Director, R&D AI & Technology Adoption

GlaxoSmithKline; Waltham (MA); Hybrid; USD 171,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Bonus

Share & savings programme

Job summary

GlaxoSmithKline seeks a Director, R&D AI & Technology Adoption to turn AI and technology investments into practical changes in processes and ways of working. You will design adoption plans, coordinate stakeholders and use evidence to show value, while aligning with priority R&D programmes.

You will work hands-on to deliver cross-R&D adoption initiatives for AI tools and data platforms, ensuring governance and ownership across teams.

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering technology adoption, organisational change or digital transformation in a large pharmaceutical R&D environment.
• Hands-on experience implementing AI, digital tools, data platforms or tech-enabled operating models.
• Experience developing and delivering change plans with stakeholder engagement, readiness and communications.
• Strong project delivery skills coordinating work across multiple functions or teams.
• Ability to analyse complex issues, develop practical recommendations and drive implementation.
• Experience defining adoption measures and using data to inform decisions.
• Strong communication, facilitation and influencing skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with priority technology programmes to create and deliver practical adoption and change plans.
• Assess programme readiness, stakeholder alignment, process impacts and capability needs.
• Coordinate adoption activity across R&D while supporting departments to tailor approaches.
• Deliver cross-R&D adoption initiatives for shared AI tools and data platforms.
• Translate technology changes into clear implications for processes, roles and capabilities.
• Create reusable tools, guidance and lessons to increase consistency across programmes.
• Define and track adoption measures linked to outcomes and value.
• Manage focused projects related to major technology investments without taking over delivery accountability.
• Communicate with senior stakeholders and contribute to adjacent transformation priorities.

Skills

Technology adoption

Organisational change

Digital transformation

R&D environment

Job description

We create a place where people can grow, be their best, be safe, and feel welcome, valued and included. We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme. We embrace modern work practises; our Performance with Choice programme offers a hybrid working model, empowering you to find the optimal balance between remote and in-office work. Discover more about our company wide benefits and life at GSK on our webpage Life at GSK | GSK Director, R&D AI & Technology Adoption R&D Tech Transformation & Operations connects strategy, investment and delivery across priority R&D technology programmes.

The team works with scientific, technology and business leaders to strengthen decisions, accelerate value and support consistent adoption across R&D. The Director, R&D AI & Technology Adoption role will work directly with priority R&D programmes to turn AI and technology investments into practical changes in processes and ways of working. You will design and deliver adoption plans, coordinate stakeholders and use evidence to show whether new capabilities are creating value. You will support cross-R&D initiatives while helping local teams tailor adoption to their scientific and operational setting. This is a hands-on role for someone who combines change expertise with strong project delivery and analytical skills.

For candidates seeking to be located at our Stevenage site, this role will temporarily be based at Stevenage. However, the Company plans to relocate its offices to Cambridge, UK. The location of this role will therefore subsequently change to Cambridge, UK in accordance with timelines to be set by the Company. The relocation is currently proposed to take effect by early 2029.

In this role you will Partner with priority technology programmes to create and deliver practical adoption and change plans. Assess programme readiness, stakeholder alignment, process impacts, capability needs and delivery risks. Work with programme leaders to confirm that appropriate change resources, governance and ownership are in place. Coordinate adoption activity across R&D while supporting departments to tailor approaches to local scientific and operational needs. Deliver cross-R&D adoption initiatives for shared AI tools, data platforms and technology-enabled ways of working. Translate technology changes into clear implications for processes, roles, behaviours and capabilities. Create reusable tools, guidance and lessons that increase consistency across programmes. Define and track adoption measures linked to outcomes and value, using insights to adjust the approach. Manage focused projects related to major technology investments without taking over delivery accountability from programme owners. Work effectively with internal teams and external partners, challenging approaches where needed and building sustainable internal capability. Communicate with senior stakeholders and contribute flexibly to adjacent transformation priorities across the team.

Basic qualifications

• Significant experience delivering technology adoption, organisational change or digital transformation in a large pharmaceutical R&D environment.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience implementing/supporting adoption of AI, digital tools, data platforms or technology-enabled operating models, achieving sustained changes in processes, behaviours or ways of working.
• Experience developing and delivering change plans that include stakeholder engagement, readiness, communications and capability building.
• Strong project delivery skills and experience coordinating work across multiple functions or teams.
• Ability to analyse complex issues, develop practical recommendations and follow through to implementation.
• Experience defining measures for adoption, outcomes or value realisation and using data to inform decisions.
• Strong communication, facilitation and influencing skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity and contribute beyond a narrowly defined change-management remit.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

• Change-management, project-management or related professional certification.
• Experience working in a hub-and-spoke change or transformation model.
• Learning, capability-building or workforce upskilling experience.
• Management consulting experience combined with in-house implementation.
• Experience working with external partners or consulting providers while strengthening internal ownership.

Closing Date for Applications – 4th October 2026

Our approach to R&D Skills AI Adoption, Behavior Management, Change Management, Change Process Management, Communication, Cross-Departmental Collaboration, Decision Making, Financial Acumen, Innovation, Leadership, Management of Change, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Project Management Governance, Risk Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Leadership, Technology Transformation, Visionary Thinking. If you are based in Cambridge, MA; Waltham, MA; Rockville, MD; or San Francisco, CA, the annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges $170,775 to $284,625. The US salary ranges take into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role. Available benefits include health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process.

We are 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.

Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as