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- Tasks: Lead IT strategy for R&D, ensuring teams have the tech and data they need.
- Company: Join a pioneering biopharma company focused on drug discovery and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the world of science and technology.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in IT, with experience in biopharma and R&D technologies.
- Other info: Dynamic role with strong career advancement potential.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Director, IT Business Partner – R&D is a senior leadership role responsible for aligning information technology strategy with the needs of the scientific organisation. This role ensures R&D teams have the technology platforms, data infrastructure, and external partnerships required to accelerate drug discovery and innovation.
Acting as a trusted advisor to senior R&D leadership, the role owns the R&D IT roadmap, manages business demand, oversees critical applications and vendors, and ensures strong alignment between technology capabilities, data strategy, and scientific priorities. A solid understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Large Language Model (LLM) technologies is essential, with close collaboration alongside computational and data science teams to enable next-generation research.
Key Responsibilities- Strategic Partnership & Roadmap Development
- Serve as the senior IT partner to R&D leadership, translating scientific objectives into technology and data strategies.
- Own and drive the R&D IT roadmap aligned to discovery, research, and data science priorities.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management
- Build strong relationships with scientific, technical, and business stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities to leverage enterprise IT and data capabilities to support R&D objectives.
- Act as the primary escalation point for R&D IT issues and drive continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with Legal, Procurement, and Compliance to ensure vendor governance, data protection, and risk management standards.
- Technology Planning & Delivery
- Oversee core scientific systems (e.g. ELN, compound registration, analytics platforms, computational environments).
- Partner with research and computational teams to evaluate and adopt emerging technologies.
- Manage the full lifecycle of R&D applications, including upgrades, validation, and retirement.
- Lead IT initiatives from initiation through delivery, ensuring scope, budget, and timeline alignment.
- Vendor & Partner Management
- Manage external software vendors and IT service providers supporting R&D.
- Partner with cloud and data infrastructure providers to ensure adequate computational capacity (e.g. HPC, GPUs, AI platforms).
- Lead vendor selection, contract negotiation, SLAs, renewals, and escalation management.
- Operations, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure reliable operational support including incident management, change control, and user enablement.
- Drive process improvements that streamline scientific workflows and optimise technology usage.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, quality, and data security requirements.
- Maintain policies and procedures supporting consistent R&D IT operations.
- Education
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
- Professional Experience
- 8+ years of IT experience within biopharma or biotech environments.
- Significant exposure to the full R&D lifecycle.
- Proven experience partnering with senior scientific and R&D stakeholders.
- Technical Expertise
- Strong understanding of pharmaceutical R&D practices, regulations, and compliance.
- Experience with R&D technologies such as LIMS, ELN, compound management, data analytics, visualisation tools, and scientific software platforms.
- Demonstrated collaboration with AI, ML, computational chemistry, or data science teams.
- Solid understanding of Linux, HPC environments, security, and containerisation.
- Experience leading Computer Systems Validation (CSV) using risk-based approaches aligned with current regulatory guidance.
- Soft Skills
- Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to influence senior leaders.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across scientific and executive audiences.
- Strong analytical, planning, and project management capabilities.
- Lean and process-improvement mindset.
- Awareness of technology trends within R&D and ability to build strategic technology partnerships.
- Fluent in English; additional languages are advantageous.
Applications should include a CV and cover letter outlining interest and relevant experience for the role.
IT Business Partner (R&D) in City of London employer: Hlx Life Sciences
Contact Detail:
Hlx Life Sciences Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land IT Business Partner (R&D) in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the industry, especially those who work in R&D or IT. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent projects and challenges. This shows you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their R&D goals right from the get-go.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings; be proactive! Use our website to apply directly and keep an eye on new roles that match your skills. The more you put yourself out there, the better your chances!
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your tech-savvy side! Be ready to discuss your experience with AI, ML, and other relevant technologies during interviews. Highlight how you can leverage these tools to support R&D objectives.
We think you need these skills to ace IT Business Partner (R&D) in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of IT Business Partner in R&D. Highlight your experience with AI, ML, and any relevant technologies that align with the job description. We want to see how your background fits into our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your skills can help us accelerate drug discovery. Be genuine and let your personality come through.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills: Since this role involves building relationships with various stakeholders, make sure to highlight your experience in stakeholder engagement. Share specific examples of how you've successfully collaborated with teams in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hlx Life Sciences
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of AI, ML, and LLM technologies. Be ready to discuss how these can be applied in R&D settings. The interviewers will want to see that you can translate scientific objectives into tech strategies.
✨Build Relationships Before the Interview
Try to connect with current employees or stakeholders in the company before your interview. This can give you insights into the company culture and specific challenges they face, which you can reference during your conversation.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask you to solve hypothetical problems related to R&D IT issues. Think about past experiences where you've successfully managed vendor relationships or led IT initiatives, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Demonstrate your ability to think strategically by discussing how you would align IT with R&D goals. Prepare examples of how you've previously influenced senior leaders and driven technology partnerships that benefited the organisation.
