Associate Director, Medicinal Chemistry - Synthesis

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Why Join Us?

As a member of the Parabilis Medicines team, you will be a part of an organization dedicated to creating extraordinary medicines for diseases with urgent unmet needs, harnessing our proprietary peptide platform to transform treatment possibilities for patients. Parabilis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to unlocking high-impact protein targets long-considered undruggable. The company has developed a new class of stabilized, cell-penetrant alpha-helical peptides – Helicons™ – capable of modulating intracellular proteins that are inaccessible to traditional drug modalities.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Parabilis is advancing a focused pipeline of multiple first-in-class therapies across both rare and common cancers. Its lead asset, zolucatetide (FOG-001), is a first-in-class, clinically validated direct inhibitor of the interaction between β-catenin and the T-cell factor (TCF) family of transcription factors, implicated in millions of cancer cases annually, including in colorectal cancer, desmoid tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma and a range of other Wnt/β-catenin-driven tumors. In Phase 1 clinical trials, zolucatetide produced the first-ever clinical evidence that it can directly inhibit this interaction, once previously considered “undruggable” despite its role across multiple cancer types. Parabilis is also advancing investigational degraders of ERG and ARON into clinical development for the treatment of prostate cancer, as well as progressing other preclinical programs. Backed by a recent $305 million Series F financing, Parabilis is entering an exciting phase of growth and execution.

What’s the opportunity?

Parabilis is seeking an accomplished Associate Director of Medicinal Chemistry – Synthesis with deep expertise in small-molecule synthesis to lead a team advancing compounds from hit identification through lead optimization and candidate nomination. This leader will apply innovative synthetic strategies, data-driven execution, and strong cross-functional collaboration to accelerate high-impact discovery programs.

The successful candidate will provide scientific and strategic leadership, mentor and develop synthesis chemists, and play a critical role in advancing the company’s portfolio.

You will join a medicinal chemistry synthesis team that is central to Parabilis’s discovery engine and pipeline, focused on therapeutically important and historically “undruggable” targets. This individual will lead synthesis efforts across Helicon degrader programs and collaborate closely with Chemistry Design, Biology, Data Science, and Computational Science teams. The role includes full ownership of synthesis strategy and execution, with opportunities to lead cross-functional program teams in delivering development candidates.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead medicinal chemistry synthesis teams utilizing innovative, state-of-the-art synthetic technologies to rapidly generate small-molecule fragments, E3 ligands, and complex degraders
• Design and execute efficient synthetic routes from simple building blocks to structurally complex molecules
• Develop, implement, and clearly communicate integrated synthesis strategies in partnership with Design, Data Science, De Novo Discovery, Molecular & Cellular Biology, DMPK, and Pharmacology teams to achieve hit-to-lead and lead optimization milestones
• Drive data-informed decision-making to accelerate compound synthesis progression
• Manage and cultivate productive partnerships with external CRO collaborators
• Partner closely with internal synthesis and purification teams to streamline workflows and accelerate molecule delivery timelines
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members while fostering a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, and collaboration

What you’ll need to be successful:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry with 8+ years of industry experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology settings
• Demonstrated expertise in synthetic route design and execution across a range of molecular complexity
• Strong background in synthetic methodology development, complex problem solving, and modern small-molecule synthesis
• Experience being synthesis lead in projects and managing external CRO partnerships
• Proven leadership ability with experience influencing cross-functional teams
• Innovative thinker with a growth mindset and willingness to challenge conventional approaches
• Passion for drug discovery and advancing novel therapeutic modalities
• Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills
• Ability to independently prioritize and deliver against timelines aligned with company objectives
• Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced research environment
• Willingness to work on-site and participate in in-person meetings
• Experience in solid-phase peptide synthesis is preferred

Minimum education

• Industry experience
• Specific qualifications (software, instrumentation, techniques)
• Preferred skills and experiences
• Able to work on-site and attend in-person meetings
• Demonstrated use of AI tools in your current role and responsibilities is required. Advanced or innovated use of AI is a strong plus.

Core Values

Parabilis is a team of passionate pioneers who are trailblazing the future of precision medicine with the aim of making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients. The company is committed to promoting an inspiring and flourishing working environment for all employees across the business, in all departments, and driving innovation for patient benefit.

• Growth-Minded. We’re inventing a new class of medicines—one applicable to therapeutic targets that have been dreamt about, but always considered impossible to drug. Our work requires us to be curious, humble and adaptable.
• In(ter)dependent.We are fiercely independent as a leader in defying the limitations of current therapeutic modalities, and interdependent as a team as we work collaboratively to shift drug discovery paradigms and provide patients with better treatment options.
• Patient-focused.We are deeply focused on patient outcomes, and all energy in the company is focused on science as it translates to patient impact.
• All-In.We’re All-In on solving some of the hardest scientific challenges and delivering one of the most effective new classes of drugs in history.

The base salary range for this position is [$165,000 - $200,000 per year, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal practices. Parabilis’s total compensation package also includes an annual target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits designed to support our employees’ overall well-being.

As an equal opportunity employer, Parabilis values an inclusive workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.