At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead GSK's Established Products portfolio, driving sales and strategic growth.
- Company: Join a global biopharma leader committed to innovation and patient health.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that values ambition, accountability, and doing the right thing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Proven commercial leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
The predicted salary is between 58540 - 71548 £ per year.
As Head of Classic and Established Products (CEP), you are accountable for GSK’s UK Established Products (EP) portfolio and the associated c.£200m sales target, leading strategy, performance and governance across 30+ prescription brands in retail pharmacy, hospital and dispensing doctor channels. You will be a highly visible commercial leader, shaping investment and trading strategies, managing risk and compliance, and representing the UK EP portfolio across internal and external senior stakeholder forums.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the UK Established Products (EP) portfolio, delivering sales, profit and growth objectives while ensuring strong financial performance.
- Develop and execute portfolio investment, optimisation and lifecycle strategies to maximise value and sustainable revenue generation.
- Represent UK EP priorities in local, regional and global commercial discussions, ensuring alignment with broader business strategy.
- Build and lead a best-in-class trading and tendering capability, driving commercial performance across pharmacy, wholesaler and retail channels.
- Establish and maintain robust commercial governance frameworks, ensuring compliant, ethical and high-quality business practices.
- Lead strategic negotiations with pharmaceutical wholesalers and key retail customers to improve competitiveness, access and commercial outcomes.
- Oversee risk management and decision-making relating to stock availability, product discontinuations, commercial agreements and portfolio investments.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, acting as a trusted commercial partner and advocate for the portfolio.
- Influence European and Global stakeholders to support portfolio priorities and business objectives.
- Lead, develop and coach the CEP organisation, fostering a high-performance culture focused on delivery, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Contribute as a member of the Vaccines & General Medicines Leadership Team, providing strategic direction and driving operational excellence through data-led decision making.
Basic Qualifications:
- Senior commercial leader with a track record of hitting sales and profit targets with an established product portfolio.
- Extensive experience managing risk, governance, compliance and commercial judgement.
- Experience of commercial delivery in retail pharmacy, wholesaler and generics environments.
- Broad experience within the pharmaceutical industry across multiple therapy areas, including product launch and lifecycle management.
- Values driven decision maker, consistently mindful of patient interests.
- Demonstrated ability working cross-functionally across teams e.g. finance, medical, health outcomes, supply chain, market access, CGA, business insights, tech, legal.
- Experience in change management and leading teams through operational and strategic direction.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to simplify complexity, operate with high autonomy and build trust across an extensive internal and external network.
- Proven negotiation skills with a track record of successful outcomes.
- Excellent data literacy and an ability to analyse data and insights to support decision-making leveraging AI and Digital tools to enhance the business impact.
- Customer focused, highly credible and ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
The role requires a deep understanding of commercial, governance, code and general risk associated with the business activities within the established products business.
Work Arrangements:
Based GSK HQ London. This role offers hybrid working (2-3 days per week minimum onsite).
Closing Date for Applications: 31/08/2026
Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert. When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.
Skills: Data to Insights, Digital Fluency, Marketing Campaign Planning, Marketing Measurement, Marketing Strategy Implementation, Omnichannel Marketing, Scientific Literacy.
Why GSK?
Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive.
We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.
People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.
GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.
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.
Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at UKRecruitment.Adjustments@gsk.com where you can also request a call.
Head of Classic and Established Products employer: GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to numerous growth opportunities while enjoying a competitive salary, annual bonus, and a flexible hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. Located in the UK, GSK's culture prioritises teamwork and inclusivity, making it a rewarding place for professionals passionate about making a difference in healthcare.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Classic and Established Products
✨Get Familiar with Temporary Roles in Pharma
Temporary positions in the pharmaceutical industry often arise during specific periods, like product launches or seasonal hiring sprints. Keep an eye on timelines and be proactive in reaching out to companies, especially around these busy times!
✨Join Pharma Networking Events
Participate in local and virtual pharmaceutical networking events or job fairs. This is a fantastic way to get in front of hiring managers and learn more about temporary opportunities directly from those in the know.
✨Leverage Your University Career Services
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Utilise platforms like LinkedIn to share your interests in temporary roles and connect with industry professionals. Plus, consider writing about relevant pharmaceutical topics to showcase your knowledge and enthusiasm—this can help you stand out to hiring companies like GlaxoSmithKline.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Classic and Established Products
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:In the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to showcase any relevant experience you have, whether it's internships, lab work, or coursework. Let’s emphasise your familiarity with drug development processes and any hands-on experience you've had with lab equipment or clinical trials in your CV.
Mention Certifications and Training:If you’ve got any certifications relevant to pharmaceuticals, like Good Clinical Practice (GCP) or a certification in pharmacovigilance, make sure to include them. These show your commitment to the field and can make a positive impact on your application for a temporary role at GlaxoSmithKline.
Show Your Flexibility and Availability:Temporary positions often require immediate availability and flexibility in working hours. In your cover letter, make it clear when you can start and your ability to adapt to changing schedules, as this is key to a successful application.
Express Your Learning Goals:Since this is a temporary role, we suggest discussing what you hope to learn or gain from the experience at GlaxoSmithKline. This not only shows your eagerness but also helps employers see you as someone who’s ready to make the most out of the opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at GlaxoSmithKline
✨Know Your Regulations
In the pharmaceutical industry, it’s crucial to understand key regulations like GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) or GCP (Good Clinical Practices). Brush up on these standards and be ready to discuss how they influence your work approach during your interview with GlaxoSmithKline.
✨Emphasise Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, show that you're ready to hit the ground running. Share examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to adapt quickly to new environments or changes, especially in a fast-paced setting like pharmaceuticals.
✨Highlight Relevant Skills and Tools
Whether it’s laboratory techniques or software like LabWare or SAS, make sure you can confidently talk about your technical skills. If you have experience with any specific tools used in previous roles, relate that directly to how it can help GlaxoSmithKline achieve its goals.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Be ready for technical questions related to drug development processes or quality assurance. We should expect scenarios where you might have to troubleshoot a problem or suggest improvements on a project—this shows your problem-solving capability in a temporary role.
