Director, Product Strategy and Innovation

The Design Project; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global biopharma company is seeking a Director of Product Strategy & Innovation. This role will focus on driving innovation within clinical trials by acting as the business product owner. With at least 10 years of experience in product strategy and operational improvement, the candidate will lead teams to deliver next-generation solutions while managing budgets to meet ROI commitments. The ideal candidate will excel at fostering cross-functional collaboration and optimizing processes for efficiency.

Benefits

Private Healthcare

Additional Paid Days Off

Life Insurance

Fully Paid Parental Leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in product strategy and operational improvement.
• Proven track record of successful product launches in consumer-facing environments.
• Expertise in business process reengineering and product management.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation opportunities to enhance clinical trial execution.
• Serve as the business product owner for innovative solutions.
• Manage product development budgets, ensuring ROI commitments are met.

Skills

Product Management

Data Analytics & Business Intelligence

Innovation & Strategy

Stakeholder Engagement

Process Optimisation

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Technology or Life Science

Tools

Jira

Tableau

Power BI

VS Code

Job description

Job Title: Director, Product Strategy & Innovation
Company: GSK
Location: Stevenage, United Kingdom; Wavre, Belgium; Siena, Italy; Mississauga, Canada; London, United Kingdom; Collegeville, United States; Warsaw, Poland
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Product Strategy & Innovation / Clinical Operations Technology
Date Posted: January 9, 2026
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: On-site

• This Director role is instrumental in driving innovation within GSK's Global Clinical Operations (GCO) by redefining how clinical research is operationalized through novel solutions.
urn>
• You will act as the business product owner, collaborating with cross‑functional teams to deliver next‑generation data acquisition and clinical trial solutions aligned with the GCO vision.
• Key responsibilities include identifying opportunities for acceleration, simplifying the technology ecosystem, and optimizing processes for efficiency and value realization.
• The role demands a blend of product development expertise, systems thinking, and a strong understanding of clinical trial methodologies toaie successful product launches and widespread adoption.
• You will be accountable for budget management, ensuring return on investment (ROI) commitments are met, and driving the adoption of new processes and products across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Director, Product Strategy & Innovation," the description heavily emphasizes its placement within "Clin Ops Platforms & Innovation (CP&I)" and "Global Clinical Operations (GCO)." This indicates the role is deeply embedded within the operational technology and process improvement functions of clinical trials, rather than general product management for a commercial offering. The focus on "redefining the way we operationalize clinical research" and "next‑generation data acquisition and future‑state clinical trials" strongly suggests a Revenue Operations (RevOps) or GTM Operations adjacent function, focusing on driving efficiency and acceleration within the clinical research lifecycle.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the identification and evaluation of innovation opportunities to accelerate Global Clinical Operations (GCO) activities and enhance clinical trial execution.
• Serve as the business product owner, driving the delivery of innovative solutions in collaboration with technology, domain experts, data engineers, and business subject‑matter experts (SMEs).
• Facilitate discovery and brainstorming sessions to identify opportunities for transformational simplification of the GCO technology ecosystem, including system consolidation and the redesign of site and patient workflows.
• Apply product development experience and clinical trial knowledge to identify areas for process optimization and efficiency gains across GCO.
• Manage product development budgets, ensuring that return on investment (ROI) commitments are met and demonstrating tangible business value.
• Drive the successful adoption of new processes and products rolled out to the organization, ensuring user buy‑in and effective implementation.
• Accountable for maximizing the value and impact of identified opportunities and developed solutions.
• Oversee the development and implementation of one or two major product initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Actively engage with teams to explore, test, iterate, and validate potential solutions with stakeholders and customers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage key stakeholders across cross‑functional teams, including functional heads and department leads, to identify and deliver innovation and value.
• Regularly engage with senior stakeholders to ensure tooling adoption and validate that solutions are effectively addressing business problems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a role focused on operational excellence within clinical research. The emphasis on "identifying opportunities for innovation to drive acceleration," "simplifying the GCO technology ecosystem," "optimising areas of optimisation and efficiency," and "ensuring adoption of new process and products" are core tenets of operations management and GTM strategy execution, applied here to the clinical operations domain.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Technology, Life Science, or a related field, or equivalent work experience in similar positions.
spicy>

Experience:

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in roles involving product strategy, innovation, and operational improvement.
• Proven track record of launching successful enterprise‑grade products to market with measurable adoption and impact, ideally in consumer‑facing environments or with scaled deployments.
• Demonstrated experience with software products, predictive modeling, and applied machine learning (ML) / artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to solve complex business challenges.
• Proven experience in leading and developing high‑performing teams, focusing on coaching, mentoring, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Expertise in two or more of the following areas: business process reengineering, business transformation, process optimisation, product management, engineering, product design, or related fields.
• Experience in prototyping and solution exploration using platforms such as VS Code and Copilot, Lovable, or similar tools.

Required Skills:

Product Management: Deep understanding of product lifecycle management, road mapping, and go‑to‑market strategies.

Data Analytics & Business Intelligence: Proficiency in leveraging data to drive insights, inform decisions, and measure performance.

Innovation & Strategy: Ability to identify and champion new ideas, technologies, and approaches to solve complex problems.

Systems Thinking: Capacity to understand and optimise interconnected processes and technology across a large organisation.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including tech, clinical SMEs, and business stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement: Skill in building consensus, influencing directly and indirectly, and managing expectations with senior leadership.

Process Optimisation: Expertise in re‑engineering and optimising business processes for efficiency and effectiveness.

Team Leadership: Experience in leading, coaching, and mentoring teams to achieve high performance and drive transformation.

Preferred Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of systems thinking principles to holistically analyse and optimise interconnected processes across large‑scale organisations.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts and strategies to diverse audiences.
• Broad knowledge of Pharma industry processes, particularly within R&D, clinical development, or drug discovery.
• Familiarity with regulatory, scientific, and operational challenges unique to the pharmaceutical sector.
• Proven ability to lead and navigate cross‑functional teams through complex, multi‑phase projects.
• Demonstrated ability Meinung to build consensus and influence directly and indirectly across matrixed organisations.
• Experience in translating complex problem statements into actionable solutions with measurable business value.
\ จังหวัด>െടുക്ക AbilityWriteλόγεις to engage, influence, and collaborate effectively with senior stakeholders to align priorities and drive business impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "leveraging data analytics, business intelligence, or machine learning to improve enterprise planning, operational efficiency-é strategic decision‑making" along with a proven track record of helping launch successful products to market, and expertise in business process reengineering, business transformation, and process optimisation are all highly relevant to operations roles. The inclusion of "systems thinking" and "prototyping using platforms such as VS Code and Copilot" points towards a modern, tech‑enabled operations approach edelleen.

• Process Improvement Case Studies: Showcase 2‑3 detailed examples of significant process improvements led or influenced, detailing the "as‑is" state, the implemented changes and the quantifiable outcomes (e.g., efficiency gains, cost reduction, acceleration).
• Product Launch Successes: Present evidence of successfully launched products or solutions, illustrating beschermd of your role as a business product owner, the challenges overcome, and the adoption metrics achieved.
• System Integration & Optimisation: Provide examples of how you have contributed to simplifying technology ecosystems, integrating disparate systems, or optimising existing technology platforms to improve operational workflows.
• ROI Demonstration: Include case studies that clearly articulate the return on investment (ROI) for initiatives you've driven, kleurr demonstration of how your work has translated into measurable business value and met financial commitments.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimisation: Demonstrate experience in mapping, analysing, and redesigning complex workflows, particularly within clinical operations or R&D environments. Highlight your ability to create clear, actionable process documentation that supports efficient execution.
• Implementation & Automation: Provide examples of successfully implementing new processes or automated solutionsค้ detailing the change management strategies employed and the resulting improvements in operational speed and accuracy.
• Metrics & Performance Analytics: Showcase your ability to define key performance indicators (KPIs) for processes and products, and to analyse performance data to identify opportunities for further iteration and improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on product strategy and innovation within clinical operations, a portfolio demonstrating tangible impact through process improvement, successful product launches, and system optimisation is crucial.

Salary Range:

• United States phones (Collegeville, PA): an estimated annual base salary range of $160,000‑$220,000 USD. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks forfragt-l樂 director‑level roles in product strategy, innovation, and operations within the pharmaceutical sector in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, considering the 10+ years of experience requirement and the specific responsibilities.
• United Kingdom (Stevenage/London): an estimated annual base salary range of £100,000‑£140,000 GBP. This estimate is based on UK market rates for comparable senior roles in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, factoring in location and experience.
• Belgium (Wavre): an estimated annual base salary range of €100,000‑€130,000 EUR. This estimate reflects typical compensation for senior management roles in the Brussels/Wallonia biopharmaceutical sector.
• Italy (Siena): an estimated annual base salary range of €85,000‑€115,000 EUR. This estimate is based on market data for senior roles in the Italian pharmaceutical industry, particularly in regions with a strong life science presence.
• Canada (Mississauga, ON): an estimated annual base salary range of CAD $150,000‑$200,000 CAD. This estimate is based on compensation trends for similar roles in the Greater Toronto Area's pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.
• Poland (Warsaw): The बल्लेबा provided description states the annual base salary in Poland is PLN 0, but this is likely a placeholder. A realistic estimate for a Director‑level role with 10+ years of experience in Warsaw would be PLN 300,000‑-content 450,000 gross annually, taking into account the significant responsibilities and GSK's global compensationीडिया standards.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes private healthcare plans.
• Paid Time Off: Additional paid days off beyond statutory requirements.
• Insurance: Life insurance coverage.
• Family Support: Fully paid parental leave and care of family member leave.
• Bonus Potential: Eligibility for a bonus based on defined, non‑discretionary criteria (where applicable).
• Performance Awards: Recognition for_button exceptional performance.
• Statutory Benefits: All benefits mandated by Polish law will be maintained.
• Other Benefits: Potential for additional benefits as per company policy.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with an agile working culture encouraging flexibility. Specific arrangements should be discussed with the hiring acompany.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on geographic location, experience level, and industry benchmarks. The Polish salary is a placeholder in the original description and has been estimated realistically. The benefits listed are standard for large multinational corporations, with specific emphasis on family support and health, which are attractive to I trend operations.

Industry: Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Healthcare. GSK is a global biopharma company focused on uniting science, technology, and talent to prevent and treat disease through innovative specialty medicines and vaccines.Company Size: Large Enterprise (GSK employs tens of thousands of people globally). This implies robust processes, extensive resources, and opportunities for significant impact within a structured environment.Founded: The company has a long history, with its modern form established through mergers, most notably the 2000 merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. This heritage suggests stability, deep industry expertise, and a commitment to long‑term research and development.

Team Structure:

• Product Strategy & Innovation Group: A small, responsive innovation unit within CP&I (Clin Ops Platforms & Innovation), part of GCO (Global Clinical Operations).
• Reporting Structure: Likely reports into a senior leader within GCO or a broader Innovation/Digital Transformation function. The role involves significant collaboration across functional heads kutani.department leads.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: The role requires extensive interaction with technology teams, clinical domain experts, data engineers, business SMEs, functional heads, and senior stakeholders across the organization.

Methodology:

• Data‑Driven Decision Making: The CP&I mission emphasizes building capability and delivering data‑driven approaches for decision‑making across politika organization.
• Agile & Innovative Approaches: The team operates as a model for the organization's vision, employing novel analytical approaches and digital operational enablar.
• Test and Learn: The group is designed to build, buy, or collaborate on novel solutions, taking them through a "Test and Start" process for potential scaling and value realization.

📝 Enhancement Note: GSK's focus on "uniting science, technology and talent" and its mission within CP&I highlights a culture that values innovation, data, and cross‑functional collaboration – key elements for success in operations roles. The "Test and Start" process indicates an agile and experimental approach to implementing new solutions.

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Director level, signifying significant responsibility and influence within the clinical operations technology and innovation space. It requires strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to drive substantial change from concept to adoption.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a senior leadership position within Global Clinical Operations (GCO) or a dedicated Innovation/Platform function. It demands close collaboration and interaction with functional heads and department leads, providing visibility across multiple segments of the clinical development organization.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is to drive efficiency, acceleration, and value realization within GSK's clinical trial operations. By innovating and implementing new technologies and processes, this role directly contributes to faster drug development timelines, improved operational effectiveness, and potentially reduced costs.ысын

• Specialization & Leadership: Potential to become a recognized expert and leader in clinical operations technology and innovation, potentially leading larger teams or broader programs in the future.
aguas>
• Cross‑Functional Mobility: Broad exposure to technology, clinical development, and business strategy can open doors to other senior roles within R&D, Digital Transformation, or broader operational leadership at G bajos.
• Industry Influence: Contributing to significant innovations in clinical trial operations can lead to industry recognition and opportunities to shape best practices.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities in emerging technologies, AI/ML applications, and advanced product management methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director‑level role focused on product strategy and innovation within clinical operations, a portfolio that demonstrates tangible impact through process improvement, successful product launches, and system optimization is crucial, aligning with GTM and RevOps success criteria.

Office Type: The role is primarily on‑site, with GSK promoting an agile working culture. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Locations: The role is posted across multiple global sites: Stevenage (UK), Wavre (Belgium), Siena (Italy), Mississauga (Canada), London (UK), Collegeville (USA), and Warsaw (Poland). This indicates a global operational footprint Veja experi.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Offices equipped with meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, and technology to support effective teamwork across diverse, globally distributed teams.
• Technology Access: As a technology‑focused role, employees will have access to essential tools Elm platforms (like VS Code, Copilot), and the necessary IT infrastructure for innovation and development work.
• Cross‑functional Interaction: The physical presence in key GSK hubs facilitates direct interaction with R&D, clinical operations, and technology personnel, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and accelerating problem‑solving.

Work Schedule: Standard full‑time working hours (typically 40 hours per week) are expected, with an emphasis on flexibility. This allows for balance between structured work, project‑based sprints, and personal commitments, crucial for sustained productivity in innovation and operations roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The multi‑location approach and emphasis on agile working suggest a dynamic environment where on‑site presence is valued for collaboration, but flexibility is accommodated. This is typical for innovation and GTM operations roles that require close interaction with various business units.

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will likely conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, role fit, and salary expectations.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Deep dive into experience, leadership style, and understanding of product strategy, innovation, and clinical operations. Expect questions about your track record in launching products and driving transformation.
• Cross‑Functional Panel Interview: You will likely meet with key stakeholders from technology,സി clinical operations and others. This assesses your ability to collaborate, communicate complex ideas, and build consensus across diverse teams.
• < უზ\>
• Case Study/Presentation: Common element for Director‑level roles. Likely given a business challenge related to clinical trial operations or product innovation and asked to present a proposed strategy, process improvements, and potential solutions. This is where you demonstrate portfolio.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive (e.g., VP of GCO or Head of Innovation) to assess strategic alignment, cultural fit, and leadership potential.
• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 high‑impact projects that best demonstrate your experience in product strategy, innovation, process optimisation, and driving measurable outcomes (ROI, efficiency, adoption).
• Quantify Everything: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, the implemented technologies, and quantifiable results.
• Tell a Story: Structure each case study with a clear narrative: the challenge, the approach, the execution, and the impact. Highlight strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills.
• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked across cross‑functional teams, managing stakeholders, and building consensus.
• Tailor to GSK: Research GSK's current strategic priorities in clinical operations and innovation. Frame your portfolio to show alignment.
• Understand the Domain: Familiarize with current trends and challenges in clinical trial operations, Entry pharma, and digital health innovation.
• Practice Problem Framing: Be ready to break down complex problems into manageable components and articulate a clear approach.
• DahColumn
• Strategic Narratives: Practice articulating strategies and solutions concisely, focusing on business value, scalability, and stakeholder alignment.
• Emphasize ROI and Adoption: Always link your solutions to measurable business value and successful adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio demonstrates quantifiable results and strategic approach to innovation and process improvement, aligning with GTM and RevOps success criteria. Interview expectations revolve around evidence of impactful outcomes, stakeholder management, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Development Tools: Experience with platforms like VS Code, GitHub Copilot, and low‑code/no‑code or rapid prototyping tools (e.g.,_interfaces).
• Product Management Software: Tools such as Jira, Confluence, Aha!, or similar for product roadmaps, backlogs, sprints, documentation.
• Collaboration Platforms: Microsoft Teams, Slack, or equivalent for daily communication and teamwork.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence Tools: Proficiency with Tableau, Power BI, QlikView or similar for dashboards and reports tracking operational performance and ROI.
• Data Analysis Tools: Experience with statistical software (R, Python) for deeper data analysis, predictive modeling, ML/AI application.
• CRM/Data Platforms: Familiar with Salesforce or data warehousing solutions to understand data flow integration (not explicitly stated).

CRM & Automation:

• Clinical Trial Management Systems (CTMS): Familiarity with CTMS platforms, relevant to documenting and validating. ;
• Process Automation Tools: Experience with workflow automation tools, platforms scaling operational efficiency.
• Integration Platforms: Understanding of how differing systems communicate, including APIs and middleware.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of VS Code, Copilot, and integration highlights a developer‑centered approach to innovation and robust product development tools as part of the institutional environment.

Operations Values:

• Ambitious for Patients: Core GSK value, leading to impactful innovation that accelerates research and brings therapies to market faster.
• Accountable for Impact: Deliver measurable results and demonstrate tangible millennium of operational improvement and product launch value.
• Doing the Right Thing: Commitment to ethical practices, integrity, and compliance, particularly in the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry.
• Data‑Driven: Emphasis on data analytics, BI, and ML/AI to shape終 decisions and optimize processes.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Culture that embraces experimentation, new tech, and constant improvement to operational efficiency.
• Cross‑Functional Integration:F**/> Enhanced synergy across techn solution groups and clinical operations.
• Agile & Iterative: Plan using agile methodology for iterative roll‑outs and exploration of new solutions.
• Open Communication: Encourage transparency across all levels to align goals and foster shared successes.
• Problem‑Solving Orientation: Successfully navigate complex problems with diverse perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: GSK's values align with expectations for operations in product strategy & innovation, emphasizing patient impact, accountability, data‑driven decisions, and an evolving culture of continuous improvement.

• Balancing Innovation with Operational Rigor: Manage solutions while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational mandates.
• ROI Demonstration: Quantify business outcomes for initiatives ex. cost savings, timeline acceleration. definite.
• Familiarity with cross‑functional matrixed environments, schema and engagement in broad initiatives.

Strategy Questions:

• Describe a time you identified a significant opportunity for innovation and drove implementation. What was the outcome?
• How would you approach simplifying a complex technology ecosystem in clinical operations given regulatory demands?
• Walk me through a product you launched from ideation to market; challenges, ROI, adoption.
• Imagine convincing senior leadership to invest in an AI‑driven risk assessment tool—what is your strategy?

Company & Culture Questions:

• What do you know about GSK's mission and approach to innovation in clinical operations?
• How would you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across cross‑functional groups?
• Describe your experience in an agile environment and balancing agile principles with regulation.
• How do you ensure operations strategies and product developments align with patient ambition?
• Structure is Key: Organize portfolio presentation logically by project theme.
• Visual Aids: use impactful visuals over text.
= (continued). >

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should emphasize strategic thinking, product and operations acumen, leadership, communication, and quantifiable results.

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit yourૂત application through the official GSK careers portal via the provided link.
• Optimize your resume by highlighting keywords and achievements relevant to product strategy, innovation, clinical operations, data analytics, process optimization, and leadership, and quantifying accomplishments.
• Prepare your portfolio: select 2‑3 impactful projects that showcase innovation, improvement, launch, ROI.
• Research GSK: Deep‑comprehend mission, values, therapeutic areas, and innovations.
• Practice narrative: rehearse responses to common interview questions, emphasize continuous improvement, data‑driven decisions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description contains AI‑generated insights; verify all details with the hiring organization.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in Technology or Life Science and experience in data analytics and product management. Proven experience in launching successful products and leading high‑performing teams is essential.

Private Healthcare, Additional Paid Days Off, Life Insurance, Private Pension Plan, Fully Paid Parental Leave, Care of Family Member Leave