Hackajob is a matching platform partnering with GSK helping them to hire the best talent and build the future. To get the chance to get matched to this role and other similar roles, click on Apply to set up your free profile. GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease – so the health of billions of people can be positively impacted and so stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns can be delivered – as an organisation where people can thrive. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and GSK aims to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years. Senior Director Lab Scientist Experience (IT Applications) GSK R&D and Digital & Tech’s collective goal is to deliver GSK impact, including the acceleration the discovery and development of medicines and vaccines to patients. R&D Digital & Tech are the key Tech partner to support the R&D Ambition of bringing more medicines and vaccines to patients and support their scientists by supercharging R&D with Data. The Quality Engineering and Labs (QEL) function is a pivotal function for this, as it looks after the 500 systems that support the end-to-end R&D process and all of the systems that sit within the Laboratories. There are 17 sites, with around 7000 scientist that work within the Labs in GSK, so it is a complex environment with a lot of legacy systems and software, end to end across the whole of R&D. The Quality Engineering and Labs (QEL) function is a pivotal function for this, as it looks after the 500 systems that support the end-to-end R&D process and all of the systems that sit within the Laboratories. There are 17 sites, with around 7000 scientist that work within the Labs in GSK. The Senior Director, Lab Scientist Experience is a pivotal role and key partner to R&D about how they create a user experience for their laboratory scientists that transforms how they work and feel about working in the laboratory, but also produce high quality, standardised and contextualised data that can feed their ambition on using technology, including AI, to optimise their science. This leader will work with the Head of Quality Engineering and Labs, with key leaders in R&D and peers within the team to build a 3–5-year vision and strategy on how they transform their scientists AND data experience. This role is focused on the Scientist user experience at a software platform perspective and how this creates opportunities for Digital, Data and Analytics functions, and so DDA teams and their needs are a key partnership. Key Responsibilities: Owns a complex application portfolio, of legacy and strategic applications, and therefore creates a roadmap to manage technical debt and move RD toward the strategic vision, whilst removing complexity and legacy from the environment. Ensuring that software development practices are embedding elements like DevSecOps, automated Testing, UI/UX and Design, Observability and supportability elements to ensure that the software deliverables are of the highest quality to ensure that the application lifecycles are as cost effective as possible. And ensuring they stay up to date with modern software development. Primary focused on Lab Scientist experience and DDA ready data generation, and so key partnerships with DDA functions within R&D, including the CMC Grand Challenge Next Generation workspace, and with peers (Snr Director, Lab Instrumentation Engineering and Capture) who work with the RD Operations teams. Exceptional relationship and stakeholder building skills to ensure strategic and operational alignment to R&D’s ambitions and strategy. End to End knowledge and experience of all Laboratory processes within R&D, to be able to support R&D with an enterprise view of what is most valuable. Building and delivering an enterprise vision and strategy that demonstrate impact on Scientist experience but also on the R&D resource utilization and timeline that is tangible to a RD LT level, through embedding technology solution and novel thinking and problem solving. Scientific R&D Data is a complicated and many facetted space, and as such they need to drive standardization, metadata and contextualization. This leader should have a strong understanding of data and its requirements, so that they can champion and exemplify the need to drive this forward in support of the Design team, Data Standards teams and Data Engineering colleagues. Demonstrated experience of delivering modern solutions that include use of modern technologies like Ai/ML to improve the scientist experience. Exceptional experience in agile ways of working, product management, financial management and a value first mindset to ensure they deliver the highest value elements early and often for R&D. Demonstrated history of helping their team develop technical, soft skills and their careers, including a proven track record of people progressing under them into leadership and preferably senior leadership roles. Also acts a mentor both within their organisation and the wider GSK to support talent. Why You Basic Qualifications/Experience: They are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve their goals: Significant experience in senior technology delivery and portfolio roles with proven experience leveraging technology resources in a complex financial environment. Thorough understanding of R&D and Digital & Tech strategies – specifically for Research, CMC and Labs – but also including financial management, project management and document management systems applicable to a Pharma R&D environment. deep knowledge of product management very good knowledge of product design, DevSecOps, Quality Engineering and delivery of products that create standardised and contextualised data, Experience of how to ideate new technology and how that can be embedded to improve the R&D experience, specifically for AI/ML Ability to build and manage and develop highly successful teams and knowledge workers. Depth in knowledge of agile and agile ways of working. Degree or equivalent - Science, Engineering, Computing, Maths or similar Preferred Qualifications/Experience: If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus: Experience in managing global projects and multi-cultural project teams, as well experience in managing virtual teams where members are in multiple countries and time zones. Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team both directly and virtually, including ability to consult widely, bring together diverse views, and facilitate agreement on critical issues. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and organizational skills required to influence relationships at all levels. Strong project management leadership & strong conceptual analytical/problem solving skills; sound judgment and depth in knowledge of project and portfolio management tools and applications. Track record of delivering insights and recommendations to business leaders. Proven ability to work independently & strong attention to detail. Capacity to manage multiple priorities while thriving fast-paced environment. Proven ability to work well under pressure and within tight deadlines. Masters or PHD - Business Administration (MBA) Information Technology or Science higher qualification