Head of Chemistry (Founding Member; Medicinal Chemistry)

Role Type: Advisory → Full-Time Executive Domain: Small-Molecule Drug Discovery | Biology of Aging About the Venture We are an early-stage, venture-backed biotechnology startup based in the San Francisco Bay Area developing first-in-class small-molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental drivers of aging and age-related disease. Our founding team brings deep expertise in molecular biology, translational medicine, and business development. We are seeking a Fractional Head of Chemistry to serve as the founding architect of our small-molecule discovery program. This individual will bridge in silico molecular design with hands-on synthetic chemistry execution via global CROs. Progression Structure Phase 1 (current; pre-funding): Scientific collaborator and advisor. You will refine our target-to-lead chemistry strategy, evaluate hit-to-lead tractability, and participate in fundraising efforts. Expected workload is minimal, at 1 hour/week. Compensation is equity only. Phase 2 (post-funding): Transition into a compensated role (Head of Chemistry) with competitive base salary and equity stake. While the expected workload is 10-20 hours/week, you will be compensated at the full 20 hours/week rate.

Key Responsibilities: 1. In Silico Design & Medicinal Chemistry Strategy Lead the Design-Make-Test-Analyze (DMTA) cycle, designing novel chemical matter with optimal potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties (ADMET/PK).Formulate clear Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR) and Structure-Property Relationships (SPR) using structure-based and ligand-based drug design (SBDD/LBDD).Implement advanced computational workflows to accelerate hit identification and lead optimization.2. CRO Operations Architect and direct a 100% outsourced synthetic chemistry footprint. Identify, negotiate with, and manage global chemistry CRO FTEs to execute multistep organic syntheses, library design, and scale-up. Troubleshoot synthetic bottlenecks, evaluate retrosynthetic schemes, and verify compound purity and identity via LC-MS, HPLC, and NMR data review.3. Commercial Strategy Work alongside the CEO and premier patent counsel to draft, file, and defend robust composition-of-matter and method-of-use patent applications. Serve as the technical chemistry lead during investor meetings, partnering discussions, and scientific advisory board (SAB) presentations.

Required Qualifications: (MUST-HAVE)

Education: Ph. D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, or a related discipline. Industry Track Record: 4+ years of small-molecule drug discovery experience within a biotech or pharmaceutical setting, with demonstrated success advancing molecules from hit triage to lead optimization. CRO Management: Extensive experience selecting, directing, and driving performance across distributed, global synthetic chemistry CRO teams. Cheminformatics: Ability to build custom pipelines using Python, etc. IP Cleanliness: Unencumbered by restrictive IP assignments, non-competes, or institutional conflicts of interest at start of Phase 2 (paid role).Advanced Computational Biophysics, including...Practical experience running Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations (e.g., GROMACS, Desmond, AMBER, OpenMM) to evaluate target-ligand binding kinetics, cryptic pockets, conformational flexibility, or other relevant applications. Experience with Density Functional Theory (DFT) or quantum mechanical (QM/MM) calculations.

Preferred Qualifications: IP Cleanliness: Unencumbered by restrictive IP assignments, non-competes, or institutional conflicts of interest at start of Phase 1 (equity-only advisory).Hands-on CADD: Working proficiency with industry-standard computational chemistry suites (e.g., Schrödinger, MOE, Open Eye, Rosetta).Startup Agility: Prior experience as an early employee, consultant, or founder in a seed/Series A virtual biotech. DMPK / Translational Fluency: Strong background in interpreting in vitro ADME profiles and in vivo pharmacokinetic data to drive multi-parameter optimization (MPO).

Founding Equity: Substantial early-stage equity grant in addition to the competitive wage. Impact: Scientific ownership of our chemical pipeline targeting some of the most critical diseases of human aging. Executive Career Trajectory: Opportunity to build and scale the chemistry and discovery organization from an early stage.

How to Apply: If you are interested in helping build a therapeutics company from the ground up, please reach out with your CV and a cover letter (maximum 300 words). Your cover letter should illustrate the accomplishments you are most proud of and how they demonstrate your fit for this role, specifically highlighting your experience in both computational chemistry and synthetic CRO management. In addition, please confirm in your cover letter that you understand our requirement for IP cleanliness. Please include your cover letter as the first page of your CV, as there is no field available for submitting the cover letter separately.