Director, UK Health Policy & Advocacy Lead, UK Commercial (UKC)

GlaxoSmithKline; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

GSK is seeking a Director, UK Health Policy & Advocacy Lead to shape policy strategies that align with commercial priorities. This role involves working with key stakeholders to enhance GSK's contribution to UK health and advocating for sustainable access to innovations. Candidates should possess a strong background in UK healthcare policy and experience in the pharmaceutical sector.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of UK healthcare policy and health system dynamics.
• Experience in pharmaceutical industry policy or external affairs.
• Established relationships in UK health policy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver policy, advocacy and government affairs strategy.
• Serve as the lead subject matter expert on UK health policy.
• Strengthen and evolve a compelling policy narrative for GSK.

Skills

Strategic insight

External influence

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, public policy, or related field

Job description

Site Name: UK – London – New Oxford Street
Posted Date: May 21 2025

Director, UK Health Policy & Advocacy Lead, UK Commercial (UKC)

Location - GSK HQ in London

This is an exciting opportunity to join GSK as a Director, UK Health Policy & Advocacy Lead.

As UK Health Policy & Advocacy Lead, you will be responsible for developing and delivering a policy, advocacy and government affairs strategy targeting UK policy stakeholders, driven by GSK’s commercial priorities, to maximise the value of GSK’s pipeline.

This is a critical role in shaping the UK external environment to support sustainable and timely access to GSK’s innovation. Reporting to the UKC Head of Communications & Government Affairs (CGA), this position requires strong strategic insight, external influence, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to translate complex policy trends into clear business implications.

Your responsibilities Include:

• Serve as the lead subject matter expert on UK health policy.
• Work cross-functionally with Health, Value & Access (HVA) colleagues to continuously refine and evolve GSK’s UK policy positions in support of the pipeline and portfolio - ensure policy priorities are informed by the needs of the business, the evolving external environment, and in the context of UK health policy developments e.g. LSSP, VPAG commitments and the NHS 10-year plan.
• Anticipate and respond to short- and long-term policy developments that present risks or opportunities.
• Work in close partnership with Corporate GA colleagues to drive UK Commercial policy and advocacy efforts and support corporate advocacy and engagement.
• Strengthen and evolve a compelling policy narrative that highlights GSK’s broader contribution to UK patients, NHS and society—spanning prevention, health equity, system resilience, and sustainability.
• Partner with UKC CGA Product & Pipeline Leads to effectively align policy priorities with the commercial organisation, and drive policy implementation and advocacy.
• Partner with market access, commercial, and HO to assess mid- and late-stage pipeline assets for policy-related risks and opportunities.
• Lead and co-ordinate UKC strategic engagement - act as central co-ordinator for senior-level engagement across key health policy stakeholders, including MHRA, NHS, and other relevant agencies.
• Represent GSK in senior-level forums, industry groups, and public platforms to shape debates and advocate for enabling reforms.
• Lead GSK’s co-ordination of our representation at the ABPI in senior-level working groups and supporting collective industry efforts to shape the UK operating environment.
• Work closely with the UK Leadership Team to align stakeholder engagement with business strategy and policy priorities.
• Lead development of briefings to support GM representation in strategic engagements and in policy and advocacy related forums.
• Establish and grow GSK policy thought leadership across key policy forums.
• UK policy lead for sustainability, supporting GSK UKC’s role in delivering Net Zero ambitions.
• Advise the business on emerging legislation impacting our license to operate.
• Embed government led sustainability expectations into policy reform and value propositions.

Why you?

Basic Qualifications:

We are looking for professionals meeting these requirements to achieve our goals:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, public policy, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Deep understanding of UK healthcare policy and UK health system dynamics.
• Experience working in or with the pharmaceutical industry in a policy or external affairs role.
• Experience of providing strategic counsel to senior leaders on UK health policy landscape and how CGA can deliver outcomes that support delivery of business objectives.
• Established, strong relationships in UK health policy.
• Experience leading and delivering policy and advocacy strategies and outcomes at the local, national and/or global level.
• Experience working with trade associations, preferably in the biopharmaceutical field or the healthcare industry.
• Experience representing organisations in public forums (e.g. conference panels, roundtables, stakeholder forums)
• Experience of developing, implementing, and measuring policy and advocacy strategies that support commercial objectives.
• Track record of successful people engagement and achieving results in cross functional teams and matrixes, and in cross-company collaborations.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following characteristics will help you be successful in this role:

• Sound judgement, with high personal and business integrity.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, with strong business acumen and understanding of the commercial environment.
• The ability to evaluate and apply judgment in all situations, particularly when handling highly sensitive political situations.
• High personal accountability and integrity.
• Strong experience with business partnering.
• Strong oral and written communication and presentation skills - fluent or native English speaker and writer.
• Excellent interpersonal and “people” skills that allow to work effectively in a matrix team with members that are distributed across the globe.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated thinking with ability to efficiently solve complex problems.
• Ability to consider the global/corporate view with the ability to understand and adapt for local needs and deliver against the business needs with a patient-centric mindset.
• Agility, flexibility and being self-motivated; able to remain focused and achieve goals in a complex matrix organisation.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS – 4thJune 2025 (EOD)

Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert.When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above.The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on [e-mail] or 0808 234 4391. The helpline is available from 8.30am to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday, during bank holidays these times and days may vary.

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