Director, Automation Infrastructure

GlaxoSmithKline; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharma company is seeking a Director of Automation Infrastructure to architect and execute an innovative automation strategy. The role involves leading cross-functional teams, driving the creation of lab-in-a-loop systems, and integrating automation platforms to enhance research productivity. Candidates should have extensive experience in automation infrastructure, strong leadership skills, and a background in Life Sciences or Engineering. GSK offers a commitment to an agile working culture and a focus on patient impact.

Benefits

Agile working culture

Impact on global health

Diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in automation infrastructure with leadership roles.
• Proven record of success in lab-in-a-loop systems delivery.
• Strong understanding of automation technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire global, cross-functional teams.
• Build partnerships to deploy lab automation for key business priorities.
• Deliver reliable and secure automation infrastructure.

Skills

Automation infrastructure design

Leadership

Project management

Problem-solving

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, or Computer Science

Advanced degree in relevant field

Tools

Laboratory information management systems (LIMS)

Electronic lab notebooks (ELNs)

Cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure)

Data visualization tools

Programming languages (Python, R, C#, Java)

Job description

Overview

GSK is seeking a visionary Director of Automation Infrastructure to architect and drive the Research Technologies Automation strategy. This senior leader will set the vision for automation investments, ensuring strategic prioritization and alignment with GSK's long-term scientific and digital transformation goals. The successful candidate will lead the creation of a centralized hub of automation excellence, delivering lab-in-a-loop systems and fully integrated automation platforms that accelerate research productivity and enable data-driven science. The Director, Automation Infrastructure will architect and drive the unified automation strategy, aligning with GSK's scientific and digital transformation goals. This role will lead the creation of a centralized hub of automation excellence, maximizing impact on research productivity and positioning GSK at the forefront of pharma R&D. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in designing and delivering lab-in-a-loop systems, including fully orchestrated and integrated automation platforms that enable seamless data flow, system interoperability, and closed-loop scientific workflows. This role will report to the Head of RTech Automation UK and will join the new RTech Automation Leadership Team to shape our vision and strategy in automating drug discovery workflows, while providing technical expertise.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership and Development: Lead and inspire global, cross-functional teams to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration. Champion the centralization of automation expertise and support, breaking down silos and maximizing the impact of automation investments.
• Strategic Integration and Collaboration: Build strong partnerships and collaborate with leaders across the organization to deploy lab automation to enable key business priorities.
• Build and deliver the strategy for the industrialization of automation technologies, both integrated platforms and standalone devices and other advanced tools.
• Deliver reliable, scalable, and secure automation infrastructure to accelerate research, adhering to industry best practices and safety requirements.
• Build strategic partnerships with research leaders, scientists, IT, and engineering teams to establish requirements and develop comprehensive automation solutions in partnership with integration vendors.
• Oversee the design and deployment of lab-in-a-loop systems and orchestrated automation platforms, ensuring seamless data flow and system interoperability.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends, incorporating new advancements into GSK's automation strategy.
• Build strategic partnerships, influence industry standards, and represent GSK externally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in automation infrastructure design and implementation, with significant leadership roles at a global level.
• Demonstrated success in delivering lab-in-a-loop systems and orchestrated automation platforms in pharmaceutical or biotech research environments.
• Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and electronic lab notebooks (ELNs).
• Strong understanding of automation technologies, both integrated platforms and standalone devices, and data management systems.
• Experience with system integration, including commercial scheduling software (such as Momentum, Cellario, and GreenButtonGo), APIs, middleware, and data exchange protocols.
• Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities, with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically and creatively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively convey technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of safety requirements and industry standards related to automation in pharmaceutical research.
• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards related to automation in pharmaceutical research.
• Familiarity with programming languages such as Python, R, C#, or Java, and experience with scripting for automation.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms and services (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data visualization tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities.

About GSK

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting-edge technology to transform people’s lives. We are committed to an agile working culture and to doing the right thing, with a focus on accelerating significant assets that meet patients' needs and have the highest probability of success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer with a culture of ambition for patients, accountability for impact, and integrity. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. GSK is a global biopharma company focused on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation, oncology, HIV, and infectious diseases.