Job Title: Scientific Director, AI/ML Capability Development and Delivery 
Location: Stevenage, London or Edinburgh 
Job Type: Permanent  

At LifeArc, we want to hear from people who are as passionate as we are about making life science life changing that can improve patients’ lives. 

A bit about the role: 

LifeArc’s science organisation has undergone significant transformational change over the past two years, including the formation of a new Data Sciences department that uses and exploits data, informatics and computational methods to deliver beneficial impact for patients. We achieve this by working closely with LifeArc’s Translational Challenges, our laboratory-based science platforms and multiple external collaborators.  

As part of LifeArc’s investment in Data Sciences we are now expanding significantly our capabilities in clinical and healthcare data, with the formation of a Platform for Clinical Data Sciences. A critical element of this Platform will be the use of machine learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to deliver positive impact in early detection, diagnosis, progression, patient stratification, and management of disease and to contribute to the development of current and future treatments.  

We are seeking an experienced scientific leader with deep expertise in ML/AI who shares our ambition to positively impact patients’ lives through the use of novel digital approaches. This is a key leadership role within the Data Sciences department and its Platform for Clinical Data Sciences, across LifeArc and with external stakeholders.  

The role is accountable for leading, informing and influencing LifeArc’s future direction in the integration of AI/ML solutions and partnerships into our work. This will involve making impactful decisions based on your experience, using your leadership skills to deliver effective line and project management, driving discussions with external partners, and constructively collaborating with your colleagues in Data Sciences and across the wider organisation around joint objectives.   

Responsibilities: 

• Leading on the use of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence approaches to deliver patient impact within LifeArc. 
• Combines deep technical expertise with excellent understanding of organisational strategy (e.g. Translational Challenges, strategic platforms, key external collaborations) to deliver impact and business benefit across LifeArc 
• Identifies new opportunities in the use of ML/AI methods that have the potential to impact LifeArc goals; proactively explores these with relevant colleagues/groups, brings forwards recommendations to Head of Data Sciences, LifeArc Scientific leadership and Translational Challenge heads. 
• Inform data infrastructure development required for development and deployment of AI/ML models together with other colleagues from Data Sciences. 
• Line management, resourcing decisions, recruitment and career development responsibilities for a team of professionals. 
• Represents LifeArc with external collaborators and other organisations; proactively identifies business needs and brings forward solutions/recommendations. 
• Works closely with other groups at LifeArc and multiple external partners, often at a senior level, to monitor progress, identify emerging needs, solve problems. 
• Keeps up to date on new developments in the field of clinical data, ML and AI; identifies where these may provide a key strategic advantage and brings forward proposals and recommendations on course of action. 
• Some budgetary responsibility commensurate with the seniority of the role. 

 
Education & experience required:  

• Proven practical experience using machine learning, AI, statistics post-qualification in a commercial, academic or large not-for-profit life sciences setting relevant to drugs/therapeutics/diagnostics/digital health.  
• Deep knowledge of building and deploying ML/AI models on life sciences data, including data infrastructure and data engineering requirements 
• Expertise in applying and deploying some or all of these categories on life sciences data: classical ML, Deep Learning, LLMs, NLP 
• Practical knowledge of some or all of: electronic health records, large research datasets, imaging data, statistics  
• Evidence of sustained impact on project progression 
• Experience working within a complex matrix environment 
• Line management experience 
• Track record of publications/patents (including software/databases) that demonstrate creation of novel solutions to complex problems. 
• Track record of proposing new/innovative approaches and projects 
• Effective communication skills, both presentation and written 

About us: 

At LifeArc, our ambition is to make life science life changing. We do this by advancing scientific discoveries beyond the lab, faster, so that they can shape the next generation of diagnostics, treatments, and cures.  

Working at the cutting edge of translational science and as the early-stage translation specialists, we progress scientific discoveries on their journey to becoming a medicine, diagnostic or intervention that can improve patients’ lives. Our work begins by seeking out innovative science, then helping to develop this to a point where there is a clinical and commercial pathway for others to invest the time and money to take it further forward.  

What we can offer you: 

Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays.  

Join us, and you’ll have the scope to be creative and take measured risks. You’ll be rewarded for your curiosity, for working as one team, and for learning fast. And you’ll have everything you need to be your best every day.  

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, for example, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At LifeArc we are dedicated in building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so whatever your background or lived experience, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our top priority is finding the best candidate, and you may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.  

We all have potential. At LifeArc, you’ll discover what you can really do with it. 

Agencies: We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.