Scientific Director, Infectious Disease

GSK; United States; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Competitive compensation & bonus

Healthcare & pension benefits

Job summary

GSK is seeking a Scientific Director to lead strategic and technical work across infectious disease drug discovery, focusing on large-molecule therapies and monoclonal antibody modalities. The role requires translating scientific insights into programme strategy and driving assets toward robust investment decisions.

Based at or relocating from the Stevenage/Cambridge area, the role involves leading matrix teams, engaging senior leaders and external partners, and ensuring regulatory and safety

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, MSc or BSc in a scientific discipline relevant to drug discovery.
• Experience in monoclonal antibody discovery or development.
• Proven record of leading multidisciplinary matrix teams.
• Experience using integrated scientific evidence for portfolio decisions.
• Strong independent decision-making to advance programmes.
• Senior-level communication and influence with upper management.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams to define and deliver strategy across infectious disease discovery and early development.
• Ensure high-quality data packages for regulatory submissions, clinical protocols, patents, grants and tax deductions.
• Drive candidate progression by integrating evidence, risk, resources, budgets and timelines with portfolio decisions.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership, challenging assumptions and guiding research direction.
• Develop and maintain robust project plans, manage risks and budgets to meet timelines and standards.
• Build relationships and communicate progress with internal partners, senior leaders, governance and external experts.
• Ensure programmes comply with GSK policies, procedures, HSE expectations and regulatory requirements; establish external collaborations.
• Contribute to team growth, including managing and developing lab-based scientists.

Education

PhD/MD/MSc/BSc in life sciences

Tools

Biologics discovery

Job description

The Scientific Director will lead strategic and technical work across infectious disease drug discovery programmes, with a particular focus on innovative large-molecule therapies and monoclonal antibody-based modalities (monoclonal antibodies, bi-specifics, antibody-drug conjugates, new antibody formats such as scFv and delivery technologies). The role requires strong experience spanning discovery through early clinical development, translating scientific insight into programme strategy and driving assets towards robust investment, go/no-go decisions.

Operating with significant independence and visibility, the Scientific Director will set scientific and project direction, lead multidisciplinary matrix teams and represent the work with senior leaders, regulators, auditors, external partners and key opinion leaders. The role is accountable for strategy, resources and high-quality evidence across multiple assets, influencing effectively across R&D and potentially managing lab-based scientists as the organisation evolves.

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.

Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities:

• Lead multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams to define and deliver medicine and project strategies across infectious disease discovery and early development, aligned with business objectives.
• Take accountability for high-quality scientific data packages supporting regulatory submissions, clinical protocols, patents, grants and relevant tax deductions.
• Drive candidate progression by integrating scientific evidence, risk, resources, budgets and timelines, making clear recommendations at key portfolio decision points.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership, maintaining sufficient scientific depth to challenge assumptions, guide research direction and ensure project quality.
• Develop and maintain robust project plans, proactively managing risks, issues, dependencies and mitigation actions to deliver on time, within budget and to required standards.
• Build strong relationships and communicate progress effectively with internal partners, senior leaders, governance and regulatory stakeholders, scientific forums and external experts.
• Ensure programmes comply with GSK policies, procedures, HSE expectations and regulatory requirements, while establishing external collaborations and technology partnerships that strengthen scientific excellence and innovation.
• Contribute to the growth of the group, with potential responsibility for managing and developing lab-based scientists, supervising scientific quality, performance, wellbeing, laboratory logistics and equipment.

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• A PhD, MD, MSc or BSc in a scientific discipline relevant to drug discovery, supported by a strong research background.
• Demonstrated experience in monoclonal antibody discovery or development, with the scientific breadth to guide modality and programme decisions.
• A proven record of leading multidisciplinary matrix teams, defining project strategy and driving candidate progression in complex drug discovery environments.
• Experience using integrated scientific evidence to support key portfolio decisions, including candidate selection and progression or stop recommendations.
• Strong, independent decision-making capability, with the judgement to move programmes forward at pace while managing scientific and delivery risk.
• Experienced senior-level communication and influence, including the ability to position a group or programme effectively with upper management and in large forums.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

Please note the following skills are not necessary, just preferred.

• Experience in infectious disease research, drug discovery or early clinical development.
• Experience with additional large-molecule modalities, such as bispecific antibodies or antibody-drug conjugates.
• Experience establishing and leading external research collaborations, technology partnerships or platform-innovation initiatives.
• Understanding of the wider R&D pathway from discovery through early development, including regulatory expectations and evidence requirements.
• Experience aligning budgets, people and technical resources across multiple priorities in a matrix environment.
• People leadership, coaching or scientific supervision experience, with the ability to build an inclusive and high-performing team., Biotechnology, Business Strategies, Cell Biology, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Decision Making, Drug Development, Drug Discovery Process, Influencing Without Authority, Interpersonal Communication, Life Science, Market Opportunities, Matrix Leadership, Matrix Management, Molecular Biology, Monoclonal Antibodies, Monoclonal Antibody Development, Scientific Research, Scientific Writing, Strategic Alignment

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company that unites science, technology and talent to deliver innovative medicines, vaccines and specialty care. Within GSK, the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Unit (VIDRU) brings together immunology, pathogen biology and translational science, while Infectious Disease Research (IDR) advances innovative medicines to prevent, treat and cure priority infectious diseases., 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., 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.

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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 where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive.

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