Head Third Party Operational Strategy - Central and Speciality Lab

GSK•Upper Providence, PA

About The Position

As Head of Third Party Strategy in Platform Sciences at GSK, you will play a pivotal role in driving the laboratory strategy for central and speciality laboratories used in therapeutic programs across early and late-stage clinical development. You will lead a team of third party oversight (TPO) professionals ensuring operational excellence, resource alignment, and compliance with regulatory and scientific standards. This role requires cross therapeutic area scientific knowledge, strong leadership, strategic vision, and the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality laboratory strategies and oversight that support GSK’s mission to get ahead of disease.

Requirements

Doctoral degree, Master’s degree, or Bachelor’s degree and equivalent experience.
Extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in Laboratory management.
Demonstrated experience in strategy deployment and communication planning with third parties.
Proven ability to work in cross-company, matrix team environments.
Strong background in clinical trial design, laboratory execution, and clinical biomarker development/operations.
Expertise in central laboratory operations, including study start-up, sample tracking/reconciliation, and analysis.
Extensive experience in outsourcing processes and vendor management/oversight.
Experience coordinating multiple demands and timelines, stakeholder influence, and managing expectations
Strong understanding of regulatory guidelines and legal requirements within major markets
Demonstrated ability to present to senior leaders to achieve required investments
Demonstrated ability to lead a group or team and define strategy for that group
Strong understanding of clinical safety, PK Bioanalysis, PD Biomarker, Exploratory Biomarker, Immunogenicity, and/or cellular assay technical limitations and associated regulations and certifications

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of therapeutic areas such as Vaccines, Oncology, Respiratory, Immunology, or Infectious Diseases.
Demonstrated success in coaching and mentoring teams.
Ability to thrive in a matrix environment and leverage influencing and relationship-building skills.
Experience in developing and implementing agile, creative solutions to solve business challenges.
Adaptability to changing priorities in a dynamic work environment.
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written/verbal communication skills with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

Strategic Direction and Operational Excellence Define and communicate a clear strategic direction for third-party laboratory partnerships, ensuring alignment with GSK’s overall objectives. Lead efforts to uphold operational excellence across these partnerships, consistently aiming for the highest standards of service and delivery.
Team Leadership and Development Mentor and support Third Party Oversight (TPO) and study teams, guiding them in the identification of suitable external partners, expertise, and technologies. Foster a collaborative environment that encourages professional growth and knowledge sharing among team members.
Vendor Management and Performance Establish robust performance expectations for vendors, maintaining ongoing dialogue and conducting regular performance reviews. Proactively monitor key performance indicators, driving continuous improvements in trial delivery in collaboration with Design Assurance and BTALS teams.
Issue Resolution and Contract Support Serve as the escalation point for third-party issues that cannot be resolved at the project team level. Provide expert input during contract negotiations and assist procurement teams in dispute resolution, ensuring favourable outcomes for GSK.
Stakeholder Engagement Maintain strong, effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Support the Global Clinical Operations (GCO) Therapeutic Area (TA)and Biosample Therapeutic Area Lead (BTAL) teams in developing optimal trial strategies and identifying process improvements to achieve cost-effective delivery.
Technology and Process Optimisation Collaborate with the tech and digital team to identify and evaluate technology-enabled solutions that can expedite programme delivery. Seek and support opportunities for process innovation throughout all phases of partnership.
Compliance and Continuous Improvement Ensure all activities are compliant with country regulations, GSK Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and other relevant regulations. Conduct regular lessons learnt sessions to promote ongoing team development and embed a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Cross-functional Collaboration and Review Lead periodic cross-functional review meetings with Contract Research Organisation (CRO) partners, analysing performance data to identify trends and new opportunities for process enhancement. Collaborate with internal teams such as Design Assurance, Procurement, and Digital/Tech to support due diligence and operational activities.
Risk Management and Governance Oversee portfolio-level risk management activities, maintaining and monitoring SOPs and key performance indicators for vendor performance. Document and implement vendor communication and escalation plans to ensure efficient and effective governance.
Strategic Partnerships and Transformation Build and sustain strong, long-term relationships with key third-party partners, overseeing governance processes that support GSK’s strategic needs. Lead joint steering committees, ensuring collaborations are aligned with project timelines and strategic objectives. Identify new opportunities for strategic alliances and work closely with business development teams to shape future strategies. Implement strategic transformation initiatives to enhance delivery outcomes with third-party vendors.