Chief Technology Officer

Richmond Pharmacology; Greater London; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading Contract Research Organisation in the United Kingdom is seeking a Chief Technology Officer to drive the technology and data strategy, ensuring operational efficiency and compliance with regulatory standards. The role requires 10+ years of progressive technical experience with a strong focus on cloud services, cybersecurity, and software engineering. The ideal candidate will lead a team and innovate to support the company's mission to advance medical research. Compensation includes competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Private Medical

Private Dental

Pension

25 days Annual leave plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive technical experience, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience managing IT Operations, Support, and Software Engineering teams.
• Knowledge in Data Governance and/or Data Architecture is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of a technology and data strategy.
• Oversee IT services and infrastructure, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Drive innovation and build scalable infrastructure aligned with business goals.

Skills

Technology strategy

Cloud services

Cybersecurity

Software engineering

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

C#

.NET

Docker

Kubernetes

MSSQL

Job description

Chief Technology Officer

Location: London Bridge (4 days on-site)

Term: Permanent, Full-time

Salary: Competitive + Benefits (Private Medical, Private Dental, Pension, 25 days Annual leave plus bank holidays & Many more)

Richmond Pharmacology is a leading Contract Research Organisation (CRO) specialising in early-phase clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we strive to advance medical research and contribute to the development of life-changing therapies.

The Role

The main purpose of theChief Technology Officer (CTO)istolead the development and delivery of a progressivetechnologyand data strategy that enables operational efficiency,enhances the company’sreputationandensuresresilienceand compliance.The roleoverseesITservices and infrastructure,including cybersecurity,together with Software Engineering.The rolemustdrive innovation, build scalable infrastructure, and oversee the fullsuite of software,ensuring our technology capabilities align perfectly with our business goals.The role must also ensureall technology platforms and processescomply withregulatory requirements,including GCP, GVP, 21 CFR Part 11, and support audit readiness for MHRA, EMA, and FDA inspections.

This role combines strategic leadership with direct technical oversight.

Main duties and responsibilities

Technology Strategy and Vision

• Define and articulate the long-term technology vision and roadmap that supports the company's targets and competitive positioning.
• Manage the resource allocation across allsoftwareengineering, IT, and infrastructure projects.
• Report monthly to senior leadership onKPIs, risk, and delivery progress.
• Ensure technology enables operational excellence,not operational overhead.
• Embed compliance and validation considerations into all technology decisions,ensuring systems meet regulatory standards and audit requirements.
• Promote and drive executive-level discussions on IT strategy, transformation, and innovation related to the portfolio of services and future state.

Innovation & Risk Management

• Led the digital transformation of the businesses,utilisingnew technologiestomaterially improveproductivityandreduceoperational costs (e.g., by 30%).
• Evaluate and recommendnew technologies(e.g. AI/ML, Cloud services, architecture shifts) to enhanceoperational andproduct performance, andsecurity.
• Share cross-industry benchmarks and best practices to guide decision-making.
• Be the key technical liaison with strategic partners, including sponsors.
• Oversee vendor selection and management,including contractual compliance and periodic audits of technology partners.

Infrastructure and IT Operations

• Oversee all IT infrastructure,including cloud services, network, security, and data management.
• Establish and sponsor CSV/Data Integrity governance, ensuring roles, SOPs, resourcing, and independent QA oversight are in place;ensure systems are fit for intended use and validation evidence ismaintainedand inspection-ready.
• Evaluate, and if necessary,strengthen cybersecurityaligned with GxP, GDPR, and UK data standards.
• Ensure cybersecurity protocols and practices are robust,protecting company data, IP, and customer information.
• Manage the internal IT Support/Help Desk function, ensuring employees have the tools and support needed for productivity.
• Accountablefordisaster recovery and business continuity plans.

Software

• Oversee the selection, validation, and integration of clinical trial systems (EDC, eCOA, CTMS, eTMF, safety systems) into a compliant, scalable ecosystem.
• Ensure all systems meet regulatory requirements (GCP, GVP, GDPR, HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11) and support audit readiness.
• Evaluate legacy softwaretodeterminescalability and long-term security,proposing and implementing risk mitigationsasrequired.
• Drive interoperability and data flow between platforms to enable advanced analytics and AI/ML initiatives.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure contractual and regulatory compliance for all technology partners.
• Define and be accountable forbest practicesinengineering, DevOps, code quality, and testing/QA.
• Applydeep knowledge across diverse technologies, including C#, .NET, Angular, Docker, MSSQL, Kubernetes, Serverless architecture, Microservices, Event Driven Architecture, andAutomated Testing.
• Work closely with thesenior leadersto translate market needs and business requirements into effective, technical solutions.

AI/ML Strategy & Delivery

• Build and execute an AI/ML roadmap that accelerates trial delivery, improves data quality, and enhances decision-making across clinical operations.
• Champion models that improve patient recruitment, site selection, trial forecasting, protocol optimisation, and risk-based monitoring.
• Establish rigorousrisk classification, training data governance, model validation/verification,MLOps pipelines that meet regulatory expectations (MHRA, EMA, FDA) without slowing innovation.
• Lead the digital transformation of Richmond through scalable, compliant, cloud-based platforms.
• Modernise legacy systems and integrate data platforms into a seamless ecosystem.

Data Governance and Architecture

• Own the organisation’s Data Integrity strategy and operating model (policies, training, monitoring, KPI reporting, and CAPA), aligned to MHRA expectations and risk management principles.
• Establish and enforce policies, processes, and standards to ensure data isaccurate, secure, consistent, and usable for the right people.
• Implement global data privacy compliance measures (GDPR, HIPAA, and applicable local regulations) for all systems handling patient and trial data.
• Oversee data governance and architecture to ensure traceability, audit readiness, and end-to-end data integrity.
• Build a robust, secure data platform suitable for real-time analytics, clinical insight generation, and future AI modelling.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's orMaster's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of10+ years of progressive technical experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, preferably in a changing environment.
• Previously managed IT Operations, Support and SoftwareEngineeringteams.
• QualificationorKnowledgeof DataGovernance and/orDataArchitecture - Desirable
• Strongexpertisein technology strategy, enterprise architecture, Cloud,AIand IT governance.

Application

If you are interested in the role, please register your details, including a copy of your CV. Please note, while we try to respond to every candidate, the high volume of applications anticipated may make this impossible and we ask for your patience and understanding.