At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic direction and connect site priorities with broader goals at GSK.
- Company: Join GSK, a global biopharma leader committed to health innovation.
- Benefits: Inclusive workplace, career growth, and the chance to impact global health.
- Other info: On-site role in Barnard Castle with a focus on high-performance culture.
- Why this job: Shape strategies that influence health outcomes for billions worldwide.
- Qualifications: Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field; experience in strategy or supply chain.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
Job purpose: As Site Strategy Director, you will shape the site's strategic direction, connecting site, product and network priorities into one clear, executable roadmap. You will influence senior stakeholders, represent the site with GSC Product and Network Strategy, and ensure strategy is translated into strong governance, disciplined delivery and proactive risk management.
Your responsibilities:
- Lead an integrated site strategy aligned with GSK, GSC, product and network priorities.
- Act as the senior link between the site and GSC Strategy, ensuring two-way alignment across the 3:1, 3-5 year and 5-10 year strategic horizons.
- Represent the site on Product Strategy Leadership Team forums, shaping decisions with clear, consolidated site input.
- Translate medium- and long-term priorities into a focused programme portfolio with clear outcomes, governance and success measures.
- Oversee delivery of strategic programmes, ensuring strong alignment between strategy, execution and performance tracking.
- Embed site risk management into strategic planning so key risks are visible, prioritised and proactively managed.
- Advise the Site Leadership Team on strategic trade-offs, investment priorities and long-range choices.
- Lead and develop a focused strategy team, creating clarity, accountability and high performance across a matrix environment.
Additional information:
- Reporting line: Site Supply Chain & Strategy Director
- People management (direct/indirect reports, etc.): 3-5 DR
- Primary location: Barnard Castle (County Durham, UK)
- Application closing date: Sunday, October 4th 2026, EOD GMT
Basic Qualifications: We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in Business, Engineering, Science or related discipline
- Experience in supply chain, strategy, and/or operations roles within a complex, cross-functional environment.
- Experience in pharmaceutical or regulated manufacturing environment.
Preferred Qualifications: If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:
- Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Business, Strategy or Supply Chain
- Proven ability to shape and integrate strategy across functions, time horizons and senior stakeholder groups
- Strong enterprise leadership capability, including the ability to align teams, influence SLT-level stakeholders and drive accountability in a matrix environment
- Ability to synthesise complex inputs into clear strategic direction, insights and recommendations
- Excellent executive communication skills, with the ability to create compelling materials that support senior decision-making
This is an on-site role at Barnard Castle in the United Kingdom.
What we value in you: You bring enterprise strategic leadership, connecting site priorities with broader product, network and GSC direction. You influence senior stakeholders with clarity, credibility and sound judgement, translating complexity into focused decisions. You also lead and develop people with purpose, creating alignment, accountability and a high-performance culture while keeping safety, quality and integrity at the centre of how you work.
How to apply: If this role speaks to your experience and ambitions, we would like to hear from you. Please apply and tell us how your skills and values match this opportunity. We welcome applicants who bring diverse experiences and perspectives and who support an inclusive workplace.
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.
Site Strategy Director in Durham employer: GSK
GSK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the heart of Stevenage. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have access to extensive development opportunities while working on groundbreaking medicine projects. The hybrid work model and future relocation to Cambridge provide a unique advantage, ensuring a vibrant environment for both personal and professional advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Site Strategy Director in Durham
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Get involved with organisations such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society or your local pharmaceutical professionals' network. Being an active member can boost your credibility and may even lead to job referrals in top organisations like GSK.
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When you're applying for roles, don't rush it! Take the time to customise your applications for specific positions, showcasing relevant skills and experiences that align with what GSK is looking for. A tailored application can really make you stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Site Strategy Director in Durham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Whether that's internships, lab work, or even related coursework, make sure to weave this into your CV and cover letter. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're applying for at GSK!
Emphasise Your Understanding of Regulations:The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, so it's important to indicate your familiarity with industry standards and regulations. In your cover letter, mention any training or certifications you've received that are relevant, or discuss projects where you’ve navigated compliance. This will show GSK that you're not just a fit for the job but also a safety-conscious candidate!
Tailor Your CV to Be Result-Driven:Craft your CV to highlight quantifiable achievements, especially if you have previous roles in pharmaceuticals or related fields. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, such as improved processing times or successful project completions while working on trials. This analytical approach will resonate well with hiring managers at GSK!
Convey Your Passion for the Industry:In your cover letter, express why you are passionate about working in the pharmaceutical sector. Whether it’s your desire to contribute to groundbreaking drug research or improve patient outcomes, let it shine through! At GSK, we value candidates who are truly enthusiastic about their work—you might just stand out from the crowd.
How to prepare for a job interview at GSK
✨Understand the Science
Make sure you brush up on key pharmaceutical concepts and recent developments in the industry. You might get asked some technical questions during the interview at GSK that show your grasp of drug development processes or regulatory requirements, so be ready to discuss them clearly.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
If you have any hands-on experience or internships in a laboratory setting, be sure to highlight these in your responses. Think about the projects you worked on, the methodologies you used, and the impact you made. It's all about telling a story that connects your background to the role you're applying for.
✨Know Their Products
Take some time to familiarise yourself with GSK’s product range and recent breakthroughs. Understanding their portfolio not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but also allows you to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in actively contributing to their projects.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Scenarios
In a full-time pharmaceutical role, understanding the regulatory landscape is crucial. Prepare for situational questions that may test your problem-solving skills concerning compliance and safety standards. You could be asked how you'd handle a hypothetical issue regarding a drug’s market release, so think through your approach.
