At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead R&D data and AI strategy to drive innovation and improve product delivery.
- Company: Join Haleon, a purpose-driven consumer health company with a trusted brand portfolio.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of consumer health.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in health by harnessing data and AI for better outcomes.
- Qualifications: Extensive R&D experience and strong leadership skills in data and AI.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Welcome to Haleon. We’re a purpose-driven, world-class consumer company putting everyday health in the hands of millions. In just three years since our launch, we’ve grown, evolved and are now entering an exciting new chapter – one filled with bold ambitions and enormous opportunity.
Our trusted portfolio of brands – including Sensodyne, Panadol, Advil, Voltaren, Theraflu, Otrivin, and Centrum – lead in resilient and growing categories. What sets us apart is our unique blend of deep human understanding and trusted science.
Now it’s time to fully realise the full potential of our business and our people. We do this through our Win as One strategy. It puts our purpose – to deliver better everyday health with humanity – at the heart of everything we do. It unites us, inspires us, and challenges us to be better every day, driven by our agile, performance-focused culture.
About the role
The Data & AI Delivery Lead – R&D is a senior strategic leader responsible for defining, shaping, and executing the enterprise vision for R&D’s data and AI ecosystem. This leader brings deep subject‐matter expertise in R&D processes, consumer and clinical insights, scientific data, enterprise data ecosystems, and advanced AI—including agentic AI systems. The role focuses exclusively on harnessing data, analytics, and AI to accelerate R&D innovation, strengthen scientific decision‐making, and improve speed‐to‐market across the product lifecycle.
This role sits within the Chief Data Office (CDO) with a dotted‐line into the Head of R&D Tech and is fully embedded within the R&D Tech Leadership Team. The job holder will be based in the United Kingdom.
Key responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Vision: Define and champion the strategic vision for R&D data, insights, and AI products. Drive the evolution of R&D’s data and AI ecosystem, anticipating industry trends and emerging technologies. Translate R&D strategy into clear multi‐year capability and product roadmaps. Bring external innovation, competitive insights, and industry best practices into Haleon.
- Deep R&D Expertise & Thought Partnership: Serve as an SME across discovery, formulation, clinical/consumer science, regulatory workflows, and product lifecycle management. Understand cross‐functional data needs across Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, and Medical. Advise R&D Tech leadership on scientific data strategy, architecture, governance, and AI enablement.
- Product & Portfolio Ownership: Own the full lifecycle of all R&D data and insights products, from strategy to design to delivery to adoption and continuous improvement. Build a transparent, value‐driven roadmap balancing near‐term delivery and long‐term transformation. Oversee prioritization, investment evaluation, and product governance. Ensure scalability, resilience, and interoperability across the enterprise data ecosystem.
- Driving R&D Outcomes with Data & AI: Lead integration of AI/ML and agentic intelligence into scientific and technical workflows. Identify high‐value AI use cases to enhance decision‐making and accelerate innovation. Ensure responsible, ethical, and compliant AI tailored to regulated scientific environments. Embed AI solutions into operational R&D processes.
- Cross-Functional Influence and Collaboration: Act as the connective leader across CDO, R&D Tech, Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Regulatory. Drive enterprise alignment on data standards, metadata, ontology, and integration patterns. Influence senior stakeholders to adopt and invest in R&D data and AI strategies.
- Delivery Leadership & Operational Excellence: Lead cross‐functional teams across data science, engineering, architecture, and analytics. Ensure execution in alignment with enterprise data and AI technical strategy. Oversee central support operations for all R&D data and insights products. Resolve data quality, governance, and interoperability issues impacting value realization. Promote agile delivery, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications and skills
Required: Extensive experience in R&D, digital, data/AI product leadership, or scientific data roles. Deep SME knowledge of R&D workflows and scientific data ecosystems. Proven leadership of data/AI product portfolios in global matrixed organizations. Strong strategic thinking, communication, and senior‐level influencing skills. Ability to translate strategy into clear, actionable delivery plans.
Preferred: Experience in consumer health, CPG, healthcare, or life sciences. Expertise in data architecture, ontologies, metadata, and AI/ML platforms. Knowledge of GenAI and agentic AI within scientific or technical domains.
R&D Data & AI Strategy & Delivery Lead employer: Haleon
At Haleon, we pride ourselves on being a purpose-driven employer that champions everyday health through innovation and collaboration. Our London-based team thrives in an agile, performance-focused culture that not only values deep human understanding but also offers extensive opportunities for professional growth and development within the dynamic field of R&D. Join us to be part of a world-class consumer company where your contributions will directly impact the health of millions, all while working alongside passionate professionals in a supportive and inspiring environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Data & AI Strategy & Delivery Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly gets their mission and values.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills align with their needs. Keep it concise and impactful – you want to leave them wanting more!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you note can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s just good manners!
We think you need these skills to ace R&D Data & AI Strategy & Delivery Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Data & AI Delivery Lead. Highlight your experience in R&D and data ecosystems, and don’t forget to showcase any leadership roles you've had in similar projects.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about R&D and how your skills align with our mission at Haleon. Be specific about how you can contribute to our vision for data and AI.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, focus on quantifiable achievements. Did you lead a project that improved efficiency or drove innovation? Numbers speak volumes, so let us see the impact you’ve made!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Haleon
✨Know Your R&D Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of R&D processes and scientific data ecosystems. Familiarise yourself with Haleon's portfolio and how data and AI can enhance their product lifecycle. This will show that you're not just interested in the role, but that you understand the industry and its challenges.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss how you would define and champion a strategic vision for R&D data and AI products. Think about examples from your past experience where you've successfully translated strategy into actionable plans. This will demonstrate your ability to think critically and lead effectively.
✨Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration
Be ready to talk about your experience working across different teams, such as Marketing, Supply Chain, and Quality. Share specific examples of how you've influenced stakeholders and driven alignment on data standards. This will illustrate your ability to be a connective leader within an organisation.
✨Prepare for Ethical AI Discussions
Given the focus on responsible and ethical AI, think about how you would approach integrating AI solutions into R&D processes. Be prepared to discuss high-value AI use cases and how you would ensure compliance in regulated environments. This will show that you’re not only innovative but also mindful of the implications of AI in science.
