_{08th May, 2025}

Head of AI/ML – Innovation | Biotech | London
Location: London, UK
Function: R&D –Innovation
Start Date: September 2025
Travel Requirement: Frequent European travel,(approx. twice/month)

Are you ready to redefine the future of AI/ML in drug discovery? Join a leading biotech company at the forefront of  innovation as Head of AI/ML, a newly created leadership role based in London, designed to shape the strategic direction and technological ambition of the R&D transformation.
  
About the Role
  
As the Head of AI/ML, you will lead their UK-based Innovation hub, a cornerstone of their Research and Development division, and play a key leadership role within the global Computational Research leadership team. You’ll be accountable for mid- to long-term AI/ML projects that can fundamentally transform the way they approach drug discovery and development – with impact across the entire R&D value chain.
  
You’ll shape strategy, build and scale a high-performing team (from 5 to 30+ FTEs), and oversee a significant operating budget. Your work will directly support therapeutic area leads, data excellence teams, and computational biology groups across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and drive the AI/ML roadmap in line with priorities set by the Head of Computational Research. Translate  innovation into scalable, real-world applications within a pharmaceutical context.
• Team Building: Rapidly scale a world-class technical team of ML researchers, engineers, and applied scientists. Develop an agile external CRO ecosystem ready for activation within two weeks.
• Cross-Functional Impact: Collaborate with therapeutic area leads, computational biology, and data teams to deliver programs in:
• Innovative treatment approaches
• In silico safety and toxicity prediction (early & late stage)
• Patient stratification and biomarker discovery
• Execution Excellence: Ensure delivery of high-quality AI/ML solutions within a 12-month implementation horizon. Focus on novel capability creation, not incremental upgrades.
• End-to-End Ownership: Make strategic decisions on build/buy/partner for new technologies, ensuring alignment with current tech stacks and scalability across global infrastructure.
• Innovation Hub: Establish the group as a magnet for top global talent and a hub of learning and collaboration within the company.

About You
You are a visionary AI/ML leader with a strong entrepreneurial mindset, capable of driving meaningful portfolio impact in a highly matrixed, science-driven environment. You’re fluent in both technology and biology, with a track record of turning ML innovation into real-world outcomes.
  
We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in leading large-scale AI/ML teams within pharma, biotech, or deep tech industries.
• Strategic and Hands-On – comfortable shaping long-term vision while managing day-to-day execution.
• Deeply Technical – able to guide and mentor a team of expert ML engineers, data scientists, and computational biologists.
• Collaborative and Influential – builds trust across functions and geographies.
• Outcome-Driven – focused on delivering high-value, scalable solutions that impact R&D pipelines.
• Willing and able to travel frequently in the early phases of the role to build essential relationships across Europe.

Why Apply?

• Play a pivotal role in the next era of drug discovery
• Lead one of the most strategic AI/ML initiatives in global biotech
• Work with an exceptional network of scientific, technical, and therapeutic experts
• Shape a new centre of excellence in the heart of London
• Competitive salary, substantial budget autonomy, and the opportunity to build something extraordinary from the ground up

Are you ready to build the future? Apply now or reach out for a confidential discussion.

Keywords: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Drug Discovery, London, Kings Cross. Head of AI/ML

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