Associate Director Medicinal Chemistry

ABOUT RELATION Relation is a sector defining TechBio company developing transformational medicines, with technology at our core. Our ambition is to understand human biology in unprecedented ways, discovering therapies to treat some of life’s most devastating diseases. We leverage single-cell multi-omics from patient tissue, functional assays, and machine learning to drive disease understanding, from cause to cure. We are scaling rapidly and building a team of exceptional individuals to push the boundaries of drug discovery. You will work in highly interdisciplinary teams where biology, computation, and engineering come together to solve complex problems that have not been solved before. Our state-of-the-art wet and dry labs in the heart of London are designed to accelerate this integration and translate insight into impact. We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. Relation is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, or age. By joining Relation, you will help define how medicines are discovered and deliver meaningful impact for patients. THE OPPORTUNITY Relation is offering an outstanding opportunity for an Associate Director, Data Engineering, to lead our recently established Data Platform team. As Relation grows its scientific and machine learning capabilities, we are at an inflection point and are scaling our data processing infrastructure to meet the needs of our ambitious scientific research agenda. Our Data Platform as a key enablement layer at the heart of our platform which integrates state-of-the art wet and dry labs to deliver novel biological insight and real world impact. DAY TO DAY, YOU WILL * Define and evolve Relation’s unified data platform strategy, in partnership with colleagues across Labs, Engineering, Data Science and Machine Learning * Treat the data platform as a product, ensuring it reliably meets the needs of Relation’s engineers and scientists * Lead, hire, and develop a high-performing team of Data Engineers * Manage the end-to-end data flow from lab instruments to our information processing systems * Optimize and oversee scientific compute pipelines using Nextflow and Seqera Platform to ensure scalability and reproducibility * Enforce data governance standards and ensure all information assets—spanning internal wet-lab data, external R&D sources, derived data and ML artefacts—are FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) with automated lineage and provenance * Drive operational excellence through robust CI/CD, testing frameworks for ETLs, and production-grade SDKs * Own Relation’s data infrastructure security posture PROFESSIONALLY, YOU WILL HAVE * A background in bioinformatics or data engineering with significant experience working in high-performing, interdisciplinary technical teams. * Familiarity with modern data orchestration and infrastructure tools, including cloud systems (AWS/GCP/Azure), Kubernetes, and orchestration frameworks such as Nextflow and Dagster. * Advanced programming skills in at least one of Python or Rust, with a track record of shipping scalable, well-tested code in a data-intensive or scientific research environment. * Strong cross-functional coordination skills with a proven ability to bridge the gap between the wet lab, computational science requirements, and core engineering infrastructure. * A good understanding of data governance frameworks and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles * Knowledge of software engineering best practices and Data/Platform as a product thinking * Bonus experience: Exposure to relevant compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, or GDPR in a research or clinical biotech context. PERSONALLY, YOU: * Are comfortable working in a matrixed environment, balancing multiple stakeholders and contributing effectively across teams. * Take ownership of your work, proactively seek opportunities to contribute, and enable others to do their best work. * Communicate openly and directly, give and receive feedback constructively, and handle challenging conversations with respect. * Actively seek out diverse perspectives, build strong working relationships, and contribute to shared goals across teams. * Embrace challenges with openness and resilience, set high standards for yourself, and strive to deliver meaningful outcomes. WORKING STYLE & CULTURE AT RELATION At Relation, we operate in a matrixed, interdisciplinary environment, where impact is driven through collaboration across scientific, technical, and operational domains. We collaborate, and you will partner with colleagues across multiple teams and projects, contributing your expertise while aligning to shared company priorities. We work together and win together! The patient is waiting! RECRUITMENT AGENCIES Please note that Relation does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Resumes should not be forwarded to our job aliases or employees. Relation will not be liable for any fees associated with unsolicited CVs. Relation is a committed equal opportunities employer.

About WPP Media WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth.  WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working. For more information, visit wppmedia.com [wppmedia.com].   3132 - Associate Director, Commerce UK About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand  EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy  built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve.   Summary and Impact  The Role:  We are seeking an experienced Commerce Associate Director to join the growing community in WPP Media's Commerce Practice. This is a senior leadership role within the practice, responsible for shaping commerce strategy, not just retail media execution, for a portfolio of leading global and regional brands across sectors including technology, FMCG, retail, and beauty.  You will act as a trusted commerce advisor to clients, connecting media investment to the broader path-to-purchase and helping shape multi-year commerce roadmaps.  The 3 Best Things About the Job:  1. The opportunity to shape genuine commerce strategy, not just retail media execution, across a diverse portfolio of well-known brands with a shared desire for innovation and growth.  1. Working within a truly collaborative agency model with great opportunities for continued cross-media and performance marketing learning.  1. A talented team supporting each other in implementing best-in-class, award-winning campaigns, and having fun along the way.    Responsibilities:  Strategic Leadership & Client Growth  * Act as the senior strategic lead for key client accounts, translating complex business objectives into high-impact commerce media strategies across Amazon Sponsored Ads, Amazon DSP, CitrusAd, Criteo, Kevel, and other relevant retail media platforms.  * Lead senior client business reviews, providing a clear narrative on the holistic impact of media investment.  * Act as a trusted advisor to clients, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and expanded scope across the commerce ecosystem.  Campaign Excellence & Innovation  * Oversee the development and execution of performance-driven media plans, ensuring the highest standards of QA, pacing, and optimisation across your portfolio of accounts.  * Develop and champion test-and-learn roadmaps to drive innovation in targeting, bidding strategies, and emerging retail media formats.  * Collaborate closely with wider internal teams to ensure a joined-up, full-funnel approach to media across all client accounts.  Team Leadership & Practice Evolution  * Line manage, mentor, and develop a team of and activation specialists, setting the standard for quality, delivery, and professional growth.  * Take ultimate responsibility for the quality of work delivered by your team, ensuring consistency and excellence across all accounts.  * Proactively contribute to the evolution of best practice within the wider eCommerce Practice, sharing successes and learnings across the team.  * Manage scope, forecasting, budgets, and profitability across your portfolio of accounts, and drive process automation through the adoption of new technology and efficient ways of working.  Skills and Experience  At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:  * Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.  * Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.  * Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.    About you  * A proven media agency background, with significant senior experience in Commerce and retail media strategy or a transferable media channel.  * Strong hands-on experience running campaigns in Amazon Sponsored Ads and DSP.  * Solid working knowledge of CitrusAd and Criteo (onsite and offsite retail media).  * Confidence managing senior client stakeholders, simplifying complex performance results into clear, actionable recommendations.  * A genuine passion for coaching and building capability within your team.  * Experience of Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) or retailer clean room analytics would be a nice to have but is not required.  * Exposure to wider commerce channels (e.g. Tesco Media or similar) is advantageous.    Life at WPP Media & Benefits  Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.    WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.    We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.  Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location  Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy] for more information on how we process the information you provide.    #LI-Promoted    Please read our Privacy Notice [https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy#:~:text=WPP%20Media%20Privacy%20Notice%20for%20Recruitment] for more information on how we process the information you provide.