Senior Director, AIRx Medicinal Chemistry

Purpose

This is medicinal chemistry as it should be — pure design, at speed, with the best tools available. You will work at the frontier of AI-enabled molecular design: evaluating generative proposals, applying deep SAR judgment, and directing CRO synthesis to close DMTA cycles faster than any traditional discovery team. No synthetic bench. No compound store. Just expert chemistry thinking applied at maximum velocity.

Accountabilities

• Design and optimize drug candidates using deep SAR intuition, multi-parameter optimization, and ADME-embedded design principles
• Integrate AI/ML-generated design proposals with medicinal chemistry judgment — critically evaluating computational outputs, not simply accepting them
• Partner closely with Computational Chemistry colleagues to close DMTA cycles rapidly; contribute to defining next design iterations
• Provide strategic oversight of CRO synthesis programs: define compound lists, review synthetic routes, and ensure quality and delivery timelines
• Embed selectivity, developability, and IP considerations into design decisions from the outset
• Interpret structural biology data (X-ray, cryo-EM) in partnership with Structural Biology contacts to guide optimization
• Stay current with competitive chemical matter and emerging chemistry approaches; proactively apply new methods
• Contribute to AI/ML training datasets by ensuring experimental data is captured in standardized, decision-ready format

Qualifications & Competencies

• PhD in medicinal chemistry or organic chemistry
• 12-15+ years of drug discovery experience with a strong track record in lead optimization and candidate nomination
• Demonstrated expertise in SAR-driven design, ADME optimization, and multi-parameter optimization across multiple programs
• Experience directing CRO-based chemistry programs; proven vendor oversight and delivery management
• Familiarity with AI/ML design tools; ability to critically interpret and challenge computational outputs
• Familiarity with structure-based drug design; ability to read and apply protein-ligand structural data
• Experience in one or more therapeutic areas across the Takeda Research portfolio preferred
• Has operated in SWAT team, rapid-response, or focused asset team environments and knows the difference between productive urgency and firefighting — and thrives in the former