Senior Director, Talent + L&D Digital & Tech

GSK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

GSK seeks a Senior Director, Talent + L&D Digital & Tech to define the vision and roadmap for HR technology across Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, and HR data governance. You will lead Product Owners, prioritise demand, and ensure secure, compliant, user-centred tech solutions aligned with global HR standards.

The role oversees budgets, vendor strategy, and complex integrations (Phenom, Workday Talent, MyLearning, Degreed, ODS), delivering measurable improvements in employee

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Significant HR technology leadership and product management experience.
• Experience delivering multi-year HR systems strategies and Workday-centric roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Define and govern Talent + L&D domain vision, strategy, and long-range roadmap.
• Lead prioritisation and business case development across HR platforms.
• Direct and support Product Owners to deliver secure, compliant tech solutions.
• Own the Talent + L&D domain budget and vendor strategy.
• Oversee major talent and learning transformation initiatives with cross-product integrations.

Skills

HR tech leadership

Product management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s in CS/IT/Engineering

Tools

Phenom

Workday Talent

MyLearning

Degreed

ODS

Job description

Senior Director, Talent + L&D Digital & Tech

At GSK, we unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We are a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We’re proud to be leading a healthcare revolution, and we’re looking for people who can help us deliver on our ambition.

Job Purpose

The Senior Director, Talent + L&D Digital & Tech defines and owns the vision, strategy, and roadmap for all HR technology products supporting the end-to-end Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Organisational Data and Technical Integration portfolio – including Phenom, Workday (Talent), MyLearning, Degreed, ODS and the technical development and integration layer. Partnering with HR leadership across Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Workforce Planning and HR Data, the role ensures HR technology investments enable the GSK talent strategy, exceptional employee experience, process digitisation, and compliant people data management.

The Senior Director, Talent + L&D Digital & Tech oversees the full product lifecycle across a portfolio spanning talent technology platforms including acquisition, learning systems and skills strategy, organisational data services and HR integration capabilities, directing Product Owners, prioritising demand across the domain, and enabling value delivery within financial, regulatory, and people-data governance boundaries.

As the senior point of accountability for Talent + L&D technology, the role governs HR platform performance, domain OKRs, budget allocation, vendor strategy, and technology risk, while building the capabilities required to deliver scalable, secure, automated, and insight-driven HR technology ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and govern the Talent + L&D domain vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap, ensuring alignment with HR functional objectives across Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Workforce Planning, Organisational Data and HR Technical Integration.
• Apply product management discipline across all domain platforms (e.g., Phenom, Workday Talent, TechWolf, MyLearning, Degreed, ODS and the technical development and integration layer), managing product lifecycles from ideation through delivery to retirement.
• Lead prioritisation and business case development, using HR value frameworks such as candidate and employee experience impact, compliance risk reduction, operational efficiency, automation opportunities, and talent data quality.
• Direct and support Product Owners to ensure HR requirements are translated into secure, compliant, and user-centred technology solutions aligned with global HR process standards.
• Own the Talent + L&D domain budget, collaborating with Finance to ensure cost optimisation, effective licensing, FinOps alignment, and value-for-money across HR platforms and vendors.
• Oversee delivery of major talent and learning transformation initiatives, ensuring cross-product integrations (e.g., Phenom and Workday Talent, MyLearning and Degreed, ODS and downstream reporting systems) support end-to-end employee and candidate journeys.
• Govern domain vendor and sourcing strategy, including Phenom (talent acquisition platform), MyLearning, TechWolf, Degreed and ODS platform providers; define contract SLAs and performance measures.
• Establish and report domain OKRs, providing insight on platform performance, data quality, compliance metrics, stability, adoption, and experience outcomes to HRLT and digital leadership forums.
• Drive continuous improvement and automation, using data analytics, process standardisation, and AI-enabled capabilities to uplift talent acquisition, learning, people data maturity, and candidate and employee experience.
• Ensure robust people-data governance, including security-by-design, GDPR compliance, access controls, identity, audit readiness, and risk management.
• Develop domain technology capabilities, identifying skills gaps, supporting Product Owners and Analysts, and partnering with HR and L&D to build a high-performing Talent + L&D technology team.
• Lead third party service delivery.
• Lead a team of 6 product owners and role-model responsible use of approved AI tools to improve productivity and ways of working.

Why You!

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Information Technology, or Engineering), or equivalent experience.
• Industry certifications highly desirable (e.g., SAFe, Product Leadership, Workday Pro or equivalent HR technology certifications).
• Significant experience in HR technology leadership, product management, or functional HR systems roles, including accountability for platform strategy, budget ownership, and product outcomes.
• Proven ability to define and deliver multi-year HR Systems strategies and Workday-centric product roadmaps.
• Experience directing Product Owners and managing value-based prioritisation across multiple HR platforms (e.g., Workday, Learning, People Services, Reward, Payroll).
• Demonstrated ability to develop business cases and lead budget decisions aligned to expected employee experience, compliance, operational efficiency, and people data value.
• Experience leading major HR transformation programmes, automation initiatives, or global process digitalisation.
• Track record of developing HR technology capability, coaching product teams, and building domain skills in areas such as Workday configuration, HR data, workflow automation, and reporting/insights.
• Experience overseeing vendor contributions across HR technology platforms, including Workday AMS suppliers, learning technology vendors, and integration partners.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen, including understanding of HR system licensing, payroll cost models, and integration run costs.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence skills, able to translate complex HR technology constraints into business-friendly language.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance immediate operational needs with long-term HR systems direction and platform sustainability.
• Ability to challenge prioritisation decisions to maximise functional and enterprise value.
• Understanding of emerging HR technology, Workday roadmap developments, employee experience trends, automation opportunities, and modern delivery practices.

Working Pattern

This role is a hybrid role, with a min of 2/3 days a week onsite at our central London HQ.

Closing Date

31st October 2026

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 welcome candidates from a wide range of backgrounds.

We are 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. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years. 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.

If you require adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at [e-mail] where you can also request a call. 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 Recruitment FAQ guide.