Head of CMO Innovation

GlaxoSmithKline; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 214,000 - 356,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation

Parental/maternity leave

Bonus program

Long-term incentive

Job summary

GSK in the United States is seeking a Head of CMO Innovation to build and lead the new CMO Innovation Group, defining vision, strategy, and governance for enterprise-wide innovation across CMO. You will recruit and lead a small initial team, establish cross-functional partnerships, and drive AI, data and digital-enabled ways of working to deliver measurable value for patients and the business.

The role requires senior leadership experience in innovation within a large, matrixed organization,

Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, business, or other data/technology-related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in innovation, transformation or venture-building within a large, matrixed organisation; pharma/life sciences experience is an advantage
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement, innovation and manage complex data projects.
• Systems-thinking: connect domain knowledge, process expertise and technology acumen for senior audiences.
• Demonstrated experience operating in matrix (hub and spoke) structures with policy, quality systems or standards frameworks

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the strategic vision, operating model, and direction of the CMO Innovation Group, with accountability for the innovation portfolio and measurable business impact.
• Serve as trusted advisor to the Head Data Value Office CMO and champion for innovation across CMO and enterprise partners.
• Establish and lead innovation governance, chairing the Portfolio Working Group and representing the portfolio at Growth Board forums.
• Lead transformation to embed AI-, data-, and digital-enabled ways of working into CMO's operating model.
• Build and cultivate an innovation ecosystem through strategic partnerships across AIML, R&D Digital & Tech, Enterprise AI, DP&I, and the CMO Innovation Champions network.
• Own the Group's annual investment portfolio, headcount strategy, and multi-year resource plan; optimize funding and capacity

Skills

AI strategy

Stakeholder leadership

Data transformation

Regulatory awareness

Education

Masters degree in computer science, data science, business, or related field

Job description

Company Overview

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. GSK has kicked off 2026 with impressive growth in sales, profits, and earnings. We anticipate five major new FDA product approvals and 15 phase III/pivotal study readouts over the next two years. So far, we have secured two FDA approvals, with three more expected later this year. By uniting science, technology, and talent, we are committed to getting ahead of disease together.

This is a newly created founding leadership role established to build and lead the CMO Innovation Group. The role is accountable for defining the vision, strategy, operating model, and governance of innovation across CMO (Chief Medical Office), creating a sustainable capability that accelerates business impact and organizational transformation.

The Head of CMO Innovation Group will provide strategic leadership for the innovation portfolio, identifying and scaling high-value opportunities, fostering a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, and ensuring innovation efforts are aligned with business priorities. The role will build and lead a high-performing team, establish strong cross-functional partnerships, and position the Group as the central engine for intentional, measurable, and enterprise-wide innovation within CMO.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the strategic vision, operating model, and direction of the CMO Innovation Group, with overall accountability for the innovation portfolio and delivery of measurable business impact.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Head Data Value Office CMO and a visible champion for innovation across CMO, influencing and aligning senior stakeholders, including the Head of CMO, the CMO Leadership Team, and key enterprise partners.
• Establish and lead innovation governance, chairing or co-chairing the Portfolio Working Group and representing the portfolio at Growth Board forums, securing investment, shaping priorities, and driving decisions in complex and ambiguous environments.
• Lead the transformation required to embed AI-, data-, and digital-enabled ways of working into CMO's operating model, accelerating adoption, capability building, and sustainable organizational change.
• Build and cultivate a strong innovation ecosystem by developing strategic partnerships across AIML, R&D Digital & Tech, Enterprise AI, DP&I, and the CMO Innovation Champions network, while representing CMO innovation internally and externally.
• Own the Group's annual investment portfolio, headcount strategy, and multi-year resource plan, continuously optimizing funding and capacity to align with evolving business priorities and portfolio needs.
• Recruit, build, and lead the founding CMO Innovation Group, initially managing three direct reports and scaling the capability toward a mature-state organization of approximately 10-20 FTEs.
• Establish and strengthen the Group's innovation capital, creating a compelling narrative, proven track record, and trusted reputation as the leading source of innovation expertise and delivery excellence within CMO.
• Foster a culture of experimentation, continuous improvement, and evidence-based innovation, ensuring ideas are translated into scalable solutions that deliver tangible value for patients, the business, and the organization.

Basic Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, business, or other data/technology-related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in innovation, transformation or venture-building within a large, matrixed organisation; pharma/life sciences experience is an advantage
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement, innovation and manage complex data projects.
• Systems-thinking: able to connect domain knowledge, process expertise and technology acumen, and to simplify complex, disparate concepts for senior and cross-functional audiences.
• Demonstrated experience operating in matrix (hub and spoke) organizational structures, working with policy development, quality systems or standards frameworks within regulated environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, business, or other data/technology-related field.
• Formal training in structured innovation methods (e.g. the Innovator's Method, Lean Startup, Design Thinking) is an advantage.

#LI-GSK*

Skills

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Mining, Digital Fluency, Digital Transformation, Organization Transformation, Process Improvements, Process Innovation, Product Development, Product Management, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance Management, Security System Design, Strategic Planning

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 $213,675 to $356,125. 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.

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 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. Click the Link where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive

Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, GSK may be required to capture and report expenses GSK incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure GSK's compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements. For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/