Global Head of Sample Management & Digital Lab Automation

GSK; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Pension plan

Shares and savings programme

Job summary

GSK is seeking a Senior Director, Global Head of Sample Management to lead a global organisation spanning automated storage, sample preparation and logistics, plus a digital sample platform. You will report to the VP, Data, Automation and Predictive Sciences and drive autonomous, closed-loop science across modalities while ensuring data integrity and traceability.

The role includes relocation to Cambridge, UK as timelines set by the company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in a life or physical science, engineering, computer science, informatics or data science, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive leadership experience in sample management, compound or biologics logistics, or laboratory operations at scale in a biopharmaceutical or comparable scientific environment.
• Demonstrated ownership of a digital product or laboratory informatics capability — inventory, registration, LIMS or equivalent — with personal accountability for roadmap, adoption and data quality.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver a single global strategy and roadmap for physical and digital sample management across modalities and sites, aligned to LIAL and priority technology programmes.
• Lead leaders across the US and UK, together with digital and platform capability, to form one global, service-oriented team.
• Own the cross-modality sample data model and decide the system of record for sample identity and lineage.
• Deliver API- and event-driven sample services for automated labs and AI agents.
• Run high-throughput, global operations and cold-chain logistics with measurable cycle time and data traceability.
• Own external sample network with digital manifests, identifier mapping, data return and service levels.
• Lead site transitions and capital programmes including UK relocation and new facilities readiness.
• Ensure safe, compliant and inspection-ready operation including chain of custody and export requirements.

Skills

Global leadership

Sample management

Digital fluency

GxP Regulations

Lean Management

Manufacturing Technologies

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Problem Solving

Risk Awareness

Standards Compliance

Asset Life Cycle Management

Data Integrity

Education

Bachelor’s / Master’s / PhD in life/physical science, engineering, computer science, informatics or data science

Tools

LIMS or equivalent

Job description

GSK is seeking a Senior Director, Global Head of Sample Management to lead a global organisation spanning automated storage, sample preparation and logistics, plus a digital sample platform. You will report to the VP, Data, Automation and Predictive Sciences and drive autonomous, closed-loop science across modalities while ensuring data integrity and traceability.

The role includes relocation to Cambridge, UK as timelines set by the company.