The University of Dundee

Project Manager: 3D Libraries Consortium

A UK-based consortium to develop novel 3-dimensional fragment libraries is offering the challenging position of Project Manager for an experienced and dynamic Medicinal Chemist to build and sustain the Consortium. The Consortium currently consists of the major UK non-BioPharma drug discovery centres (DDU Dundee, MRCT, CRT, Beatson DDP, ICR, UCL), the Structural Genomics Consortium and a major synthetic organic chemistry group led by Prof Steven Ley. The Consortium is seeking to expand to include additional academic synthetic organic chemistry, and chemoinformatics and computational chemistry groups.

The Consortium brings together its substantial intellectual and resource base to:
(i) change the way the UK approaches the design and delivery of novel chemistry to initiate Fragment-Based Drug Discovery and Chemical Biology projects
(ii) develop computational chemistry and chemoinformatics tools
(iii) widen the application of ongoing synthetic organic chemistry research

The Project Manager will drive the Consortium forward and carry out its day-to-day running. The post will be for 2 years in the first instance and will report to Prof Paul Wyatt, University of Dundee. You will use superior leadership, organisational and scientific "know-how" to manage successfully the broad ranging activities within the Consortium and its external interactions. The position will be based across the consortium members’ UK sites and may include an element of working from home. There will be a requirement for frequent UK travel to visit Consortium members and potential collaborators.

Main duties and responsibilities include
• Active contribution to the strategic direction and decisions of the Consortium
• Maintenance of contacts and communication between members of the Consortium
• Organisation of Consortium meetings, external meetings and events
• Set up and manage logistics such as library production, associated IT and the Consortium website
• Liaising with external bodies and groups, such as the computational chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry community, companies and funding organizations
• Identification of funding opportunities and writing and co-ordination of grant applications

Knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience
• Candidates must have a PhD in Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry
• Expertise in drug discovery, preferably within the BioPharma industry
• Experience of fragment based drug discovery is an advantage
• The ability and diligence to work to milestones and goals and to specific timelines
• Good communication skills, with persuasive negotiating and collaborative abilities
• Strong leadership skills
• Strategic, innovative and creative thinker, with strong problem solving skills
• Self motivated

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Prof Paul Wyatt, tel: (01382) 386231 or e-mail: p.g.wyatt@dundee.ac.uk (do not send applications to this email address).

Applications in the form of a CV and covering letter, including the names and addresses of 3 referees, should be sent by e-mail to k.f.scott@dundee.ac.uk by end 31st May 2011, including the subject as 3DPM001.

The University of Dundee is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

The University of Dundee is a Scottish Registered Charity, No. SC015096.