Senior Director, CMC & Lab Specialization

GSK; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 196,000 - 326,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Job summary

GSK is seeking a Senior Director, Vx and Lab Specialization to lead the R&D Digital & Tech team in accelerating medicines and vaccines development. You will shape a 3–5 year vision for lab and data transformation, modernize systems, and enable AI-driven insights across vaccines and specialized sciences.

You will oversee complex portfolios, manage vendor relationships, and mentor a high-performing team, while partnering with R&D, manufacturing, quality, and external partners to maximize impact.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, biology or related field or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in CMC, laboratory operations, process development or manufacturing in a regulated environment.
• Proven track record leading multi-disciplinary teams and complex technical programs.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements for CMC, GMP and laboratory compliance.
• Experience with vaccines, laboratory instrumentation, process scale-up or manufacturing systems.
• Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management across R&D, manufacturing, quality and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive a 3–5 year vision and roadmap for lab and data transformation.
• Embed modern practices: DevSecOps, automated testing, UI/UX, observability; apply AI/ML to workflows.
• Manage a complex application landscape and reduce technical debt.
• Partner with R&D, Tech, Digital/Data to simplify systems and maximize impact.
• Promote standardization and contextualization to unlock insights.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team with a culture of empowerment.

Skills

Advanced degree/PhD

CMC experience

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Vaccines & lab ops

Stakeholder management

Education

Master’s or PhD in chemistry/chemical engineering/pharma/biology

Job description

The Senior Director, Vx and Lab Specialization will lead GSK’s R&D Digital & Tech team is on a mission to accelerate the discovery and development of medicines and vaccines for 2.5 billion patients worldwide. Our Labs and CMC Tech function is at the heart of this transformation, modernizing laboratory processes, harmonizing data, and creating a tech-enabled environment that empowers scientists and drives innovation.

With 17 global sites and 5,000 scientists, this is a complex, high-impact role. You will lead the modernization of legacy systems and design future-ready solutions that improve scientist experience and deliver standardized, contextualized data for AI-driven insights.

What You’ll Do:

• Shape the Future: Define and execute a 3-5 year vision and roadmap for lab and data transformation, focused on vaccines and specialized sciences (e.g., safety, human biologics, imaging).
• Drive Innovation: Embed modern practices—DevSecOps, automated testing, UI/UX design, observability—and leverage AI/ML to optimize scientific workflows.
• Own Strategic Portfolios: Manage a complex application landscape, reduce technical debt, and deliver high-value solutions aligned with R&D ambitions.
• Collaborate & Influence: Partner with R&D leaders, Tech teams, and Digital/Data/Analytics functions to simplify systems and maximize impact.
• Champion Data Excellence: Promote standardization, metadata, and contextualization to unlock scientific insights and accelerate discovery.
• Lead & Inspire: Build and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a culture of empowerment, growth, and innovation.

Why You?

Basic Qualification

• Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, biology or related field; or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in CMC, laboratory operations, process development or manufacturing in a regulated environment.
• Proven track record leading multi-disciplinary teams and complex technical programs.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements for CMC, good manufacturing practice and laboratory compliance.
• Practical experience with Vaccines, laboratory instrumentation, process scale-up or manufacturing systems.
• Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills across R&D, manufacturing, quality and external partners.
• Work arrangement: Hybrid role with regular on-site presence.

Preferred Qualification

• Experience implementing lab informatics, laboratory information management systems or electronic lab notebooks.
• Experience with manufacturing execution systems for biologics or complex modalities.
• Track record integrating analytics or AI-enabled solutions into lab and CMC workflows.
• Experience leading global harmonization programs across multiple sites.
• Demonstrated success managing vendor relationships and technical contracts.
• Familiarity with risk-based validation approaches and guidance such as GAMP or equivalent.

Skills

Agile Methodology, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Data Analysis, Design Thinking, DevOps, Prioritization, Product Development Research, Product Roadmapping, Project Management, Return on Investment (ROI), Software Development, Strategy Deployment, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI) Design

• 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 $195,525 to $325,875. 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.

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