Senior Director, AI & R&D Technology Transformation

GlaxoSmithKline; Upper Providence (Delaware County); Hybrid; USD 204,000 - 340,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Healthcare

Pension plan

Shares and savings programme

Annual bonus

Job summary

GlaxoSmithKline is seeking a Senior Director, R&D AI & Technology Transformation to drive strategy and investment across priority R&D technology programmes. You will partner with programme leaders, provide independent, evidence-based views on progress and value delivery, and help teams frame choices and remove barriers.

The role combines scientific, operational and technology leadership within a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in technology, computer science, life sciences, engineering, business or a related discipline.
• Significant experience leading strategic technology, AI or digital transformation work in a large pharmaceutical environment.
• Strong knowledge of drug research or development and the ability to work credibly with scientific, operational and technology leaders.
• Demonstrated experience shaping and delivering cross-functional strategic projects in complex organisations.
• Experience evaluating technology capabilities, operating models, partnerships or build-versus-buy decisions.
• Ability to use structured analysis to develop recommendations and support implementation.
• Executive-level communication and influencing skills, including confidence working with Vice Presidents and other senior leaders.
• Evidence of hands‑on contribution, sound judgement and effective delivery in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders of selected priority technology programmes to clarify strategy, scope, value objectives, roadmaps and organisational needs.
• Provide an independent, evidence-based view of programme progress, risks and value delivery to support Technology Investment Board decisions.
• Apply a high-challenge, high-support approach, bringing transparency while helping teams solve strategic problems and remove barriers.
• Lead focused work on questions such as build, buy or partner choices, capability sourcing, operating models and external technology landscapes.
• Assess which capabilities could create competitive advantage and which can be sourced effectively from external partners.
• Help shape new technology initiatives, including their business case, funding approach, value definition, governance and delivery model.
• Connect learning across programmes, identify opportunities for reuse and reduce unnecessary duplication of technology capabilities.
• Build trusted relationships with senior scientific, technology and business leaders, influencing decisions without direct authority.
• Translate between scientific, operational and technical stakeholders so that complex choices become clear and actionable.
• Contribute directly to strategic projects related to the wider portfolio while programme delivery accountability remains with programme owners.

Skills

Strategic technology leadership

AI or digital transformation

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in tech/pharma related field

Job description

GlaxoSmithKline is seeking a Senior Director, R&D AI & Technology Transformation to drive strategy and investment across priority R&D technology programmes. You will partner with programme leaders, provide independent, evidence-based views on progress and value delivery, and help teams frame choices and remove barriers.

The role combines scientific, operational and technology leadership within a hybrid work model.