Job ID

REQ-10059259

Aug 15, 2025

Switzerland

Summary

At Novartis, we are reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We use innovative science and technology to address some of society's most challenging healthcare issues. We discover and develop breakthrough treatments and find new ways to deliver them to as many people as possible. In 2020, we reached 800 million patients with our products. How can we continue to advance our science to help even more patients in need? We believe the answers are found when curious, courageous, and collaborative people are empowered to ask new questions, make bolder decisions, and take smarter risks.

In Global Discovery Chemistry (GDC) at Novartis Biomedical Research in Basel, Switzerland, we are at the core of Novartis- purpose, designing and making new molecules for treating patients. We are looking for a highly motivated, passionate chemist with a curious mindset and cultural agility to invent innovative medicines and help advance the frontiers of drug discovery. Join us and help reimagine medicine!

About the Role

Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Plan and execute chemical syntheses of novel drug molecules (including LMW and bRo5) aided by in silico tools and facilitated by state-of-the-art synthetic methodologies and technologies (automation, miniaturization).
• Experiment in a first-class laboratory infrastructure and evaluate and deploy novel synthetic technologies to progress projects.
• Work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary project team and integrate experimental data to develop scientific hypotheses and prioritize novel molecules for synthesis to answer key project questions.
• Intellectual contribution to the success of project(s) e.g. design of novel compounds and synthesis routes as well as application of data analysis and digital tools.
• Support and coach other team members by sharing your know-how and experience.
• Discuss and communicate scientific results at project/group meetings.
• Take over responsibilities to maintain the highest levels of laboratory safety and infrastructure.  

Minimum Requirements What you will bring to the role:

• Degree from a University or Fachhochschule (BSc, MSc or Diplom) with a strong focus on synthetic organic chemistry, or education as Lab Technician / Chemielaborant (or equivalent apprenticeship) with significant further chemistry training.
• At least 7 years of drug discovery experience with excellent theoretical and practical knowledge in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry.
• A strong passion for hands-on chemistry experimentation in the laboratory.
• Ability to critically interpret results, build new experimental hypotheses, take calculated risks and make smart decisions.
• Interest in disruptive technologies and science trends, such as data science and automation/miniaturization, and their application to drug discovery.
• Experience in overseeing synthesis conducted at Contract Research Organizations (CROs) is viewed as an advantage.
• Experience with molecules in the bRo5 chemical space such as peptides or siRNA is not a requirement but is viewed favorably.
• A mind-set of curiosity, creativity, collaboration and openness to diverse thinking, with an enthusiasm to develop yourself and others, along with having excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Aptitude to work in a fast-paced team-oriented matrix environment to collaborate within a highly dynamic team.

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients- lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network (link is external)

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we-ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Division

Biomedical Research

Business Unit

Universal Hierarchy Node

Location

Switzerland

Site

Basel (City)

Company / Legal Entity

C028 (FCRS = CH028) Novartis Pharma AG

Functional Area

Research & Development

Job Type

Full time

Employment Type

Regular

Shift Work

No

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.