Partner – Clinical Development, Data & AI Transformation
Location: UK
Sector: Life Sciences / Pharmaceutical R&D
Type: Permanent
Overview
We are supporting a consulting-led organisation seeking a Partner-level leader to help grow and deliver work across Clinical Development transformation, with a particular focus on clinical data, AI-enabled transformation, and adjacent regulatory process modernisation.
This role sits at the intersection of business development, strategic advisory, and hands-on transformation delivery. The successful individual will be expected to build senior client relationships, shape consulting opportunities, lead complex programmes, and bring specialist credibility in how modern data, analytics, automation, and AI can be applied across pharma R&D clinical development.
This is not a pure seller role and not a pure delivery role. The expectation is a sell-and-deliver leader with enough depth to be credible in front of senior client stakeholders and enough pragmatism to stay close to execution.
Key responsibilities
- Lead growth of consulting and transformation work across clinical development, clinical operations, and clinical data
- Shape client conversations around data-led and AI-enabled transformation in pharma R&D
- Originate, qualify, and convert opportunities with senior client stakeholders across Life Sciences
- Build and lead strategic relationships with decision-makers in clinical development, R&D technology, clinical operations, data, and digital functions
- Define transformation roadmaps, business cases, operating models, and implementation approaches
- Lead consulting teams through diagnostics, solution design, mobilisation, and delivery
- Sponsor or directly lead programmes spanning areas such as:
- clinical data transformation
- RBQM / trial analytics / study oversight modernisation
- CDMS / EDC / CTMS / eTMF transformation
- AI-enabled workflow improvement in clinical development
- automation of data, review, reporting, and documentation processes
- adjacent regulatory process modernisation where relevant
- Work closely with product, engineering, data, and domain SMEs to translate client needs into deliverable solutions
- Contribute to proposition development, thought leadership, and go-to-market strategy in clinical and R&D transformation
- Mentor and develop senior consulting talent within the practice
What they are looking for
- Strong consulting background with a track record of winning and delivering complex work in Life Sciences
- Deep expertise in pharma R&D clinical development, rather than healthcare delivery or MedTech
- Proven experience across one or more of:
- clinical data transformation
- clinical operations transformation
- biometrics / data management modernisation
- trial technology / clinical systems transformation
- AI / analytics / automation in clinical development
- regulatory process transformation adjacent to clinical development
- Ability to operate credibly at C-suite / VP / senior director level
- Strong commercial track record in business development, solution shaping, and account growth
- Practical understanding of how data, AI, automation, and analytics can be applied in regulated pharma environments
- Ability to lead both strategic advisory work and execution-focused transformation
- Experience working cross-functionally with clinical, regulatory, technology, product, and data stakeholders
Preferred background
- Partner / Director / Principal-level experience in a consulting, advisory, or transformation business
- Experience with clinical development ecosystems and platforms such as:
- EDC / CDMS
- CTMS
- eTMF
- RBQM / trial analytics
- data standards / coding / acquisition
- related R&D technology environments
- Exposure to AI-enabled use cases in clinical development, such as:
- clinical data review
- workflow automation
- risk identification
- site/study analytics
- intelligent documentation / reporting
- decision support
- Familiarity with regulatory expectations, data governance, inspection readiness, and controlled change in GxP-regulated environments
- Existing network across pharma R&D, biotech, and clinical transformation buyers
Ideal profile
- Consulting-first, but with real domain depth
- Commercially credible, but not overly detached from delivery
- Strong in clinical development transformation, not just general data strategy
- Confident discussing AI and automation, but grounded in practical use cases
- Comfortable leading senior stakeholders while also guiding teams through execution
- Able to build a market proposition as well as deliver client impact
Example candidate profile
A strong fit might come from a background such as:
- Partner / Principal in Life Sciences consulting with a focus on clinical development transformation
- Senior leader from a clinical data / operations transformation practice with consulting and commercial exposure
- R&D technology transformation leader with strong clinical development credibility and a modern data / AI lens