Senior Director - Strategic Project Lead

GSK • Philadelphia, PA

3d • $188,925 - $314,875

About The Position

GSK's R&D Digital & Tech organization accelerates delivery of medicines and vaccines by providing technology, data, and AI capabilities for GSK R&D. The Senior Director - Strategic Project Lead is the accountable leader for the Digital and Tech delivery of one or more large strategic technology projects, typically investments of £30 million or more. The role owns program governance, delivery, financial management, and reporting of value outcomes. The first program is likely to be GSK R&D's migration to and adoption of a single cloud capability, consolidating two strategic clouds over an expected 12–18 months to support GSK's future cloud platform strategy and AI ambitions.

This is an enterprise transformation leadership role focused on program leadership rather than deep cloud engineering. The role defines outcomes, secures funding, builds teams, and modernizes delivery through AI and automation. It holds technology and delivery partners accountable and ensures projects are delivered on time, in full, to budget, and in a way that enables pipeline value delivery to GSK R&D.

The role also promotes GSK's culture of trust, psychological safety, collaboration, inclusion, and strong execution fundamentals. It attracts, develops, and supports people and fosters an environment in which teams can thrive in an AI-driven future.

Requirements

• 12 or more years of significant experience in technology program management within a complex, global organization.
• Track record leading large, complex enterprise transformation programs, such as global, multi-year, high-value cloud modernization, digital transformation, or enterprise platform migration initiatives, from business case approval through delivery and transition to business-as-usual operations.
• Direct ownership of end-to-end program outcomes, including governance, risk management, and complex dependency management, rather than PMO coordination alone.
• Proven record of driving program delivery, automation, and cycle-time improvement for strategic initiatives delivered on time and at scale.
• Experience presenting to and influencing executive stakeholders, including CIOs, executive committees, and senior business and technology leaders.
• Direct involvement in program financial management, including defining budgets, securing funding, managing spend within tolerance, and tracking value against an approved business case.
• Experience owning major supplier relationships, including vendor selection, contract governance, commercial accountability, and leadership of consulting partners and technology providers.
• Working knowledge of cloud transformation concepts sufficient to engage with cloud providers and technology leaders and challenge vendors on plans and quality.
• Understanding of AI and automation and how they can accelerate large-scale technology delivery and migrations.
• Background in digital/technology, operations, or related fields.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in pharma, life sciences, or another highly regulated environment; candidates from big tech or enterprise technology organizations seeking to move into life sciences are also encouraged to apply.
• Experience leading large-scale cloud migration or cloud consolidation programs.
• Prior technical leadership experience followed by a move into program or transformation leadership.
• Experience navigating GxP, information security, and compliance requirements in technology delivery.
• Experience using AI-enabled or automated delivery methodologies to accelerate program delivery.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders and project teams to define program outcomes and value and obtain business case approval.
• Provide executive-level governance, status reporting, and strategic oversight to CIOs, executive committees, and senior business and technology leaders.
• Define budgets, secure funding, develop financial cases, and manage spending within agreed tolerances.
• Establish program governance, including decision rights, forums, and reporting cadence.
• Manage cross-functional risks, issues, and dependencies across technology functions, vendors, and business partners.
• Build the project team and establish the structure and resourcing needed for delivery.
• Own major vendor relationships, including provider selection, contracts, contract governance, and commercial accountability.
• Lead cloud providers, consulting partners, and technology suppliers, holding them accountable for delivery commitments.
• Engage credibly in technical discussions with cloud providers and internal technology leaders, challenging plans, estimates, and quality as needed.
• Deliver 100% of agreed milestones on time and in full, partnering across technology functions.
• Maintain budget discipline and keep project spend and headcount variance within agreed thresholds.
• Track delivery of value against the approved business case and clearly report realized value to senior leadership.
• Champion AI-enabled and automated delivery methods to improve efficiency, free team capacity, and accelerate migration; challenge vendors to deliver AI-supported efficiencies.
• Ensure solutions comply with GSK policies and standards, including GxP requirements where applicable.
• Protect information security by ensuring appropriate controls throughout program delivery.
• Ensure solutions transition into business-as-usual operations with ongoing support and maintenance in place.
• Role-model and promote GSK's culture, including trust, psychological safety, collaboration, inclusion, and brilliant basics.
• Attract, develop, and support people and partner on learning and development initiatives.
• Foster a supportive, connected environment that prepares teams for an AI-driven future.
• Measure and report success against milestones, delivery-cycle improvements through automation and AI, committed business-case value and budget, and improvements in trust, inclusion, and brilliant basics.

Benefits

• Annual bonus.
• Eligibility to participate in a share-based long-term incentive program, dependent on role level.
• Health care and other insurance benefits for employees and their families.
• Retirement benefits.
• Paid holidays.
• Vacation.
• Paid caregiver, parental, and medical leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed