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- Tasks: Lead computational chemistry projects to tackle drug discovery challenges and mentor junior scientists.
- Company: Join a fast-growing CRO with a supportive and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holidays, health cash plan, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working model with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in drug discovery while advancing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: PhD in computational chemistry and significant industry experience required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid – home based with regular on site presence in Chapel-en-le-Frith
Salary: Competitive (depending on experience and scope of leadership)
Job type: Permanent, full time (37.5 hrs per week)
In this pivotal role, you will apply your computational chemistry expertise to solve complex drug discovery challenges and guide medicinal chemistry programmes for our clients. Working as part of a Private Equity‑backed, fast‑growing CRO, you will be central to advancing client projects while helping shape and grow our computational chemistry capability. This role is available at Principal Scientist or Associate Scientific Director level, depending on experience and scope of leadership.
What you will be doing:
- Deliver high‑quality computational chemistry support across drug discovery programmes, from target identification through to clinical candidate nomination.
- Apply structure‑based and ligand‑based small molecule drug design methods including docking, QSAR, pharmacophore modelling, virtual screening, MD and QM calculations, to guide medicinal chemistry and solve complex design challenges.
- Provide expert guidance to medicinal chemists and multidisciplinary project teams, integrating computational insight with experimental data.
- Deliver and interpret high‑quality computational outputs, providing clear, pragmatic recommendations to project teams and clients.
- Work seamlessly with medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK and safety colleagues as a senior scientific partner.
- Mentor and develop computational chemists, setting high standards for scientific thinking, quality and integrity.
- Contribute to proposals, reports and client interactions, articulating the value of computational chemistry clearly and credibly.
- Maintain the highest standards of scientific integrity and continuously develop your technical knowledge.
At Associate Scientific Director level, you will also:
- Shape the strategic direction and growth of the computational chemistry service offering.
- Act as a recognised subject‑matter expert across the organisation and externally.
- Influence capability development, methodology adoption, and long‑term service evolution.
- Play a key role in client engagement, proposal strategy, and scientific positioning.
About you:
- You will hold a PhD in computational chemistry or a closely related discipline.
- You will have significant industrial drug discovery experience within pharma, biotech, or CRO settings.
- You will bring strong expertise in structure‑based and ligand‑based small molecule drug design and the practical application of computational tools.
- You will be comfortable working in multidisciplinary project teams and communicating complex science clearly.
- You will be organised, adaptable, and able to deliver across multiple projects in a fast‑paced environment.
- At Associate Scientific Director level, you will also demonstrate clear scientific leadership, strategic thinking, and service‑level influence.
- Knowledge of peptide and/or contemporary modality structure-based drug design would be an advantage.
What you will get:
In addition to a competitive salary, we provide generous holiday entitlement, a pension scheme with enhanced employer contributions, a health cash plan covering a range of therapy treatments, a cycle to work scheme, a retail discount scheme, death in service benefit, a discretionary bonus scheme, and free on-site parking. You’ll also have access to our BHN Extras platform, offering cashback, discounts, and tech/home purchases via salary sacrifice. Colleague wellbeing is important to us, we offer 24/7 virtual GP access, emotional support services, and a comprehensive wellbeing hub. We’re proud of our inclusive, supportive culture and provide a range of learning and development opportunities to help you grow both personally and professionally.
About Concept Life Sciences:
Concept Life Sciences is a multi-disciplined Contract Research Organisation based in the UK providing market-leading scientific services globally. Over the past 25 years, Concept Life Sciences and its heritage companies have played a pivotal role in guiding numerous clients along their path to clinical success and many of these clients have evolved into enduring scientific collaborators. From our 4 sites across the UK, we provide world-leading expertise to the pharmaceutical, biotech, agrochemical, and material science industries. We have clients across Europe, Asia, and the US, who value our knowledge-based, science-led, and customer-focused approach.
Principal Scientist / Associate Scientific Director – Computational Chemistry employer: Concept Life Sciences
Contact Detail:
Concept Life Sciences Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Scientist / Associate Scientific Director – Computational Chemistry
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their projects, and be ready to discuss how your computational chemistry expertise can solve their challenges. We want you to shine and show them why you’re the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio of your past work, including successful projects and any innovative solutions you've developed. We believe that demonstrating your capabilities can set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Scientist / Associate Scientific Director – Computational Chemistry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your computational chemistry expertise and relevant experience. We want to see how your skills align with the job role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your achievements in drug discovery!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about computational chemistry and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it engaging and make sure to connect your experience with what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, highlight specific examples where you've solved complex design challenges using computational methods. We love seeing how you think critically and apply your knowledge to real-world problems!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Concept Life Sciences
✨Know Your Chemistry Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your computational chemistry knowledge, especially around structure-based and ligand-based drug design methods. Be ready to discuss specific techniques like docking and QSAR, and how you've applied them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
If you're aiming for the Associate Scientific Director level, be prepared to talk about your experience in shaping strategic directions and mentoring others. Share examples of how you've influenced project outcomes or developed team capabilities in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Since this role involves working with various teams, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with medicinal chemists, biologists, or DMPK colleagues. Highlight your communication skills and how you integrate computational insights with experimental data.
✨Articulate the Value of Computational Chemistry
Be ready to explain how computational chemistry can drive drug discovery success. Prepare to discuss how you've delivered high-quality outputs and provided clear recommendations in past projects, showcasing your ability to communicate complex science effectively.