Associate Director, Process Chemistry

Job overview

The Associate Director, Process Chemistry role is onsite in South San Francisco, CA, with compensation of $200,000–$220,000 per year. Septerna develops GPCR-focused medicines for patients with unmet medical needs. This role leads drug-substance process development and delivery across small-molecule programs, providing technical and operational direction for CMC development and manufacturing. It supports progression of therapies from preclinical research toward clinical development and commercialization.

What you'll do

• Lead process development, route scouting, optimization, and scale-up
• support solid-form selection, crystallization, and GMP manufacture
• develop CMC control strategies and specifications
• evaluate, select, transfer work to, and manage CDMO partners
• collaborate across CMC and cross-functional teams
• support timely drug supply for toxicology studies, IND-enabling work, and clinical trials
• contribute to quality systems, technical reports, batch records, and regulatory submissions.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

associate director

process chemistry

drug substance development

cmc

small molecule

biotechnology

south san francisco ca

septerna

$200k–$220k per year

cdmo management

gmp manufacturing

route scouting

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.

Why this role

Supports small-molecule programs targeting GPCRs; requires collaboration with consultants and CDMO partners; travel may be up to 20%.

About the employer

Septerna is hiring for this role. Industry: Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology). Sector: 54.