Safety Evaluation & Risk Management (SERM) Scientific Director

GlaxoSmithKline; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global biopharma company in Greater London is seeking a SERM Scientific Director to lead pharmacovigilance efforts. This role involves evaluating safety data, managing risk, and leading cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in vaccines pharmacovigilance and be skilled in communication and decision-making. This position offers opportunities for impactful work in improving patient safety and health.

Qualifications

• Experience in vaccines pharmacovigilance.
• Comprehensive experience in the Pharmaceutical or Biotech industry.
• Knowledge of international pharmacovigilance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leads Pharmacovigilance and Risk Management Planning.
• Facilitates safety governance/SRTs in clinical settings.
• Leads presentations on safety issues to senior staff.

Skills

Pharmacovigilance

Risk Management

Analytical Thinking

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

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. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Find out more: Our approach to R&D

Position Summary

The SERM Scientific Director will provide in-depth medical/scientific expertise in the safety evaluation and risk management of key GSK assets or in clinical development and/or the post‑marketing setting.

Ensures scientifically sound review and interpretation of data and management of safety issues and escalates safety issues identified through the safety review process to senior management and safety governance as appropriate. Makes recommendations for the further characterization, management, and communication of safety risks.

Focus on efficiency and effectiveness to meet the needs of our Patients and HCPs. Supporting the pharmacovigilance and benefit‑risk management of the assigned portfolio of GSK global assets to ensure Patient Safety globally.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific and Medical Knowledge PV Expertise

• Leads Pharmacovigilance and Risk Management Planning and develops strategy for approach to evaluation of issues in the clinical matrix.
• Leads the safety component of global regulatory submissions.
• Expert evaluation skills and analytical thinking for literature review, clinical data synthesis, analysis and interpretation.
• Demonstrated track record of quality decision making and creative problem resolution, based on assessment of all relevant supporting and conflicting information/factors and understanding of the wider context.
• Demonstrates highly developed multi‑tasking skills, ability to prioritise tasks and consistently delivers on deadlines, with high performance standards for quality.
• Explores positions and alternatives to reach mutually beneficial agreements and solutions.

Cross Functional Matrix Team Leadership

• Leads safety governance by development of safety strategy and its execution for products in clinical development and post marketing settings. Anticipates, detects and addresses product safety issues (e.g., product incidents) and ensures that risk‑reduction strategies are implemented appropriately.
• Facilitates safety governance/SRTs in the clinical development and post marketing settings by assisting in the establishment and operation of cross‑functional teams in any SERM to detect and address product safety issues and ensures that risk‑reduction strategies are implemented appropriately in clinical study protocols and/or product labelling.
• Represents GS on cross‑functional Clinical Matrix Teams and/or Project Teams. Leads cross‑functional ad hoc teams to address urgent and important product safety issues.
• Leads or participates in cross‑functional process initiatives and/or Process Workstreams to drive efforts to improve adherence to regulations, data standards, quality and efficiency.
• Authors/participates in written standard updates (e.g., SOPs) to ensure policies and regulations are being adhered to correctly and consistently.
• Accountable for the escalation of issues and communication on safety matters (e.g., GSB, CHSLC, GLC, QPPV).
• Builds strong working relationships and displays excellent leadership skills on safety issues whilst working in a matrix team, with a demonstrated ability to lead a team in a matrix setting. Ability to coach and mentor others.

Communications and Influencing

• Leads presentations on recommendations or safety issues to senior staff members at the GSK Senior Governance Committees. Has the skillset to interact with confidence, credibility, and influence at all levels of the GSK organisation. In addition, is expected to represent GSK and contribute to safety related discussions at meetings with regulatory authorities, outside consultants and other companies such as licensing partners.
• Leads cross‑functional process improvement team within GSK. Thinks tactically/strategically and takes account of the internal and external environment when considering safety issues and changes to SERM processes or business improvements. Contributes to development of long‑term strategy for clinical programs. Regularly contributes innovative ideas to address new issues or improve approaches to existing operations.
• Leads inspection readiness and prepared as needed to support audits/inspections.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Required
• Experience in vaccines pharmacovigilance
• Experience in safety signal detection for vaccines and experience preparing scientifically robust benefit‑risk and signal assessments for vaccines.
• Comprehensive experience in the Pharmaceutical or Biotech industry working in Drug Safety or Pharmacovigilance
• Significant pharmacovigilance experience relating to Safety Evaluation and Risk Management, encompassing both clinical development and post‑marketing activities
• Knowledge/experience of international pharmacovigilance requirements (e.g., ICH, GVP modules, CIOMS initiatives) and drug development and approval processes.

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

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

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.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a UK Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the link and scroll to the Careers Section where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive