Head, Oncology Clinical Development - ADCs

GlaxoSmithKline; Upper Providence (Delaware County); On-site; USD 238,000 - 370,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Pension

Paid holidays

Vacation

Parental leave

Job summary

GlaxoSmithKline seeks a strategic Head of Oncology Clinical Development- ADCs to design and lead the clinical strategy across multi-tumor assets, spanning early to launch readiness. The role reports to the SVP and requires strong cross-functional influence across R&D, Medical Affairs, and Commercial to accelerate asset value while upholding scientific rigor.

Based in the UK, the position emphasizes governance leadership, external engagement, and the adoption of innovative approaches such as

Qualifications

• Medical degree (MD, MBBS, MBChB or international equivalent) is required.
• Board certification/eligibility or registration in a primary or medical specialty.
• Oncology drug development experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Leadership experience of early- and focused late-phase oncology development programs from first-in-human through registrational studies and launch readiness.
• Experience leading Antibody Drug Conjugate or other targeted oncology development programs.
• Experience holding accountability for asset-level or portfolio-level clinical development strategy, governance, and execution.
• Experience interacting with global health authorities and supporting regulatory submissions and approvals.
• Experience leading global cross-functional teams in complex matrix environments.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Development Strategy & Portfolio Leadership: end-to-end development and launch readiness for MOA-focused assets.
• Program Oversight, Governance & Visibility: represent asset in governance and senior reviews.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Connector Role: partner across research, medical, commercial, and precision medicine.
• Culture & Capability Building: foster empowerment, inclusion, and high performance.
• Standards, Processes & Continuous Improvement: develop and refine clinical standards and external intelligence use.

Skills

Executive leadership

Oncology drug development

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory submissions

AI/ML familiarity

Global matrix leadership

Education

Medical degree (MD)

Job description

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.

The Head, Oncology Clinical Development- ADCs, will report to the SVP, Head of Oncology Clinical Development. The role holder will be accountable for the design and implementation of the clinical development strategy across a particular asset across multiple tumor types spanning early- and late-phase development. This includes the strategic clinical positioning of the asset, combinations, and associated clinical development plans. This role requires an experienced, cross-matrix senior leader capable of implementing and executing an integrated clinical strategy in support of the successful clinical development, translational research, regulatory filing and initial market launch of a growing portfolio of innovative and transformational Oncology agents.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Clinical Development Strategy & Portfolio Leadership Accountable for end‑to‑end clinical development of an MOA-focused, multi-tumor asset, including registrational trials, regulatory approval, and initial market launch, ensuring scientific rigor, speed, and quality of execution. Shape and drive the scientific and clinical development strategy for the asset and disease areas, aligned with Oncology Tumor Team strategy and broader Oncology portfolio priorities. Evaluate, champion, and enable the use of novel approaches (e.g., AI/ML, innovative trial designs, external and real‑world data sources) where they add clear scientific, operational, or decision‑making value to clinical development.
• Program Oversight, Governance & Visibility Provide oversight and connectedness across the asset program, maintaining visibility to progress, risks, dependencies, and trade‑offs across the Oncology portfolio. Serve as the default senior clinical representative at key governance forums (e.g., DRB, PIB, program and portfolio governance) for the asset, ensuring strong clinical leadership, continuity, and high‑quality decision‑making. Represent the Oncology Clinical Development organization internally and externally, including presenting at high‑impact forums such as congress all‑hands, senior leadership reviews, and advisory boards. Lead scientific advisory boards and other external engagements to inform asset strategy, competitive positioning, and portfolio decisions, incorporating emerging science and external expert insight.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership & Connector Role Act as a senior connector across functions, partnering closely with Oncology Research, Precision Medicine/Companion Diagnostics, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Competitive Intelligence, and Global Product Strategy to drive integrated development and lifecycle planning. Drive asset alignment across research, development, and commercialization planning, and ensuring cohesive execution against shared objectives. Build and sustain strong internal and external partnerships to accelerate decision‑making, resolve complexity, and optimize development outcomes in a matrixed environment.
• Culture & Capability Building Foster a culture of empowerment, scientific excellence, inclusion, and collaboration, aligned with OneOncology values, while modeling strong, visible leadership. Actively remove organizational barriers and enable teams to operate effectively and autonomously within a complex, global matrix environment.
• Standards, Processes & Continuous Improvement Contribute to the establishment and continuous evolution of clinical development standards, processes, and best practices across Oncology, ensuring consistency, quality, and regulatory readiness. Ensure timely access to relevant external scientific and competitive intelligence (e.g., congress data, emerging science, competitor activity) to inform clinical development decisions and portfolio strategy.

Skills & Capabilities

• Senior clinical and scientific leadership in early‑and late‑phase oncology drug development, including FTIH through registrational trials and launch readiness.
• Strong ability to translate science and translational insight into differentiated clinical development strategies across disease areas and portfolios.
• Proven capability to operate at portfolio level, balancing priorities, risk, and resources while maintaining asset‑level rigor and accountability.
• Credibility and effectiveness representing Clinical Development at senior governance forums, with strong executive presence and influence.
• Advanced cross‑functional and matrix leadership skills, with a natural connector mindset across research, development, medical, commercial, and precision medicine partners.
• Openness to and fluency with innovative development approaches (e.g., AI/ML, novel trial designs, external and real‑world data) where they add value.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of scientific excellence, empowerment, inclusion, and continuous improvement in a complex global environment.

Basic Qualifications

• Medical degree (MD, MBBS, MBChB or international equivalent) is required.
• Board certification/eligibility or registration in a primary or medical specialty.
• Oncology drug development experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Leadership experience of early‑and focused late‑phase oncology development programs from first‑in‑human through registrational studies and launch readiness.
• Experience leading Antibody Drug Conjugate or other targeted oncology development programs.
• Experience holding accountability for asset‑level or portfolio‑level clinical development strategy, governance, and execution.
• Experience interacting with global health authorities and supporting regulatory submissions and approvals.
• Experience leading global cross‑functional teams in complex matrix environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Board certification/eligibility or registration in medical oncology, hematology/oncology.
• Strong experience in governance leadership, scientific narrative ownership, portfolio influence, and executive‑level decision‑making.
• Experience in translational research, including the application of translational science to inform clinical development strategies and decision‑making.
• Experience utilizing innovative development approaches, including advanced analytics, AI/ML, real‑world evidence, or novel trial design.

Skills

• Clinical Data Interpretation
• Clinical Trial Designs
• Clinical Trials Monitoring
• Digital Fluency
• Drug Development
• Drug Regulatory Affairs
• Evidence Based Decision Making
• Executive Presence
• Hematology and Oncology
• Learning Agility
• Matrix Leadership
• Real World Evidence (RWE)
• Scientific Presentations
• Strategic Direction

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 $242,250 to $403,750.

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. Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

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.

If you require an accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at GSK, please contact the appropriate Recruitment Staff by emailing us at - [e-mail]

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 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 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. Find out more on our career site.