Senior Director, Hepatology Translational Biology

1925 GlaxoSmithKline LLC; Upper Providence (Delaware County); Hybrid; USD 226,000 - 377,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Paid vacation

Job summary

GlaxoSmithKline plc is seeking a Senior Director to lead hepatology translational biology within RIIRU. You will shape strategies across MASH, ALD and related cardiometabolic comorbidities, ensuring human-relevant preclinical evidence informs clinical translation.

You will drive cross-functional collaboration, mentor teams, and partner with external academia and industry to accelerate portfolio value and business development opportunities. Strong communication and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• MD/PhD or PhD in cell or molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology, hepatology or a related discipline with extensive experience in preclinical biology and forward and reverse translation.
• Experience in hepatology therapeutics (MASH and ALD) and translational evidence to support early clinical development.
• Strong ability to operate as a senior individual contributor and scientific thought leader in a matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership across a portfolio of discovery and clinical-stage hepatology programs focusing on MASH, ALD, and related liver diseases.
• Define and drive human-relevant mechanistic hypotheses, target validation strategies, and translational plans.
• Partner with R&D Technologies, Translational Sciences, and disease-area experts to identify and advance novel therapeutic opportunities.
• Lead development of biomarker strategies spanning target engagement, pharmacodynamics, disease activity, and patient stratification.
• Anticipate emerging scientific trends and translate insights into portfolio recommendations.

Skills

Hepatology knowledge

Translational biology

Preclinical biology

Biomarker strategy

Target validation

Cross-functional leadership

Clinical development

Biostatistics collaboration

Education

MD/PhD in related field

Tools

Biomarker platforms

In vitro models

Job description

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 Senior Director, Hepatology Translational Biology In the Respiratory, Immunology and Inflammation Research Unit (RIIRU), we combine deep scientific expertise, leading datasets and innovative technologies to discover and develop medicines that address underlying organ dysfunction and disease. Our teams work across the R&D lifecycle, from early discovery through clinical development and launch, with a shared ambition to deliver meaningful outcomes for patients.

Senior Director, Hepatology Translational Biology

In the Respiratory, Immunology and Inflammation Research Unit (RIIRU), we combine deep scientific expertise, leading datasets and innovative technologies to discover and develop medicines that address underlying organ dysfunction and disease. Our teams work across the R&D lifecycle, from early discovery through clinical development and launch, with a shared ambition to deliver meaningful outcomes for patients.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Director to join the Translational Biology Unit and provide scientific leadership for our hepatology portfolio. Reporting to the Head of Hepatology Translational Biology, this senior individual contributor will bring deep expertise in preclinical biology and forward and reverse translation, shaping strategy and advancing programmes in MASH, ALD and associated cardiometabolic co-morbidities, including cardiovascular disease and obesity. Working across the RIIRU hepatology matrix, you will connect human disease biology with target science, biomarkers and clinical development, ensuring strong human relevance of preclinical evidence and helping to de-risk translation into the clinic. You will also shape high-impact academic collaborations and provide scientific leadership for business development opportunities that strengthen and accelerate the portfolio. The role offers significant influence across an established and diverse hepatology portfolio spanning clinical-stage programmes, preclinical projects and target identification.

Scientific and Translational Leadership (Individual Contributor)

• Provide scientific leadership across a portfolio of discovery and clinical-stage hepatology programs focused on MASH, ALD, and more broadly liver disease with cardiometabolic comorbidities.
• Define and drive human-relevant mechanistic hypotheses, target validation strategies, and translational plans that strengthen confidence in clinical success.
• Partner with Research & Development Technologies, Translational Sciences, and disease-area experts to identify, validate, and advance novel therapeutic opportunities.
• Lead development of biomarker strategies spanning target engagement, pharmacodynamics, disease activity, patient stratification, and clinical decision‑making.
• Anticipate emerging scientific and competitive trends and translate insights into evidence based portfolio recommendations.

Matrix Leadership and Strategic Influence

• Influence scientific direction and decision-making across cross‑functional teams through data‑driven leadership and expert judgment.
• Align stakeholders around key experiments, success criteria, translational strategies, and portfolio priorities.
• Ensure rigorous scientific standards, reproducibility, and fit-for‑purpose model selection across discovery and translational research activities.
• Provide mentorship and scientific guidance to project teams and colleagues across the matrix.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with biology, clinical development, translational medicine, biostatistics, DMPK, pathology, safety, and platform teams to deliver integrated development strategies.
• Translate complex preclinical and clinical datasets into actionable insights that inform target selection, patient stratification, and study design.
• Drive efficient target progression and support clinical programs through integrated translational plans.

Innovation and External Engagement

• Champion innovative approaches, technologies, and model systems that enhance portfolio differentiation and translational success.
• Establish and lead strategic collaborations with academic institutions, CROs, biotechnology companies, and key opinion leaders.
• Build and maintain a network of external experts to access emerging science, novel technologies, and unique research capabilities.

Business Development

• Contribute scientific leadership to evaluation and diligence activities for external opportunities.
• Assess target biology, translational evidence, competitive differentiation, and portfolio fit to support investment decisions.

Quality, Compliance and Resource Stewardship

• Ensure research activities are conducted in compliance with applicable policies, ethical standards, and quality expectations.
• Help optimize portfolio investments by prioritizing critical‑path activities and recommending effective deployment of internal and external resources.

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.

Why you?

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals: MD/PhD or PhD in cell or molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology, hepatology or a related discipline with extensive experience in preclinical biology and forward and reverse translation in liver disease. Extensive experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry, with a focus on hepatology therapeutics (MASH and ALD) and a strong understanding of target mechanisms and translational evidence needed to support early clinical development. Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior individual contributor and scientific thought leader, influencing decisions in a matrix environment through data-driven recommendations, clear communication, and strong collaboration. Experience leading and managing external collaborations and diligence of business development opportunities. Proven track record of advancing targets and/or assets through key discovery and early development milestones, including development of fit-for-purpose translational packages (e.g. mechanistic rationale, human relevance, biomarker strategy, and clinical hypothesis support). Strong knowledge of hepatology disease biology (MASH and ALD), pathways and mechanisms, and an appreciation of relevant co‑morbidities (e.g. cardiovascular disease and obesity) that shape patient biology, endpoints, and clinical development strategy.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

Demonstrated strength as a translational scientist who can work with the Hepatology Disease Area Acceleration Team, the Hepatology Clinical Research Head, and aligned Early Development and Medicine Development Leaders to interpret complex data and external trends; connect preclinical findings to clinical endpoints; and provide scientific recommendations on indication expansion, patient stratification, biomarker strategy, and potential business development opportunities (including assets spanning cardiometabolic comorbidities). Strong business acumen and understanding of commercial aspects, including marketing, sales, and market access. Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities. Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance standards in the pharmaceutical industry.

Working environment and travel

This role sits in an established but evolving portfolio and requires a leader who can add deep expertise immediately, while working collaboratively across shared resources and governance. The successful candidate will combine scientific authority with humility, clear communication and a strong bias towards action. Travel is expected to be reasonable and purposeful, including scientific conferences and occasional international collaboration meetings.

Closing Date for Applications – Sunday 15th November

Why GSK?

We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more: Our approach to R&D Skills Biotechnology, Business Strategies, Cell Biology, Cross-Functional Teamwork, Drug Development, Drug Discovery Process, Influencing Without Authority, Interpersonal Communication, Life Science, Market Opportunities, Matrix Leadership, Molecular Biology, Scientific Research, Scientific Writing, Strategic Alignment 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 $226,050 to $376,750. 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.

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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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 feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued and included. 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.