Director of Clinical Operations

Director of Clinical Operations London About Relation Relation is an end-to-end biotech 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 directly from patient tissue, functional assays, and machine learning to drive disease understanding — from cause to cure. We are rapidly scaling our technology and discovery teams, offering a unique opportunity to join one of the most innovative TechBio companies. Our state-of-the-art wet and dry laboratories, located in the heart of London, provide an exceptional environment to foster interdisciplinarity and turn groundbreaking ideas into impactful therapies for patients. We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. Relation is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, or age. The Opportunity We are seeking a Director / Senior Director of Clinical Operations to lead our clinical observational studies and prepare for the transition of programmes into the clinic. This is a pivotal role combining hands-on responsibility for study delivery with leadership of a growing clinical operations function. The successful candidate will bring experience across both small biotech and large pharma, with a proven track record in early-phase clinical studies (through Phase 2b) and, ideally, contributions to filings. They will be comfortable rolling up their sleeves to drive execution while also building and leading the clinical operations team. At present, Relation has one Clinical Research Assistant (CRA), who will report directly into this role. Key Responsibilities Lead planning and execution of observational studies, ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and data integrity Contribute directly to study operations (site engagement, vendor oversight, trial set-up and management) Oversee design and operational planning for early-phase interventional studies (first-in-human through Phase 2b) Build and manage clinical operations processes, systems, and vendors to support scale-up Collaborate closely with colleagues in clinical development, biometrics, regulatory, and medical affairs Develop and manage budgets, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies Ensure readiness for regulatory interactions and submissions Qualifications & Experience 10+ years’ experience in clinical operations across small biotech and large pharma Strong track record in leading early-phase studies through Phase 2b; experience contributing to filings desirable Hands-on operational expertise in both observational and interventional studies Experience managing and developing junior team members (e.g. CRA) Strong vendor management expertise Deep knowledge of ICH-GCP, regulatory requirements, and clinical trial governance Excellent leadership, collaboration, and communication skills What We Offer Opportunity to play a pivotal role in bringing Relation’s pipeline into the clinic A balance of hands-on clinical operations execution and leadership of a growing team (currently including one CRA) A collaborative, interdisciplinary environment at the interface of science, technology, and medicine Competitive compensation and benefits Personally, you are Inclusive leader and team player Clear communicator Driven by impact Humble and hungry to learn Motivated and curious Passionate about making a difference in patients’ lives Join us in this exciting role , where your contributions will directly impact advancing our understanding of genetics and disease risk, supporting our mission to deliver transformative medicines to patients. Together, we’re not just conducting research — we’re setting new standards in the fields of ML and genetics. The patient is waiting Relation is a committed equal opportunities employer. 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.