Data & AI Consultant - R&D

Job Role: Data & AI Consultant - R&D
Location: London/Manchester/Edinburgh
Career Level: Consultant
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services in strategy and consulting, interactive, technology and operations, with digital capabilities across all of these services. With our thought leadership and culture of innovation, we apply industry expertise, diverse skill sets and next-generation technology to each business challenge.
We believe in inclusion and diversity and supporting the whole person. Our core values comprise of Stewardship, Best People, Client Value Creation, One Global Network, Respect for the Individual and Integrity. Year after year, Accenture is recognized worldwide not just for business performance but for inclusion and diversity too.
“Across the globe, one thing is universally true of the people of Accenture: We care deeply about what we do and the impact we have with our clients and with the communities in which we work and live. It is personal to all of us.” – Julie Sweet, Accenture CEO

Our Team

The Life Sciences industry is experiencing a period of rapid transformation. Advances in AI, data science, and digital platforms are fundamentally reshaping how organisations discover, develop, and bring therapies to patients. At Accenture, we sit at the heart of this evolution-partnering with the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to reimagine R&D for a more predictive, efficient, and patient-focused future.

Our Data & AI R&D team within the Strategy & Consulting practice is driving this change-combining deep scientific and clinical knowledge with cutting-edge technology and analytics to solve some of the industry’s most complex problems. Whether optimising protocol design, enabling digital twins of clinical trials, or supporting go-to-market strategy for AI tools, we help clients accelerate development timelines, reduce risk, and unlock better outcomes for patients.

As we expand our London-based team, we’re looking for exceptional individuals who are excited to work at the intersection of life sciences, technology, and strategy-those who want to make real impact and shape the next generation of clinical innovation.

In Our Team, You Will Gain Exposure To:

• The most strategic challenges in Life Sciences R&D, from improving trial recruitment and feasibility to optimizing global portfolio strategy

• Industry-leading AI platforms - such as our Faculty partnership- that simulate clinical trial scenarios and guide complex R&D choices

• Hands-on project delivery for top-10 pharma clients, shaping how they apply data, analytics, and innovation across the product development lifecycle

• A global network of multidisciplinary experts in AI, clinical development, regulatory strategy, and digital health

• Continuous learning and growth through Accenture’s world-class training programs, mentorship, and access to cutting-edge tools and knowledge

• A collaborative, purpose-driven culture that encourages bold thinking, values diverse perspectives, and celebrates shared success

As a Data & AI R&D Consultant (Life Sciences), You Will:

• Deliver client-facing work that applies data and AI solutions to improve drug development and clinical trial performance

• Leverage your understanding of clinical development, either from within pharma or consulting, to inform strategic problem-solving and solution design

• Contribute to projects involving trial scenario simulations, protocol optimization, recruitment forecasting, and digital twin models

• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams - data scientists, technologists, and client stakeholders - to co-create impact

• Translate complex data and analytics into actionable insights and recommendations for client decision-makers

• Contribute to internal capability development, thought leadership, and innovation initiatives within the R&D team and wider Life Sciences practice

We are looking for experience in the following skills:

• Relevant work experience in data science, machine learning, and business analytics

• Practical experience in coding languages eg. Python, R, Scala, etc.; (Python preferred)

• Proficiency in database technologies eg. SQL, ETL, No-SQL, DW, and Big Data technologies e.g. pySpark, Hive, etc.

• Experienced working with structured and also unstructured data eg. Text, PDFs, jpgs, call recordings, video, etc.

• Knowledge of machine learning modelling techniques and how to fine-tune those models eg. XGBoost, Deep Neural Networks, Transformers, Markov chains, etc.

• Experience using specialized machine learning libraries e.g. Fastai, Keras, Tensorflow, pytorch, sci-kit learn, huggingface, etc.

• Must demonstrate the capacity of reading, understanding and implementing new techniques in the field of machine learning as they emerge.

• Experience of using Cloud technologies eg. AWS, GCP or Azure.

• Specialised visualisation techniques eg. D3.js, ggplot etc.

• Strong verbal/written communication & data presentation skills

• Awareness of Large Language Models (LLMs) and a strong enthusiasm for continuous learning and staying updated with the latest advancements in the field 

Set yourself apart:

• Willingness and ability to learn quickly and apply creative thinking to finding great solutions and drive their implementation 

• Ability to successfully build relationships with clients and stakeholders

• Mastery of problem solving and solutioning

• Proven history and background in statistics/mathematics/macroeconomics

What’s In It For You
At Accenture in addition to a competitive basic salary, you will also have an extensive benefits package which includes 30 days’ vacation per year, gym subsidy, private medical insurance and 3 extra days leave per year for charitable work of your choice!

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About Accenture

We work with one shared purpose: to deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity. Every day, more than 775,000 of us help our stakeholders continuously reinvent. Together, we drive positive change and deliver value to our clients, partners, shareholders, communities, and each other.We believe that delivering value requires innovation, and innovation thrives in an inclusive and diverse environment. We actively foster a workplace free from bias, where everyone feels a sense of belonging and is respected and empowered to do their best work.At Accenture, we see well-being holistically, supporting our people’s physical, mental, and financial health. We also provide opportunities to keep skills relevant through certifications, learning, and diverse work experiences. We’re proud to be consistently recognized as one of the World’s Best Workplaces™.Join Accenture to work at the heart of change.

Visit us at www.accenture.com 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement     

All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, colour, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by applicable law.                                                          
Job candidates will not be obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest as part of the hiring process.