Job Title: Director, Product Strategy & Innovation
Company: GSK
Location: Stevenage, United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Strategy & Innovation / Clinical Operations Technology
Date Posted: January 09, 2026
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: On-site
- Drive strategic innovation within Clinical Operations Platforms & Innovation (CP&I) to redefine clinical research operationalization.
- Lead the development, acquisition, or collaboration on novel solutions to enhance clinical trial value, efficiency, and acceleration across GSK's portfolio.
- Act as the business product owner, guiding cross-functional teams in delivering next-generation data acquisition and future-state clinical trial solutions.
- Champion the simplification of the GCO technology ecosystem and define new site and patient workflows through systems thinking and product development expertise.
- Ensure successful adoption of new processes and products, maximizing opportunities and delivering measurable Return on Investment (ROI).
📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within a specialized innovation group, CP&I, focused on transforming clinical trial operations. The "Director, Product Strategy & Innovation" title suggests a blend of strategic oversight, product lifecycle management, and hands-on leadership in a research and development context, with a strong emphasis on technology and process optimization within the pharmaceutical industry. The focus is on creating tangible improvements in how clinical trials are executed.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Identify and champion opportunities for innovation to accelerate Global Clinical Operations (GCO) activities and enhance patient outcomes.
- Serve as the business product owner, collaborating with technology, domain experts, data engineers, and business SMEs to deliver innovation solutions aligned with GCO's vision for next-generation data acquisition and future-state clinical trials.
- Facilitate discovery and brainstorming sessions to identify transformational simplifications within the GCO technology ecosystem, including system consolidation and improved site/patient workflows.
- Leverage product development experience and clinical trial execution knowledge to pinpoint areas for optimization and efficiency gains.
- Manage product development budgets, ensuring all ROI commitments are met and value realization is tracked.
- Drive the successful adoption of new processes and products across the organization, acting as a key change agent.
- Accountable for identifying and maximizing the potential of initiatives and products under development.
- Lead the development and implementation of one to two major innovation products, remaining hands-on with teams throughout the exploration, testing, iteration, and validation phases.
- Manage key stakeholder relationships across cross-functional teams, including regular interactions with functional heads and department leads to deliver innovation and value.
- Engage with senior stakeholders to ensure successful tooling adoption and confirm that solutions effectively address business challenges.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on leadership role requiring a deep understanding of both product management and the intricacies of clinical trial operations. The emphasis on "one or two major products" suggests a focused yet impactful role, where the Director will be deeply involved in the entire product lifecycle from ideation to adoption and value realization, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder alignment.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Technology, Life Science, or equivalent relevant work experience.
Experience:
- 10+ years of experience in roles requiring strategic product development, process optimization, and innovation leadership.
- Proven track record of successfully launching enterprise-grade products to market, with demonstrated success in scaling deployments to thousands of users and achieving measurable adoption and impact.
- Experience leveraging data analytics, business intelligence, or machine learning to improve enterprise planning, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making.
- Demonstrated experience with software products, predictive modeling, and applied ML/AI algorithms to solve complex business challenges.
- Proven experience in leading and developing high-performing teams to drive business transformation, with a focus on coaching, mentoring, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
- Expertise in at least two of the following: business process reengineering, business transformation, process optimization, 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 to facilitate collaboration with engineering teams and accelerate development cycles.
Required Skills:
- Product Management: Deep understanding of product lifecycle management, from ideation to launch and post-launch optimization.
- Data Analytics & Business Intelligence: Ability to leverage data to identify trends, opportunities, and drive strategic decisions.
- Machine Learning/AI Acumen: Understanding of ML/AI applications for solving complex business challenges and improving operational efficiency.
- Business Process Reengineering/Optimization: Expertise in analyzing, redesigning, and optimizing business processes for efficiency and effectiveness.
- Systems Thinking: Ability to understand and analyze complex interconnected systems and their impact on overall operations.
- Prototyping & Solution Exploration: Experience in developing and testing new solutions and concepts.
- Team Leadership & Development: Proven ability to lead, coach, and mentor high-performing teams, fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
- Stakeholder Management: Skill in building consensus, influencing, and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders across all levels of an organization.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with various teams, including technology, domain experts, and business SMEs.
- Clinical Trial Process Knowledge: Familiarity with the landscape of clinical trials and drug development processes.
Preferred Skills:
- Deep understanding and application of systems thinking principles to holistically analyze and optimize interconnected processes across large-scale organizations.
- 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, and familiarity with the regulatory, scientific, and operational challenges unique to the sector.
- Proven ability to lead and navigate cross-functional teams through complex, multi-phase projects—from early ideation and conceptual design to full-scale delivery and implementation.
- Demonstrated ability to build consensus and influence directly and indirectly across matrixed organizations, translating complex problem statements into actionable solutions with measurable business value.
- Demonstrated ability to engage, influence, and collaborate effectively with senior stakeholders to align priorities, drive business impact, and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Expertise in engaging, influencing, and collaborating with senior and executive teams to align business needs and expectations, chart a course, and translate them into tangible outcomes.
📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of technical understanding, strategic product leadership, and deep domain knowledge within the pharmaceutical R&D and clinical operations space. The "10+ years" experience level, coupled with requirements for launching enterprise-grade products and leading teams, positions this as a senior leadership role. The preference for systems thinking and broad pharma industry knowledge is critical for success in transforming complex operational landscapes.
- Showcase examples of successfully launched products or initiatives with quantifiable metrics on user adoption, efficiency gains, or ROI.
- Demonstrate a structured approach to product development and innovation, including ideation, validation, prototyping, and scaling.
- Present case studies detailing how you've used data analytics, ML/AI, or systems thinking to solve complex business challenges.
- Highlight experience in transforming or optimizing business processes, illustrating the methodology used and the impact achieved.
- Include examples of managing budgets and delivering projects within financial constraints, demonstrating ROI commitment.
Process Documentation:
- Documented processes for identifying and evaluating innovation opportunities within a complex organizational structure.
- Examples of workflow design for new product implementations, focusing on user adoption and operational integration.
- Evidence of process optimization methodologies applied to clinical trial operations or related R&D processes.
- Documentation of how new technologies and digital enablers were integrated into existing operational workflows.
- Records of stakeholder engagement plans and communication strategies for driving process adoption.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a role at this level focused on "Product Strategy & Innovation," a comprehensive portfolio is essential. It should not only showcase past successes but also demonstrate a strategic and systematic approach to innovation, process improvement, and product management, particularly within the highly regulated pharmaceutical environment. Emphasis should be placed on the ability to translate complex challenges into actionable, scalable solutions with measurable business impact.
Salary Range:
- Poland: The annual base salary for this position in Poland is not specified, but the provided text indicates a range of PLN 0 to PLN 0 gross. This is likely a placeholder, and actual compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process.
- Other Locations: Salary ranges vary significantly by country based on market rates. Compensation details for other potential job sites will be discussed during the recruitment process.
- Statutory Benefits (Poland): All statutory benefits will be maintained in accordance with Polish law.
- Additional Benefits (Poland, potential for other locations):
- Private Healthcare
- Additional Paid Days Off
- Life Insurance
- Private Pension Plan
- Fully Paid Parental Leave
- Care of Family Member Leave
- Bonus/Awards: The position may be eligible for a bonus based on defined, non-discretionary criteria, and/or awards for exceptional performance (at employer's discretion).
Working Hours:
- Approximately 40 hours per week.
- GSK promotes an agile working culture, encouraging discussions with the hiring team regarding flexibility opportunities.
📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary information for Poland (PLN 0-0) is clearly a placeholder and requires direct inquiry during the recruitment process. The extensive list of potential benefits, especially the fully paid parental and family care leaves, indicates a strong employee support program. The mention of agile working culture suggests flexibility may be available, but it's best to confirm specifics with the hiring manager. The note about US Transparency requirements for healthcare professionals is a compliance detail and not a benefit but is important for relevant applicants to be aware of.
Industry: Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology. GSK is a global leader focused on uniting science, technology, and talent to prevent and treat diseases through innovative specialty medicines and vaccines.Company Size: Large Enterprise (GSK is a global biopharma company with a significant workforce and presence worldwide).Founded: GSK was formed in 2000 through the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham, with a history of pharmaceutical innovation dating back much further.
Team Structure:
- The Product Strategy & Innovation group is situated within CP&I (Clin Ops Platforms & Innovation), which is part of the GCO (Global Clinical Operations) organization.
- This group is described as a "small and responsive innovation group," suggesting a focused, agile team environment within a larger corporate structure.
- It operates with a diverse mix of skills and backgrounds, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration.
- The Director will work closely with tech teams, domain experts, data engineers, and business SMEs.
- Regular interaction with functional heads and department leads is expected for innovation delivery and stakeholder management.
Methodology:
- Data-Driven Approaches: CP&I's mission includes building capability and delivering data-driven approaches for decision-making.
- Systems Thinking: The role requires a deep understanding of systems thinking to optimize interconnected processes.
- Product Development Discipline: A structured approach to product management, from discovery and ideation to testing, iteration, and scaling.
- Agile Working Culture: GSK promotes agility, suggesting iterative development, flexibility, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Innovation Focus: The core remit is to explore, test, iterate, and validate novel solutions.
📝 Enhancement Note: GSK's culture is built on being "ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and doing the right thing." The Product Strategy & Innovation team is positioned as a forward-thinking, agile unit within a large, established biopharma company, aiming to drive significant operational transformation through technology and innovative approaches. The team structure emphasizes collaboration across diverse expertise areas.
Operations Career Level: Director level, signifying a senior leadership position responsible for strategic direction, product ownership, and significant impact on operational efficiency and innovation within Global Clinical Operations. This role is key in shaping the future of clinical trial execution at GSK.Reporting Structure: The role reports into the CP&I (Clin Ops Platforms & Innovation) group, which is part of GCO (Global Clinical Operations). This suggests a reporting line to a senior leader within GCO or CP&I, with significant autonomy in managing product strategy and innovation initiatives.Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the efficiency, speed, and effectiveness of GSK's clinical trials. By driving innovation and adopting new technologies, it contributes to faster drug development, reduced costs, and ultimately, getting life-changing medicines to patients sooner. The focus on ROI and adoption ensures that innovations translate into tangible business value.
- Strategic Leadership: Opportunity to shape the long-term product strategy and innovation roadmap for Global Clinical Operations, influencing how GSK conducts clinical research.
- Technology & Innovation Exposure: Work at the forefront of applying advanced technologies (AI, ML, data analytics) to complex R&D challenges, fostering deep expertise.
- Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence across multiple departments (Tech, R&D, Clinical Operations, Regulatory), enhancing leadership and collaboration skills.
- Product Lifecycle Management: Gain comprehensive experience in managing complex, high-impact products from conception through to large-scale global deployment.
- Mentorship and Team Development: Opportunity to lead and mentor a team of diverse professionals, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, which can lead to future leadership roles.
- Industry Recognition: Contribute to projects that could set new industry standards for clinical trial operations, enhancing professional reputation.
📝 Enhancement Note: This Director-level role offers significant strategic influence and growth potential within a leading pharmaceutical company. The emphasis on innovation and transformation within clinical operations provides a rich environment for developing advanced product management, strategic leadership, and technological expertise, paving the way for further senior leadership opportunities within GSK or the broader biopharma industry.
Office Type: This is an on-site role, implying a traditional office-based work environment within GSK's Stevenage facilities.Office Location(s): Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. This location serves as a key hub for GSK's R&D activities.Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, suggesting an open or hybrid workspace designed to facilitate interaction and knowledge sharing.
- Technology-Rich: As part of an innovation group, expect access to modern technology infrastructure, tools for prototyping (e.g., VS Code, Copilot), and data analytics platforms.
- Innovation Hub: The team is positioned as a responsive innovation group, likely fostering a dynamic and forward-thinking atmosphere where experimentation and idea generation are encouraged.
- Focus on Process Improvement: The work environment will likely support a culture of continuous improvement, where processes are regularly reviewed and optimized.
Work Schedule:
- Standard full-time working hours (approx. 40 hours/week).
- GSK promotes an agile working culture, which may offer some flexibility in scheduling, to be discussed with the hiring team. This flexibility would need to accommodate the demands of product development, cross-functional collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.
📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Stevenage indicates a commitment to a physical presence, likely for intensive collaboration and access to specific R&D facilities. While agile working is mentioned, the core responsibilities and the nature of innovation leadership suggest a structured, albeit potentially flexible, work schedule is expected.
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: Review of CV and application, likely focusing on alignment with basic and preferred qualifications, especially product launch experience and leadership in innovation/transformation.
- Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion of your experience, approach to product strategy, innovation, and team leadership. This stage will assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.
- Cross-Functional Panel Interview: You will likely meet with key stakeholders from technology, clinical operations, and other relevant departments. Expect questions on your experience with cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder management, and systems thinking.
- Case Study/Presentation: A common step for Director-level roles. You may be asked to present a past project or tackle a hypothetical problem related to product innovation or process optimization in clinical trials. This is where your portfolio will be critical.
- Final Interview: Potentially with a senior executive to confirm strategic fit and leadership capabilities.
- Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate your capabilities in product strategy, innovation, and driving measurable business outcomes (efficiency, ROI).
- Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly articulate:
- The Problem Statement/Opportunity
- Your Role and Responsibilities
- The Innovation/Solution Developed
- The Methodology/Process Used (including tools, systems, and collaboration)
- Key Challenges Faced and How You Overcame Them
- Quantifiable Results (metrics, ROI, adoption rates)
- Lessons Learned
- Highlight Impact and ROI: Emphasize how your work delivered tangible business value, aligning with GSK's focus on patient impact and accountability.
- Showcase Systems Thinking: Include examples where you've addressed complex, interconnected systems and demonstrated a holistic approach to problem-solving.
- Tailor to GSK: If possible, subtly align your examples with GSK's therapeutic areas or operational challenges.
- Anticipate Strategy Questions: Be ready to discuss your vision for innovation in clinical operations, how you'd identify opportunities, and your approach to product development and scaling.
- Prepare for Process Optimization Scenarios: Think about common inefficiencies in clinical trials and how you would systematically address them using your product and process expertise.
- Practice Presentation Skills: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and case studies concisely and persuasively. Focus on storytelling that highlights leadership, problem-solving, and impact.
- Understand GSK: Research GSK's mission, therapeutic areas, and recent innovations to demonstrate your understanding and interest.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Director role at GSK will be rigorous, focusing on strategic thinking, leadership, and a proven ability to deliver results in complex environments. A well-prepared, data-driven portfolio is paramount, serving as the primary evidence of your capabilities. Candidates should be ready to articulate their strategic vision and demonstrate how they drive innovation and achieve measurable impact.
Primary Tools:
- Prototyping & Development: VS Code, Copilot, Lovable, or similar rapid development/prototyping tools for collaboration with engineering teams and accelerating development cycles.
- Product Management Platforms: Tools for roadmap planning, backlog management, and collaboration (e.g., Jira, Asana, Aha!).
- Collaboration Suites: Microsoft Office 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, etc.) for daily communication, document sharing, and project coordination.
Analytics & Reporting:
- Data Analytics Tools: Proficiency in leveraging tools like Tableau, Power BI, or custom BI platforms for data analysis, visualization, and reporting.
- Business Intelligence (BI) Platforms: Experience with BI solutions to derive insights from enterprise data.
- Machine Learning/AI Platforms: Familiarity with platforms or environments where ML/AI models are developed and deployed (e.g., cloud-based ML services, Python libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
CRM & Automation:
- CRM Systems: While not explicitly stated as a primary responsibility, understanding of CRM principles and their integration into broader operational workflows (e.g., Salesforce) is beneficial within a large enterprise.
- Workflow Automation Tools: Experience with tools that facilitate business process automation and workflow management.
- Integration Platforms: Understanding of how different systems are integrated to ensure seamless data flow and operational efficiency.
📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes tools for rapid prototyping and development, core analytics and ML/AI capabilities, and collaboration. A strong understanding of how these tools integrate and support broader business processes, particularly within the R&D and clinical trial context, is crucial. The mention of VS Code and Copilot points towards a modern, developer-centric approach to innovation.
Operations Values:
- Ambitious for Patients: A primary driver for all work, ensuring that innovations and process improvements ultimately benefit patients by accelerating access to new treatments.
- Accountable for Impact: A strong emphasis on delivering measurable results and demonstrating tangible value, particularly in terms of efficiency, cost savings, and trial acceleration.
- Doing the Right Thing: Upholding ethical standards, scientific integrity, and regulatory compliance in all aspects of work, especially critical in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Innovation & Curiosity: A culture that encourages exploring new ideas, embracing new technologies, and challenging the status quo to find better ways of working.
- Collaboration & Inclusion: Valuing diverse perspectives and fostering an inclusive environment where all team members can contribute their best work.
- Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where close partnerships with IT, R&D, Clinical Operations, and other business units are essential for success.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Decisions are expected to be informed by data and analytical insights, fostering a culture of evidence-based practice.
- Agile & Iterative: Embracing agile methodologies means working in iterative cycles, seeking feedback, and adapting plans as needed.
- Proactive Communication: Open and transparent communication is key, especially when managing stakeholders, driving change, and navigating complex projects.
- Continuous Improvement Mindset: A culture that actively seeks opportunities to refine processes, enhance tools, and improve overall operational performance.
📝 Enhancement Note: GSK's core values are deeply embedded in its culture. For this role, the team culture will likely reflect these values, with a strong focus on patient outcomes, accountability for results, and ethical conduct. The collaborative style will be essential for driving innovation across diverse functional groups within the organization.
- Navigating a Large Organization: Driving significant innovation and change within a large, established biopharma company like GSK requires strong influencing skills and strategic navigation.
- Balancing Innovation and Regulation: Innovating in a highly regulated environment like clinical trials demands a careful balance between adopting new technologies and ensuring compliance with strict guidelines.
- Achieving Scalable Adoption: Successfully transitioning innovative solutions from pilot phases to widespread organizational adoption across diverse user groups and geographies can be challenging.
- Defining and Measuring ROI: Clearly defining and quantifying the return on investment for innovation projects, especially those with long-term strategic benefits, can be complex.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Gaining consensus and aligning priorities among various departments with potentially different objectives and priorities.
- Advanced Product Strategy: Deepen expertise in developing and executing product strategies for complex, high-impact initiatives in the pharmaceutical sector.
- Emerging Technologies: Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, ML, and advanced analytics in a real-world R&D context.
- Leadership Development: Enhance skills in leading diverse, cross-functional teams, driving transformation, and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Industry Best Practices: Stay abreast of evolving trends in clinical trial operations, digital health, and pharmaceutical innovation through industry engagement and internal knowledge sharing.
- Specialization: Potential to develop deep expertise in specific therapeutic areas or operational domains within GSK's R&D pipeline.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior innovation roles in large, regulated industries. Overcoming them will require strong leadership, strategic acumen, and a deep understanding of both technology and the pharmaceutical R&D landscape. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a path for significant career advancement and skill development.
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe your vision for the future of clinical trial operations, and how product strategy can drive that vision." (Prepare by thinking about GSK's mission and current industry trends, focusing on digital transformation and patient-centricity.)
- "How do you identify and prioritize innovation opportunities within a large, complex organization like GSK?" (Prepare examples of your process for opportunity assessment, market analysis, and strategic alignment.)
- "Walk me through how you would approach developing and scaling a new technology product for clinical trial execution, from ideation to full adoption." (Prepare a structured response covering discovery, prototyping, validation, change management, and ROI measurement.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What do you know about GSK's approach to innovation and technology in R&D, and how does your experience align with that?" (Research GSK's public statements on innovation, technology, and their therapeutic areas.)
- "How would you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your team and across the GCO organization?" (Prepare examples of leadership styles and initiatives that promote creativity, learning, and accountability.)
- "How do you ensure that technological innovations deliver measurable business value and meet patient needs?" (Prepare to discuss your metrics-driven approach and how you link operational improvements to patient outcomes and business impact.)
- Storytelling with Data: Frame your portfolio presentations as compelling stories, using data to support your claims. Start with the problem, detail your solution, and end with the quantifiable impact.
- Focus on "Why" and "How": Clearly articulate the strategic rationale behind your decisions ("why") and the detailed methodology you employed ("how").
- Demonstrate Leadership: Highlight instances where you led teams, influenced stakeholders, and drove change.
- Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your projects, including challenges, trade-offs, and alternative approaches you considered.
- Connect to GSK's Mission: Whenever possible, draw parallels between your past successes and GSK's strategic goals, particularly its focus on patients and scientific advancement.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, proven leadership in innovation and product management, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical R&D landscape. Candidates need to be ready to articulate their vision, showcase their ability to drive tangible results, and demonstrate how they can effectively collaborate and influence within a large, complex organization like GSK.
To apply for this operations position:
- Submit your application through the provided link on the GSK Careers portal.
- Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and achievements related to product strategy, innovation, clinical trial operations, data analytics, ML/AI, business transformation, and team leadership. Quantify your achievements with specific metrics wherever possible.
- Portfolio Customization: Prepare a concise portfolio (digital or presentation) showcasing 2-3 of your most relevant and impactful projects. Focus on demonstrating innovation, process optimization, product launch success, and ROI. Be ready to walk through these case studies during the interview process.
- Company & Role Research: Deeply research GSK's mission, therapeutic areas, recent news, and the specific goals of the CP&I and GCO organizations. Understand the company's approach to innovation and technology.
- Interview Practice: Practice articulating your experience, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities. Prepare responses to common interview questions, and rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure clarity and impact.
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in Technology, Life Science, or equivalent experience, along with a proven track record in launching successful products. Experience in leading high-performing teams and expertise in business process reengineering or related fields is also required.
Private Healthcare, Additional Paid Days Off, Life Insurance, Private Pension Plan, Fully Paid Parental Leave, Care of Family Member Leave