External Engagement and Medical Operations Director

Haleon plc.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Haleon plc. is seeking a senior leader to run Medical & Scientific Operations globally, establishing the Centre of Excellence and directing scientific content, engagement with external experts, and medical information services.

You will partner with Medical & Scientific Affairs, R&D and external suppliers to simplify processes, empower data-driven decisions and advance high-impact scientific priorities across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in a regulated life sciences setting.
• Experience shaping medical affairs strategy at local and global levels.
• Proven ability to lead complex transformations across global matrix organisations.
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Set direction and priorities for Medical & Scientific Operations with simple, effective services.
• Lead and develop a high-performing global team with clear accountability.
• Lead the Centre of Excellence for Medical & Scientific Affairs and promote best practices.
• Own the operations performance framework using data to identify risks and improvements.
• Build partnerships across Medical & Scientific Affairs, R&D and external suppliers.
• Influence senior stakeholders and drive continuous improvement globally.
• Escalate and resolve operational, service, and compliance issues promptly.

Skills

Leadership experience

Medical Affairs

Scientific operations

R&D operations

Change leadership

Stakeholder management

Pharmaceutical/Healthcare

Education

Advanced science degree

Job description

Welcome to Haleon. We’re a purpose-driven, world-class consumer company putting everyday health in the hands of millions. In just three years since our launch, we’ve grown, evolved and are now entering an exciting new chapter – one filled with bold ambitions and enormous opportunity.

Our trusted portfolio of brands – including Sensodyne®, Panadol®, Advil®, Voltaren®, Theraflu®, Otrivin®, and Centrum® – lead in resilient and growing categories. What sets us apart is our unique blend of deep human understanding and trusted science.

Now it’s time to fully realise the full potential of our business and our people. We do this through our Win as One strategy. It puts our purpose – to deliver better everyday health with humanity – at the heart of everything we do. It unites us, inspires us, and challenges us to be better every day, driven by our agile, performance-focused culture.

About the role

The Medical and Scientific Operations Director leads the Medical and Scientific Affairs global Center of Excellence, plus manages the team that delivers scientific content & services, external expert engagement & Scientific events, supported studies, call center medical information responses (GMI), medical education, reporting and communications and other support for Medical and Scientific Affairs team.

Working with internal teams and strategic partners, the Medical and Scientific Operations Director establishes clear ways of working, removes complexity and provides effective tools and support. The role simplifies ways of working and connects people, processes, partners and data so Medical & Scientific Affairs teams can focus on high-value scientific and business priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Set the direction and priorities for Medical & Scientific Operations, translating business needs into simple, effective services and capabilities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing global team, with clear accountability across employees and external partners.
• Lead the Medical & Scientific Affairs Centre of Excellence, enabling collaboration, capability building and adoption of best practices.
• Own the operations performance framework, using data and insight to identify risks, priorities and improvement opportunities.
• Build trusted partnerships across Medical & Scientific Affairs, R&D and key support functions, as well as with external suppliers.
• Influence senior stakeholders, align competing priorities and drive simplification and continuous improvement across global teams.
• Act as the senior escalation point for operational, service, compliance and stakeholder issues, ensuring timely resolution.

Qualifications and skills

Essential

• Significant leadership experience, with strong preference to Medical Affairs, scientific operations, R&D operations or a related function within a regulated life sciences organisation.
• Strong understanding of how Medical & Scientific Affairs operates in a regulated, science-led organisation.
• Previous experience in creating medical affairs local and global strategy
• Strong change leadership experience, including complex organisational, process or operating-model transformation.
• Extensive experience working across global matrix organisations and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience in the Pharmaceutical or Healthcare industry, preferably in a Pharmaceutical/ Consumer Healthcare business with experience in Medical and Scientific Affairs.

Preferred

• Experience leading relevant Medical & Scientific Operations capabilities, such as centres of excellence, external expert engagement, scientific content, supported studies, medical information or education.
• Experience managing blended teams of employees, contractors and strategic vendors.
• Experience designing or transforming global operating models, governance and reporting.
• Relevant scientific, medical, healthcare or business qualification, or equivalent experience.
• Advanced science degree preferred

Job Posting End Date

2026-10-22

Equal Opportunities

Haleon are committed to mobilising our purpose in a way that represents the diverse consumers and communities who rely on our brands every day. It guides us in creating an inclusive culture, where different backgrounds and views are valued and respected – all in support of understanding and best serving the needs of our consumers and unleashing the full potential of our people. It’s important to us that Haleon is a place where all our employees feel they truly belong.

During the application process, we may ask you to share some personal information, which is entirely voluntary. This information ensures we meet certain regulatory and reporting obligations and supports the development, refinement, and execution of our inclusion and belonging programmes that are open to all Haleon employees.

The personal information you provide will be kept confidential, used only for legitimate business purposes, and will never be used in making any employment decisions, including hiring decisions.

Adjustment or Accommodations Request

If you require a reasonable adjustment or accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at Haleon at any stage of the application process, please let your recruiter know by providing them with a description of specific adjustments you are requesting. We’ll provide all reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process and treat all information you provide us in confidence.

Note to candidates

The Haleon recruitment team will contact you using a Haleon email account (@haleon.com). If you are not sure whether the email you received is from Haleon, please get in touch.