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organic chemist

title: Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Organic Chemist
salary: $65,000 - $140,000
categories: ["Chemistry", "Research & Development", "Pharmaceuticals", "Analytical Chemistry"]
description: A comprehensive overview of the key responsibilities, required technical skills and professional background for the role of a Organic Chemist.
Detailed, recruiter-style summary of the Organic Chemist role: design and execute synthetic routes, optimize reaction conditions, characterize small molecules with NMR/HPLC/GC-MS, drive process scale-up and technology transfer, ensure compliance with GLP/GMP and safety protocols, and collaborate across R&D, process development, and quality teams. Ideal for candidates with strong synthetic organic chemistry, analytical characterization, and problem-solving skills.

🎯 Role Definition

The Organic Chemist is responsible for designing, developing, and executing laboratory and pilot-scale synthetic chemistry projects to deliver high-quality small molecules, intermediates, and materials. This role focuses on reaction design and optimization, purification and characterization of compounds, analytical method development, problem-solving for scale-up and manufacturability, and rigorous documentation in compliance with GLP/GMP and health & safety standards. The ideal candidate balances deep technical expertise in synthetic and analytical methods with strong collaboration and project management skills to drive R&D and process development objectives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Laboratory Technician or Research Assistant (Synthetic Chemistry labs)
  • Analytical Chemist (HPLC/GC/NMR focused roles)
  • Recent MSc/BSc/PhD in Organic Chemistry entering industry

Advancement To:

  • Senior Organic Chemist / Senior Scientist
  • Process Development Scientist / Process Chemist
  • Principal Scientist or R&D Team Lead
  • Technical Manager or Director of Chemistry

Lateral Moves:

  • Analytical Development Scientist
  • Formulation Scientist
  • Regulatory Affairs or Quality Control Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, plan, and execute multi-step synthetic routes for target molecules, applying principles of retrosynthetic analysis, reagent selection, protecting group strategy, and green chemistry where applicable to optimize yield, purity, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Develop and optimize reaction conditions (solvent, temperature, catalyst, stoichiometry, concentration, time) through systematic experimentation and DOE (design of experiments) to improve selectivity, throughput, and reproducibility.
  • Purify and isolate synthetic products using a full range of techniques (flash chromatography, preparative HPLC, crystallization, trituration) and establish robust workup procedures to maximize recovery and purity.
  • Characterize organic compounds comprehensively using NMR (1H, 13C, 2D), LC-MS/HRMS, GC-MS, IR, melting point, and elemental analysis; interpret spectral data and prepare concise, accurate analytical reports.
  • Develop, validate and transfer analytical methods (HPLC, GC, LC-MS, chiral separations) to support synthetic development, QC release testing, and stability studies, ensuring methods are robust and reproducible.
  • Lead gram-to-kilogram scale-up activities in collaboration with process engineering, safety, and manufacturing teams; identify and mitigate scale-dependent hazards, mixing, heat transfer, and mass-transfer issues.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve process, purification, and analytical challenges by applying mechanistic understanding, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving approaches (e.g., Ishikawa, 5 Whys).
  • Create clear, compliant technical documentation including experimental procedures, batch records, SOPs, analytical reports, risk assessments (HAZOP/HAZID), and technology transfer packages for manufacturing.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce cost of goods (COGs), shorten synthetic routes, minimize steps or reagents, and increase overall process efficiency and sustainability.
  • Manage inventory of reagents, catalysts, and solvents; qualify vendors for critical raw materials and coordinate procurement to ensure uninterrupted project timelines.
  • Ensure strict adherence to lab safety, chemical hygiene plans, and hazardous waste protocols; perform risk assessments for novel chemistries and maintain up-to-date knowledge of process safety and regulatory standards (OSHA, REACH, GHS).
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with analytical development, formulation, toxicology, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing to align synthetic strategy with downstream requirements and regulatory submissions.
  • Mentor, train, and supervise junior chemists, research associates, and interns; set development goals, review experimental design, and provide constructive feedback to build team capability.
  • Participate in project planning and resource allocation; estimate timelines, costs, and reagent needs, and report progress through project management tools and regular stakeholder updates.
  • Lead intellectual property capture for novel chemistries, intermediates, or processes by writing invention disclosures and supporting patent prosecution with experimental evidence and data summaries.
  • Implement and use electronic lab notebooks (ELN), LIMS, and digital lab tools to ensure reproducible record-keeping, data integrity, and effective knowledge transfer.
  • Conduct forced degradation and stability-indicating studies to support formulation and shelf-life development, identifying potential impurities and degradation pathways.
  • Optimize catalytic processes, ligand selection, and asymmetric transformations, including chiral resolution and enantioselective synthesis, to meet purity and regulatory requirements.
  • Drive sustainability initiatives such as solvent replacement, waste reduction, catalyst recycling, and safer-by-design reaction planning to support corporate ESG and green chemistry goals.
  • Design and interpret kinetic and mechanistic experiments (kinetic isotope effects, reaction monitoring) to rationalize observed reactivity and inform further process optimization.
  • Coordinate with external CROs/CPOs for outsourced synthesis or analytical work, write clear scopes of work, evaluate data produced externally, and ensure deliverables meet internal quality standards.
  • Lead small-scale pilot plant campaigns, support process validation activities, and participate in commissioning and start-up activities for new processes in manufacturing environments.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional project reviews and milestone gates by preparing technical summaries, risk registers, and go/no-go recommendations based on experimental data.
  • Contribute to departmental strategy by identifying long-term R&D opportunities, technology gaps, and potential collaborations with academic or industrial partners.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise for regulatory submissions (IND, NDA, MAAs) by compiling chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) documentation and impurity profiles.
  • Participate in procurement decisions for analytical and synthetic instrumentation; evaluate new technologies and propose capital investments that improve lab capability.
  • Contribute to continuous safety improvement programs, including near-miss reporting, corrective actions, and periodic SOP reviews to align with best practices and audits.
  • Represent the chemistry team in cross-disciplinary committees for sustainability, lab ergonomics, and vendor qualification to ensure best-in-class operations.
  • Assist in budget planning and tracking for research projects, monitoring reagent consumption, contractor costs, and capital expenditures to maintain fiscal responsibility.
  • Present technical findings at internal seminars, collaborative meetings, and (where appropriate) scientific conferences; prepare slides and figures optimized for clarity and impact.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep expertise in synthetic organic chemistry: multi-step synthesis, retrosynthesis, protecting groups, and functional group interconversions.
  • Proficiency with analytical instrumentation: 1H/13C NMR, 2D NMR techniques, HPLC/UPLC, LC-MS/HRMS, GC-MS, and IR spectroscopy.
  • Practical experience in chromatographic purification: flash column chromatography, preparative HPLC, and crystallization methods.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and validate analytical methods (HPLC, GC, chiral separations) and interpret system suitability and method performance data.
  • Hands-on experience with scale-up and process development: pilot-scale reactions, work-up engineering, and process safety considerations.
  • Knowledge of GLP/GMP principles, regulatory requirements, and good documentation practices (SOPs, batch records, ELN).
  • Familiarity with chemical process safety tools and assessments (HAZOP, LOPA, risk assessments) and hazardous materials handling.
  • Competency in experimental design and statistics (DOE, factorial designs, JMP or equivalent) to optimize reactions and processes.
  • Experience with lab informatics: electronic lab notebooks (ELN), LIMS, data management best practices, and version-controlled protocols.
  • Background in impurity profiling, forced degradation studies, and analytical characterization for stability and regulatory filings.
  • Practical experience with catalytic and asymmetric chemistry, ligand screening, and chiral analysis where applicable.
  • Ability to use basic data analysis tools (Excel, GraphPad, Python/R for scripting is a plus) to visualize reaction trends and kinetics.
  • Familiarity with green chemistry principles, solvent selection guides, and sustainability assessment for process improvements.

Soft Skills

  • Strong problem-solving mindset and scientific curiosity to troubleshoot complex synthetic and analytical challenges.
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills for precise documentation, cross-functional collaboration, and stakeholder presentations.
  • Project management capability: prioritization, milestone tracking, time management, and the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced R&D setting.
  • Team player with interpersonal skills to collaborate with analytical, regulatory, and manufacturing partners as well as external CROs.
  • Attention to detail and a commitment to data integrity, reproducibility, and quality in all laboratory activities.
  • Adaptability and resilience to pivot priorities based on experimental findings, business needs, or emergent safety concerns.
  • Mentoring and coaching aptitude to develop junior scientists and create a learning-focused laboratory environment.
  • Critical thinking and the ability to synthesize complex datasets into actionable conclusions and recommendations.
  • Ethical judgment and professionalism when handling confidential data, intellectual property, and regulatory submissions.
  • Continuous learning orientation to stay current with new synthetic methods, instrumentation, and regulatory changes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science (MSc) or PhD in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or Process Chemistry for senior or specialized roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Chemical Engineering (with organic synthesis experience)
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • Entry-level: 0–2 years (BSc) / 0–3 years (MSc research experience)
  • Mid-level: 3–7 years in industrial or CRO/GMP chemistry roles
  • Senior: 7+ years with demonstrated process development, scale-up, and cross-functional leadership

Preferred:

  • 3–5+ years for independent contributor roles; 5–10+ years plus leadership experience for senior scientist or team lead positions.
  • Demonstrated track record of taking projects from discovery through scale-up or commercialization, with documented problem-solving and process optimization examples.
  • Industry experience in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fine chemicals, or specialty materials is highly valued.
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