Section Head, Medicinal Chemistry

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

We are seeking an experienced medicinal chemist holding a PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or chemical biology with over 8 years of professional experience within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, or equivalent academic tenure.
Required Qualifications
You possess:
● A comprehensive grasp of small molecule drug discovery methodologies and scientific disciplines, complemented by deep knowledge in specific therapeutic fields (e.g., oncological, autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, or metabolic diseases) and technology platforms (e.g., covalent drugs, induced proximity, ADCs).
● A proven track record of achieving milestones from target validation through to clinical candidate selection for a first-in-class (FIC) target, managing critical project decisions with a balance of scientific rigor and prompt execution.
● Excellent problem-solving capabilities, with a passion for cultivating creative, innovative solutions to fulfill project goals and drive impact.
● High learning agility and a flexible operational style, with the capacity to build interdependent, collaborative team environments that advance programs with urgency.
● Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, enabling you to influence stakeholders at all levels, work inclusively, and effectively present program strategies, risks, and mitigations to leadership and governance bodies.
● The capacity to align individual projects with a broader portfolio strategy, demonstrating a readiness to make challenging decisions and pivot as necessary.
● Professional fluency in both spoken and written English.

If you are proud of contributing and feel you have the dedication to teamwork and innovation that we are seeking, then Roche is the organization for you. Every role at Roche plays a part in making a difference to patients’ lives. If you want to work in a passionate team, make your mark & improve lives, apply now.

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.