Associate Director Computational Biology

We are partnering with a leading global biopharmaceutical organisation undergoing significant investment and expansion within its Computational Biology unit.

This is an opportunity to join a highly visible function positioned at the heart of R&D strategy, where computational biology is a recognised driver of portfolio decisions and scientific innovation. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping how advanced computational approaches are applied across discovery and translational research programmes while leading a growing team of scientists to support an industry-leading cardiometabolism pipeline.

The Opportunity

As an Associate Director, you will:

• Directly lead and develop a team of up to 8 Computational Biologists, with responsibility for mentoring, development, prioritisation and scientific delivery
• Partner closely with Therapeutic Area and Discovery Biology leaders to support portfolio strategy and decision-making across a hugely successful cardiometabolism pipeline
• Drive computational approaches to target identification, target validation and biomarker discovery to address complex biological questions.
• Translate complex computational findings into clear, actionable recommendations for experimental scientists and R&D stakeholders
• Champion the integration of multi-modal biological datasets, including omics, genetics and emerging data sources
• Influence strategic project and portfolio decisions by identifying where computational evidence can strengthen, challenge or redirect biological hypotheses
• Represent Computational Biology in cross-functional and senior leadership forums, sitting N-3 from the board
• Contribute to the scientific direction of Computational Biology and the adoption of emerging methods and technologies

What We're Looking For

• PhD in Computational Biology, Genetics, Systems Biology or a related discipline
• Significant post-PhD experience applying computational biology within pharmaceutical, biotechnology or related life sciences environments
• Proven direct line management experience leading scientific teams (3+ years)
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical R&D, drug discovery and/or translational research
• Experience working across multidisciplinary environments, partnering with biology, genetics, data science and technology teams
• Demonstrated ability to influence scientific strategy and translate computational insights into meaningful business and research decisions
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Join a rapidly growing Computational Biology organisation with strong executive sponsorship
• Shape strategy rather than simply execute it
• Lead high-impact scientific programmes with direct portfolio relevance
• Work in a collaborative environment focused on long-term innovation, with genuine influence over how computational biology is used across discovery
• Take on a visible scientific leadership position within a major pharmaceutical R&D environment
• Access genuine long-term career progression opportunities as the organisation continues to expand

If you are an experienced Computational Biology leader looking to combine people leadership, scientific impact and strategic influence, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Hattie Davies at Haybury.