Chief Scientist

Chief Scientist, Modern Drug Discovery

Lead the next era of AI-enabled design, translational biology and integrated discovery excellence

This is a high-impact scientific leadership role for a senior discovery leader who can combine deep biological and pharmacological expertise with a bold vision for AI-enabled, data-rich and translationally confident drug discovery.

The opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Scientist, Drug Discovery to shape and execute a living scientific strategy for a fast-evolving discovery services business. The role is designed for a leader who can anticipate the changing CRO and biopharma landscape, build the platforms and skills clients will need next, and turn scientific vision into commercially relevant innovation. The successful candidate will be a visible scientific ambassador, a trusted client partner and an enterprise leader who raises the quality, relevance and impact of discovery programmes.

Role mission

Set the scientific vision

Modernise discovery workflows

Translate science into client impact

Develop and maintain a dynamic discovery strategy aligned to future client needs, scientific trends, and the evolving services market.

Identify, integrate, and commercialize emerging technologies across AI-enabled design, computational science, automation, and translational biology.

Strengthen high-quality client engagement, proposal support, strategic partnerships, and scientific differentiation in the market.

What you will lead

• Creation and execution of a living scientific strategy that anticipates future biopharma client needs and keeps the organization at the forefront of high-value discovery services.

• Integration of new and emerging technologies into discovery workflows, with a particular focus on AI-enabled design, predictive modelling, automation, computational sciences, and translational Novel Approach Methodology (NAM) platforms.

• Scientific oversight and constructive challenge across a broad discovery portfolio, ensuring rigor, best practice, decision quality and translational relevance.

• Senior scientific input into proposals, client presentations and strategic partnerships, acting as a senior reviewer and subject matter expert for high-value opportunities.

• External representation with clients, academic collaborators, technology innovators, potential partners and selected M&A or capability-building opportunities.

• Leadership and mentoring of global expert teams across chemistry, biology, pharmacology, translational sciences, computational sciences and related disciplines.

• A culture of scientific curiosity, continuous learning, integrity, and innovation that can be translated into clear client value.

The ideal candidate

You will bring a PhD or DPhil in a relevant life science discipline and substantial senior leadership experience in biotech, pharma R&D or a CRO environment. You will have a proven track record of advancing discovery programs from concept through candidate nomination, combined with broad credibility across therapeutic areas, modalities and integrated discovery science. Most importantly, you will be able to connect scientific depth with commercial judgement, client relevance, and a compelling vision for the future of drug discovery.

Critical leadership skill sets

Skill set

What great looks like

Modern discovery leadership

Translates a bold scientific vision into actionable plans, investment choices, capability roadmaps and delivery discipline across a multidisciplinary organization.

AI-enabled design and computational fluency

Champions AI, modelling, data-rich design cycles and computational decision-making as embedded parts of discovery rather than standalone innovation projects.

Translational biology depth

Connects disease biology, biomarkers, assay strategy, pharmacology and human relevance to improve confidence in candidate selection and clinical translation. High focus on advanced cell models to de-risk.

Client-facing authority

Operates as a senior scientific ambassador who can engage biopharma leaders, challenge constructively and help position the business as a partner of choice.

Enterprise influence

Builds alignment across scientific, operational, commercial and external stakeholders, while inspiring expert teams across functions and geographies.

Why this role matters

Drug discovery is entering a new era. The organizations that will lead are those that combine scientific excellence with AI-enabled design, automation, translational confidence, and integrated multidisciplinary execution. This role offers the opportunity to shape that future by building the strategy, platforms, partnerships and leadership culture needed to deliver better discovery outcomes for clients and ultimately for patients.

If you are a recognized scientific leader who wants to transform how medicines are discovered, this is an opportunity to define the future of modern discovery services from the inside out.