Senior Director, R&D AI & Technology Transformation
About The Position
R&D Tech Transformation & Operations connects strategy, investment and delivery across priority R&D technology programmes. The team works with scientific, technology and business leaders to strengthen decisions, accelerate value and support consistent adoption across R&D. This role strengthens a portfolio of priority R&D technology programmes by connecting programme teams with R&D technology strategy and investment decisions. You will work closely with selected programmes, bringing constructive challenge, strategic support, and external market insight. You will help teams frame choices, define value and address barriers without taking accountability away from programme owners. We expect to appoint two Senior Directors through this recruitment, with complementary experience across research and drug development technology. For candidates seeking to be located at our Stevenage site, this role will temporarily be based at Stevenage. However, the Company plans to relocate its offices to Cambridge, UK. The location of this role will therefore subsequently change to Cambridge, UK in accordance with timelines to be set by the Company. The relocation is currently proposed to take effect by early 2029.
Requirements
- Degree or equivalent experience in technology, computer science, life sciences, engineering, business or a related discipline.
- Significant experience leading strategic technology, AI or digital transformation work in a large pharmaceutical environment.
- Strong knowledge of drug research or development and the ability to work credibly with scientific, operational and technology leaders.
- Demonstrated experience shaping and delivering cross-functional strategic projects in complex organisations.
- Experience evaluating technology capabilities, operating models, partnerships or build-versus-buy decisions.
- Ability to use structured analysis to develop recommendations and support implementation.
- Executive-level communication and influencing skills, including confidence working with Vice Presidents and other senior leaders.
- Evidence of hands-on contribution, sound judgement and effective delivery in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in management consulting, particularly strategy, technology or life sciences consulting.
- Experience moving from consulting into pharmaceutical, biotechnology or life-sciences technology roles.
- Knowledge of AI-enabled research or development solutions, clinical development technology, regulatory technology, data platforms or scientific technology.
- Product, portfolio or investment experience within pharmaceutical R&D, biotechnology, a contract research organisation or a life-sciences technology company.
- Experience working with external vendors, technology partners or innovation ecosystems.
Responsibilities
- Partner with leaders of selected priority technology programmes to clarify strategy, scope, value objectives, roadmaps and organisational needs.
- Provide an independent, evidence-based view of programme progress, risks and value delivery to support Technology Investment Board decisions.
- Apply a high-challenge, high-support approach, bringing transparency while helping teams solve strategic problems and remove barriers.
- Lead focused work on questions such as build, buy or partner choices, capability sourcing, operating models and external technology landscapes.
- Assess which capabilities could create competitive advantage and which can be sourced effectively from external partners.
- Help shape new technology initiatives, including their business case, funding approach, value definition, governance and delivery model.
- Connect learning across programmes, identify opportunities for reuse and reduce unnecessary duplication of technology capabilities.
- Build trusted relationships with senior scientific, technology and business leaders, influencing decisions without direct authority.
- Translate between scientific, operational and technical stakeholders so that complex choices become clear and actionable.
- Contribute directly to strategic projects related to the wider portfolio while programme delivery accountability remains with programme owners.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Annual bonus based on company performance
- Healthcare and wellbeing programmes
- Pension plan membership
- Shares and savings programme
- Hybrid working model
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
