Director, Research CMC and Labs Critical Apps

EngineeringUK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000

Job description

Director, Research CMC and Labs Critical Apps

Sector: Research and Development
Role: Director
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time

Site Name: UK - Hertfordshire - Stevenage, Poznan Pastelowa
Posted Date: Mar

Role Overview:
As the Director of Research CMC and Labs Critical Apps, you will report to the Senior Director of Research CMC & Labs Operations and work closely with the Director of Scientific Applications, and other leaders across the Digital & Tech organization. You will lead a team managing a portfolio of critical R&D applications, ensuring operational excellence and service management. Your responsibilities will include optimizing the application landscape, ensuring compliance, and driving automation to improve performance and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:
This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career, these responsibilities include some of the following:

• Manage 20 critical applications that support Research, CMC, and Labs, including lifecycle management and new application transitions.
• Develop and implement an automation roadmap aligned with broader organizational goals, including a good understanding of the applicability of AI for operations.
• Oversee vendor management to ensure strong resource availability and capability.
• Build strong relationships with CMC, QEL, and other key stakeholders to support service management.
• Ensure compliance with enterprise changes, risk management, and security requirements.
• Manage financial aspects of the portfolio, including technical debt and cloud costs.
• Monitor and report on key metrics like SLAs, KPIs, and efficiency to ensure value for R&D.
• Lead projects to improve and maintain the portfolio, such as addressing security vulnerabilities.
• Foster a development-first mindset, keeping the team up-to-date on the latest technologies.

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

• Significant experience in technology delivery and portfolio management.
• Strong ITIL-based service management expertise.
• Direct experience in implementing and managing application performance, observability, and telemetry.
• A thorough knowledge of infrastructure and application architectures and their eco-systems.
• Management and the improvement of risks and controls as they relate to an IT infrastructure.
• Data mastering, data catalogue, and data distribution in supporting end to end business processes.
• Experience managing global projects and teams across different time zones.
• Experience building and managing high-performing teams.
• Knowledge of agile methodologies and how to apply them in a global organisation.

Preferred Qualifications:
If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

• Strong understanding of R&D Digital & Tech, CMC, and Labs operations, and related tech strategies.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Proven ability to deliver insights and recommendations to senior leaders.
• Proven ability to work independently & strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to work well under pressure and within tight deadlines.

Interested in Joining the Team?
Please apply via our online portal providing your CV and Cover Letter.

Closing Date: COP 12th April 2025

Hybrid working applies to this role, min 2 days a week onsite; ideally 3

Why GSK?
GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose - to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together - positively impacting the health of billions of people. Our success depends on our people, and we aim to create a place where they can thrive, feel welcome, valued, and included.