Director/Sr. Director – Medicinal Chemistry, Synthetic Macrocycles

Eli Lilly and Company

. Design and synthesize macrocyclic small molecules and macrocyclic peptides for drug discovery programs across multiple therapeutic areas .

Posted 11/2/2026full-timeIndianapolis • California • United StatesSenior💰 $163,500 - $239,800 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Expertise in the design and synthesis of macrocyclic small molecules and peptides, with a strong foundation in ADME/DMPK principles and a proven track record in drug discovery. Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and communicate complex scientific data to diverse audiences.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Ph.D. In Medicinal ChemistryDesign And Synthesis Of Macrocyclic PeptidesADME/DMPK PrinciplesDrug Discovery ExperienceScientific Communication Skills

ATS Keywords

Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Macrocyclic Small MoleculesStructure-Activity Relationship (SAR)Oral BioavailabilityMetabolic StabilityPharmacokinetic ProfilesTarget Product Profile DevelopmentAI/ML-Enabled Design StrategiesCandidate SelectionPublicationsPatents

Soft Skills

CollaborationCoachingCommunication

Tools & Technologies

Electronic Laboratory Notebooks

Industry Keywords

Pharmaceutical IndustryBiotechnology IndustryTherapeutic AreasDrug-Like PropertiesCross-Functional Collaboration

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and synthesize macrocyclic small molecules and macrocyclic peptides for drug discovery programs across multiple therapeutic areas
Apply structure-activity relationship (SAR) knowledge to drive iterative DMTA cycles while balancing potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties
Use ADME/DMPK principles to optimize oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, permeability, and pharmacokinetic profiles
Serve as a recognized subject matter expert to resolve scientific challenges and advance programs through key milestones
Collaborate with Biology, DMPK, Computational Chemistry, and other cross-functional partners on molecule design strategies
Contribute to program strategy, including target product profile development and go/no-go decision frameworks
Identify capability gaps and champion new tools, methods, synthetic approaches, and AI/ML-enabled design strategies
Communicate scientific findings to program teams, portfolio boards, leadership, and other internal stakeholders
Maintain documentation in electronic laboratory notebooks in accordance with IP and regulatory requirements
Lead or contribute to continuous improvement and coaching initiatives

Requirements

What you’ll need

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Peptide Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a related field with a minimum of 8+ years of drug discovery experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry; or BS/MS with 15+ years equivalent experience
Demonstrated hands-on experience in the design and synthesis of macrocyclic peptides or macrocyclic small molecules
Strong foundation in ADME/DMPK principles, including oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, and PK/PD relationships
Productive multi-disciplinary collaboration in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology research environment
Experience across multiple therapeutic areas or modalities, including macrocyclic peptides and small molecules
Experience with challenging or undrugged targets requiring non-traditional modality approaches
Track record of advancing programs to candidate selection
Track record of publications, patents, or scientific contributions
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Ability to present complex scientific data clearly to diverse audiences

Benefits

Comp & perks

Company bonus depending partly on company and individual performance
Company-sponsored 401(k)
Pension
Vacation benefits
Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits
Flexible benefits, including healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts
Life insurance and death benefits
Certain time off and leave of absence benefits
Well-being benefits, including employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities
Career development and scientific growth opportunities
Employee resource groups and support networks