Senior Director Materials Science

GSK has an inspiring ambition: by uniting science, technology and talent we aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people over the next ten years. We will get ahead of disease together with our R&D approach of focusing on the science of the immune system, human genetics and advanced technologies, such as functional genomics and AI/ML.

Job Purpose:

This role provides strategic leadership for a global Materials Science department which is responsible for elucidating key material attributes, influencing selection of molecules, and translating this knowledge into the design of particle forming processes that deliver optimal biopharmaceutics, stability and manufacturability. The department influences selection of phase appropriate formulations and design of suitable secondary manufacturing process. This role also has accountability for management of team leaders and delivery of wider objectives, strategy and deliverables in chemical development. Based on business requirements, the role may encompass project technical leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Head of functional line

• Ensure timely input, agreement & completion of staff performance and development plans.
• Includes aligning individuals’ objectives to strategic workforce planning & succession planning.
• Work with leadership team and their managers to timely address performance management situations and complete related activities.
• Work with leadership team and their managers to ensure staff are appropriately skilled (or trained) to deliver departmental objectives.
• Provide supervision, mentoring & coaching to direct reports so technical deliverables are met.
• Ensure that direct reports receive all required training and maintain training records as defined by SOPs and Policies.
• Maintain a high level of relevant scientific expertise and visibility aligned to business requirements for their team and self, guide the scientific capabilities of the department.

Technical Leadership:

Possesses technical experience in relevant Materials Science disciplines including but not limited to: Version and form selection, physical characterisation (API, Drug Product, small and large molecule, physico-chemical properties assessment), crystallisation, crystallography.

• Influences lead optimization and the process of selecting candidate molecules.
• Develop and manufacture simple pre-clinical/clinical formulations including experiments geared toward understanding in-vivo performance
• Understands crystal structure at a molecular level
• Characterise and understand physico-chemical properties of drug substance, intermediates, excipients, drug product and packaging materials
• Design particle forming processes including crystallization and size reduction
• Elucidate how material properties influence product performance.

Project Leadership (as applicable)

• Support CMC and MPD team planning activities and objective setting by actively participating in line reviews, agreeing portfolio priorities and coordinating resource demands to support delivery of objectives
• Develop and communicate the technical strategy for core deliverables. This includes leading a multi-disciplinary team, preparing project plans and ensuring timely execution.
• Ensure appropriate scientific peer review and relevant technical oversight is in place throughout development. Identify and escalate drug substance risks at scientific reviews and through relevant technical and project oversight panels.
• Liaise with key stakeholders across the business to ensure timely delivery of project expectations.
• Participate in technology transfer activities as appropriate to GSC, other parts of R&D, and partner CMOs/CROs.
• Effectively influence cross functional teams to deliver objectives and contribute to the strategic project planning.

Documentation, Quality and Regulatory

• Fulfil the role of Approver for regulatory submissions according to relevant SOP guidelines, or delegate approval responsibilities as appropriate.
• Ensure the delivery of appropriate cGMP compliance on projects
• Ensure that required project documentation is prepared, reviewed and/or maintained as required by SOPs and Policies.
• When required, approve data and information from programs of scientific work to ensure that Data Integrity principle are fully applied.
• Assist in keeping DSD in compliance with regulatory requirements by following SOP guidelines, including those related to cGMP.

Safety

• Proactively models and ensures consistent awareness of GSK Life Saving Rules.
• Ensures implementation of safe working practices for self and others by regularly participating in GEMBA of representative work activites.
• Ensure utilization of appropriate Occupational Safety information for projects by all team members.

Basic Qualifications

• Extensive theoretical understanding within their area of science, master’s degree with several years’ experience in drug substance development/ manufacture within the Pharmaceutical Industry. Knowledge of related disciplines to enable multi-disciplinary approaches where relevant.
• Has a proven record of scientific excellence and leadership.
• Has strong experience of drug development across the development lifecycle.
• Has a proven record of significant intellectual contribution, and realization in practice, to multiple projects.
• Possesses a strong understanding of quality and regulatory expectations.
• Maintains expert knowledge and proactively applies to GSK projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD degree

#LI-GSK*

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is 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. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

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 thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people 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.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are open to all talent. In the US, we also adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to neurodiversity, race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class*(*US only).

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

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