Chief Technology Officer - Pharma

Vanrath; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Shape technology strategy

Senior leadership role

AI & regulatory tech focus

Career development in international Q&

Job summary

Vanrath in Belfast is seeking a Chief Technology Officer to define and drive the technology strategy across software platforms, data, and AI-enabled solutions within a regulated life sciences context.

You will lead architecture, cloud infrastructure, and engineering teams, partner with product and operations, ensure governance and data integrity, and shape a scalable, secure road map that supports growth and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a CTO-level leadership role.
• Strong background in software engineering and architecture.
• Experience defining and executing technology roadmaps to support growth.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing engineering teams.
• Knowledge of cloud technologies, DevOps, and modern software development practices.
• Experience with AI, automation, and data platforms in regulated environments.
• Understanding of cybersecurity, data protection, governance and risk.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the organisation's technology strategy, aligning investments with business objectives.
• Lead the development of digital platforms, regulatory tech and AI-enabled products.
• Establish and maintain scalable, secure architecture and reliable systems.
• Oversee software engineering, design standards, testing, deployment and continuous improvement.
• Drive adoption of AI, automation and data-driven technologies to improve workflows.
• Ensure governance, data integrity, information security and auditability.
• Collaborate with product, regulatory, clinical and operational teams to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Lead and mentor engineering teams, fostering collaboration, accountability and innovation.
• Establish engineering practices across Agile, CI/CD, QA, monitoring and documentation.
• Evaluate technologies and third-party solutions; decide on build vs buy.
• Manage technical risk, resilience, business continuity and compliance needs.
• Communicate strategy, progress, investment priorities and risks to senior stakeholders.

Job description

Job Description

My client, a growing life sciences and regulatory technology business, is hiring a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to join its leadership team based in Belfast.

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience
• Opportunity to shape and lead technology strategy
• Senior leadership position with significant influence over product direction
• Opportunity to drive innovation across AI, software engineering and regulatory technology
• Career development within a growing, internationally focused business

My client operates at the intersection of precision medicine, clinical research, laboratory services and regulatory technology. Working with pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations, the business supports complex diagnostic clinical trials and helps clients navigate global regulatory requirements. With technology playing an increasingly important role in its services, the business is continuing to develop digital products that improve efficiency, visibility and compliance across the clinical trial lifecycle. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced technology leader to influence the future direction of the organisation and deliver technology solutions in a highly specialised, regulated environment.

The Role

As Chief Technology Officer, you will take ownership of the organisation's technology strategy, leading the development of its digital platforms, software engineering capabilities and AI-enabled solutions. You will work closely with the executive team, product stakeholders and technical specialists to ensure technology supports business growth, operational efficiency and customer needs. You will provide strategic and hands-on leadership across software architecture, product development, cloud infrastructure, data and AI, ensuring that solutions are scalable, secure, reliable and fit for purpose within a regulated environment. Key responsibilities will include:

• Define and deliver the organisation's technology strategy, aligning technical investment and product development with wider business objectives.
• Lead the continued development and evolution of digital platforms, including regulatory technology and AI-enabled products.
• Establish and maintain a scalable technology architecture, ensuring systems are reliable, secure, maintainable and capable of supporting future growth.
• Oversee software engineering, technical design, development standards, testing, deployment and continuous improvement.
• Drive the responsible adoption of AI, automation and data-driven technologies to improve workflows and enhance customer outcomes.
• Ensure technology solutions support appropriate governance, traceability, data integrity, information security and auditability.
• Work closely with product, regulatory, clinical and operational teams to translate complex business requirements into effective technical solutions.
• Lead, develop and mentor engineering and technology teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Establish effective engineering practices across Agile delivery, CI/CD, quality assurance, monitoring and technical documentation.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, platforms and third-party solutions, making informed decisions on technology investment and build-versus-buy approaches.
• Manage technical risk, system resilience, business continuity and technology-related compliance requirements.
• Communicate technology strategy, delivery progress, investment priorities and technical risks to senior stakeholders and the executive team.

The Person

The successful candidate will be an experienced technology leader with a strong background in software engineering, digital product development and technology strategy. You will be comfortable operating at both strategic and technical levels, with the ability to lead teams, influence senior stakeholders and turn business objectives into practical technology roadmaps.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience in a CTO, VP of Engineering, Head of Technology, Director of Engineering or equivalent senior technology leadership position.
• A strong background in software engineering, software architecture and the delivery of complex digital products or platforms.
• Experience defining and executing technology roadmaps that support business growth, product innovation and operational improvement.
• Demonstrable experience leading and developing high-performing engineering or technology teams.
• Strong knowledge of modern software development practices, cloud technologies, scalable architectures and DevOps principles.
• Experience with AI, automation, data platforms or AI-enabled product development, with an understanding of the importance of responsible implementation.
• A strong understanding of cybersecurity, data protection, software quality, governance and technology risk.
• Experience working closely with product, commercial and operational stakeholders to prioritise investment and deliver measurable business value.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• A pragmatic, commercially minded approach, balancing innovation and delivery with cost, quality, risk and long-term maintainability.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within life sciences, healthcare technology, pharmaceutical, medical device, clinical research or another regulated industry.
• Experience developing regulatory technology, SaaS platforms, AI-powered applications or data-intensive digital products.
• Knowledge of regulated software development, audit trails, data integrity and validation requirements.
• Experience scaling technology teams, modernising legacy platforms or leading significant digital transformation programmes.
• Experience establishing technology governance, engineering standards and product delivery frameworks within a growing organisation.

Any offer of employment may be subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including references and right-to-work verification, where applicable.