, including a deep understanding of SAR, ADME, pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism principles.
• Proficiency in interpreting complex biological and ADME data to inform compound design.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively interact with multidisciplinary teams and present complex scientific data to diverse audiences.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with computational chemistry tools and techniques (e.g., ligand-based and structure-based design).
• Extensive experience with outsourcing chemistry activities to CROs.

About Alnylam:Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ALNY) has led the translation of RNA interference (RNAi) into a whole new class of innovative medicines with the potential to transform the lives of people afflicted with rare and more prevalent diseases. Based on Nobel Prize-winning science, RNAi therapeutics represent a powerful, clinically validated approach to treating diseases at their genetic source by "interfering" with mRNA that cause or contribute to disease. Since our founding in 2002, Alnylam has led the RNAi Revolution and continues to turn scientific possibility into reality.

Our culture:Our people-first culture is guided by our core values: fiercely innovative, open culture, purposeful urgency, passion for excellence, and commitment to people, and these values influence how we work and the business decisions we make. Thanks to feedback from our employees over the years, we've been fortunate to be named a top employer around the world. Alnylam is extremely proud to have been recognized as the #1 Large Employer by Boston Globe Top Places to Work in 2023 for the third consecutive year, one of Science Magazine's Top Biopharma Employers, one of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2024 by Newsweek, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and UK - among others.

At Alnylam, we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equal employment opportunity. We are dedicated to building an environment where employees can feel that they belong, can bring their authentic selves to work, and achieve to their full potential. By empowering employees to embrace their unique differences at work, our business grows stronger with advanced and original thinking, allowing us to bring groundbreaking medicines to patients. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics prohibited by law.