Job Description

Associate Director, Medicinal Chemistry – Lead Generation and Platform Chemistry

Location : Boston MA

We are seeking an enthusiastic, innovative, and highly skilled medicinal chemist to join our Boston-based research team as an Associate Director of Lead Generation and Platform Chemistry. This role is a pivotal role within our global discovery engine, bridging early-stage compound discovery with the delivery of optimized clinical drug candidates. Initially a hands-on contributor, this position is expected to evolve into a leadership role overseeing a team of scientists.

We are particularly interested in candidates with deep experience in targeted protein degradation, and who have demonstrated the ability to pioneer novel chemical modalities as well as deliver high-quality drug candidates. A strong foundation in medicinal chemistry, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams are essential for success in this role.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, intellectually rigorous, and collaborative environment, and will be driven by the opportunity to reshape the boundaries of what is possible in targeted protein degradation.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of medicinal chemistry strategies to support early- and late-stage lead discovery and optimization programs.

• Execution of synthesis through our CRO network

• Collaborate cross-functionally with biology, biophysics, DMPK, structural biology, and computational chemistry teams to integrate scientific insights into compound design.

• Drive the exploration and development of molecular glues and other novel modalities to support targeted protein degradation approaches.

• Establish and lead chemistry efforts from hit identification through lead optimization to clinical candidate nomination.

• Develop and apply structure-activity relationships (SAR) to improve compound potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties.

• Provide strategic input into platform technology development, contributing to innovations that enhance the discovery of next-generation therapeutic agents.

• Serve as a mentor and scientific leader, with the expectation to build and manage a high-performing team of medicinal chemists over time.

• Contribute to a culture of scientific excellence, rigor, and innovation through active participation in project teams, internal discussions, and external collaborations.

• Communicate research findings clearly and effectively in internal meetings, project reviews, and external presentations or publications and patents.

Job Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry with significant postdoctoral or industry experience of at least 10 years.

• Proven track record of impact in small molecule drug discovery, preferably with expertise in targeted protein degradation.

• Extensive experience with effective use of external resources (CROs, single contractual contributors and consultants).

• Strong knowledge of SAR, ADME, PK/PD, and drug-like property optimization.

• Demonstrated success in leading or significantly contributing to projects that resulted in clinical candidate nomination.

• Experience working in cross-disciplinary discovery teams; ability to integrate complex data into actionable plans.

• Strong leadership, mentoring, and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and guide others.

Interested candidates should forward CV and cover letter to [email protected]

Monte Rosa Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel molecular glue degrader (MGD) medicines for patients living with serious diseases such as oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. MGDs are small molecule protein degraders designed to employ the body’s natural mechanisms to selectively eliminate therapeutically relevant proteins. The company’s QuEEN™ (Quantitative and Engineered Elimination of Neosubstrates) platform enables it to rapidly identify protein targets and design highly selective degraders by combining diverse libraries of proprietary MGDs with in-house proteomics, structural biology, AI/machine learning, and computational chemistry capabilities. Monte Rosa is headquartered in Boston, Mass., with research operations in both Boston and Basel, Switzerland.

To learn more about MRTx, visit

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