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Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases — often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide. Please visit for more information.

The Executive Director, Head of Discovery Chemistry is accountable for the scientific leadership, strategic direction, and operational excellence of small‐molecule drug discovery from target validation through candidate nomination and transition into Early Development. The role ensures the delivery of high‐quality, differentiated molecules across Neuroscience and Oncology programs, integrating medicinal, computational, and AI/ML‐enabled drug design approaches to maximize probability of technical and clinical success.

Essential Functions / Responsibilities

• Serve as global head of Discovery Chemistry with end‐to‐end accountability for small‐molecule discovery programs from hit identification through candidate nomination (Decision Point 0), including discovery formulation and synthesis enablement of transfer to Pharmaceutical Development partners

• Define and execute a Discovery Chemistry strategy aligned with portfolio priorities in Neuroscience and Oncology, emphasizing molecule quality, translation, and long‐term value.

• Ensure rigorous molecular design standards addressing potency, selectivity, CNS exposure where applicable, safety margins, and developability.

• Lead and integrate medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and structure‐based design capabilities across internal teams and external partners.

• Oversee state of the art and future-facing disciplined use of AI/ML‐enabled drug design platforms to accelerate design cycles, improve decision quality, and reduce technical risk.

• Ensure quality of due diligence activities within chemistry and discovery domain of corporate development evaluations

• Drive timely and high‐confidence candidate nominations, ensuring transfer and chemistry readiness for IND‐enabling activities.

• Represent Discovery Chemistry at the level of Research and Non-Clinical Leadership Team, Scientific Review meetings, and Early Development Portfolio Review Committee governance forums, and development transition reviews.

• Partner with Neuroscience and Oncology Research, Translational Science, DMPK, Toxicology, CMC, Regulatory, Pharmaceutical Development, and Clinical Development to ensure seamless progression into development.

• Provide executive scientific leadership in external collaborations, alliances, and due diligence evaluations for in‐licensing and M&A opportunities.

• Develop, mentor, and retain senior chemistry leaders, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, and continuous innovation.

• Manage chemistry contributions to Oncology, Neuroscience new target prioritization working teams and process, ensuring med chem, structural information, tractability tools appropriately integrated into target matrix assessments.

• Ensure Chemistry functional and capacity discipline and continuous improvement

Governance & Portfolio Accountability

• Serve as the Discovery Chemistry representative and accountable leader at Early Development Project Review Committee (EDPRC), Development Project Review Committee (DPRC), and other portfolio governance forums as appropriate.

• Prepare, present, and defend Discovery Chemistry strategies, molecular design rationale, candidate quality attributes, and risk assessments at stage‐gate, portfolio, and governance reviews.

• Ensure the timely escalation of scientific, technical, and resourcing risks related to molecule quality, developability, or program execution to EDPRC, DPRC, and senior R&D leadership.

• Partner closely with Co-CSOs, Therapeutic Area Heads, EDTLs, Project Management, Pipeline Innovation, and functional leaders to enable sound portfolio decision‐making, prioritization, and investment allocation across Neuroscience and Oncology programs.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Executive‐level Discovery Chemistry leader with extensive progressive experience in medicinal chemistry and small‐molecule drug discovery within pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology organizations.

• Demonstrated track record of pipeline impact, including:

• Multiple high‐quality clinical candidate nominations, and

• Documented contributions to late‐stage development assets and/or approved medicines.

• Deep scientific expertise in medicinal chemistry, lead identification and optimization, and structure‐activity relationships across complex target classes relevant to Neuroscience and Oncology, including CNS‐penetrant small molecules.

• Proven experience establishing and enforcing molecule quality standards, including potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, CNS exposure where applicable, safety margins, chemical developability, and differentiation versus standard of care.

• Extensive experience leading and integrating computational chemistry, structure‐based drug design, and AI/ML‐enabled drug discovery approaches, with clear understanding of:

• Model validation and limitations

• Data integrity and provenance

• Appropriate application to decision‐making rather than exploratory novelty.

• Demonstrated ability to balance innovation, speed, and scientific rigor in early discovery environments characterized by uncertainty and evolving targets.

• Successful leadership in global, matrixed discovery organizations, with proven ability to influence outcomes and align diverse functional teams toward common objectives.

• Strong strategic and portfolio‐level thinking, with experience shaping discovery strategy to maximize probability of technical success and long‐term patient and business value.

• Established external scientific credibility, with the ability to engage effectively with academic leaders, industry peers, alliance partners, and key opinion leaders.

• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, capable of translating complex scientific data and trade‐offs into clear, actionable recommendations for senior governance bodies and executive leadership.

• Proven commitment to talent development, succession planning, and inclusive leadership, with a track record of building high‐performing, diverse Discovery Chemistry organizations

• Extensive experience with internal discovery as well as externalized operating models through CROs and biotech partnerships.

Required Experience and Qualifications

Experience

• Extensive progressive experience in medicinal chemistry and small‐molecule drug discovery within pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology organizations.

• Demonstrated success in senior scientific leadership roles (Director, Senior Director, Executive Director, or equivalent), with accountability for strategy, delivery, and organizational performance.

• Proven track record of pipeline impact, including:

• Multiple clinical candidate nominations, and

• Clear ownership of molecule quality and developability through discovery and early development transition.

• Significant experience leading discovery programs in Neuroscience and/or Oncology, including complex target classes and, where applicable, CNS‐penetrant small‐molecule design.

• Extensive experience directing and integrating medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and structure‐based drug design capabilities within a matrixed R&D environment.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and govern the validated use of computational chemistry and AI/ML‐enabled drug design tools, with clear understanding of their appropriate application, limitations, and impact on decision‐making.

• Experience representing discovery functions in portfolio governance and decision‐making forums (e.g., research review committees, early development or portfolio review committees).

• Proven ability to lead global, cross‐functional organizations, including mentoring senior leaders, setting performance expectations, and building high‐performing teams.

Education

• PhD in Chemistry (Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or closely related discipline) or equivalent scientific degree required.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

Experience

• Direct contribution to late‐stage clinical development programs and/or approved medicines.

• Experience leading discovery organizations across multiple therapeutic areas, with depth in both Neuroscience and Oncology portfolios.

• Hands‐on or leadership experience establishing molecule quality bars, including CNS exposure, safety margins, physicochemical optimization, and chemistry readiness for IND‐enabling studies.

• Experience serving as a senior scientific leader in Early Development governance bodies (e.g., EDPRC / DPRC equivalents), including preparation and presentation of stage‐gate and portfolio materials.

• Experience with external collaborations and alliances, including joint governance, CRO strategy, and scientific oversight of external partners.

• Participation in or leadership of scientific due diligence activities for in‐licensing, acquisitions, or strategic partnerships.

• Recognized external scientific credibility, demonstrated through publications, patents, invited presentations, or leadership within the broader discovery chemistry community.

Education and Training

• Postdoctoral training in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, computational chemistry, or a related discipline.

• Formal or experiential training in computational chemistry, data science, or AI/ML applications in drug discovery. xsrmqjs

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Jazz Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.