At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global connectivity architecture and ensure secure, resilient outcomes for innovative health solutions.
- Company: Join GSK, a leader in healthcare innovation with a commitment to improving patient lives.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with diverse teams and a focus on innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global health by shaping cutting-edge connectivity solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in enterprise networking and strong architectural judgement required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
GSK remains committed to achieving bold commercial ambitions for the future. By 2031, we aim to deliver £40 billion in annual sales, leveraging our existing strong performance momentum to significantly increase our positive impact on the health of billions of patients globally. Our Ahead Together strategy is centred on early intervention to prevent and alter the course of disease, thereby protecting people and supporting healthcare systems. Our diverse portfolio consists of vaccines, specialty medicines, and general medicines.
The Director, Connectivity Architecture is GSK's Principal Architect and Design Authority for global connectivity platforms. The role defines, governs and evolves the target‐state connectivity architecture, ensuring major initiatives deliver affordable, secure, resilient, observable and operable outcomes that enable us to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
This position provides leadership through architectural authority, standards and governance. It sets the standards for WAN/SD‐WAN, campus LAN/Wi‐Fi, cloud and data centre connectivity, DDI (DNS/DHCP/IPAM), firewalling and Zero Trust access, enabling consistent, scalable delivery across a global, regulated enterprise.
Key Responsibilities- Own the enterprise connectivity architecture vision, principles and target state aligned to business strategy, security requirements and the digital roadmap.
- Define and maintain global connectivity standards, reference architectures and design patterns across WAN/SD‐WAN, LAN/Wi‐Fi, cloud connectivity, DDI, firewalling and Zero Trust access.
- Act as the authoritative Design Authority for material connectivity decisions—chair architecture reviews, approve high‐impact designs and manage deviations with clear guardrails.
- Embed security by design and segmentation principles into all connectivity designs, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity and regulated environment requirements.
- Define architecture roadmaps that drive simplification, automation, lifecycle management, end‐of‐life remediation and platform standardisation.
- Own non‐functional requirements (NFRs) for operability, observability, resilience, performance and automation, ensuring they are testable and built into delivery templates.
- Provide architectural leadership into RFPs/vendor selection and solution validation; ensure supplier designs adhere to enterprise standards and long‐term value objectives.
- Partner with Operations/SRE to ensure architectures are operationally fit, measurable (telemetry‐first) and supported by clear runbooks and service models.
- Support investment decisions by articulating architectural trade‐offs across cost, risk, resilience, scalability and automation.
- Translate complex architectural decisions into clear, actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders and executive forums.
You are a true enterprise architect and design authority, with the credibility to define and govern connectivity at a global scale. What sets you apart is your ability to balance architecture with real‐world delivery—making the right trade‐offs across cost, risk and resilience, while ensuring security is embedded by design.
Required Qualifications, Experience & Skills- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent experience.
- Significant experience in enterprise networking and connectivity, including acting as Principal Architect/Design Authority for large‐scale transformations.
- Deep architectural expertise across SASE, WAN/SD‐WAN, LAN/Wi‐Fi, cloud/hybrid networking, DDI (DNS/DHCP/IPAM), firewalling and Zero Trust access.
- Strong architectural judgement and trade‐off analysis, balancing cost, risk, resilience, performance and automation.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and delivery teams without direct line management responsibility.
- Experience defining operability/observability by design and working with SRE/Operations to embed NFRs and telemetry standards.
- Comfortable operating across platform‐oriented delivery, agile environments and large multi‐vendor engagements.
- Exceptional communication skills, able to translate complex technical topics into executive decision enablers.
- Experience in complex, regulated, mission‐critical enterprise environments.
- Working exposure to AI‐driven operations, automation and telemetry platforms for network observability.
- Relevant technical certifications desirable (e.g., Juniper, CCNP/CCIE, cloud networking).
This role is based at our UK HQ in Central London or in our US Upper Providence, Pennsylvania location and operates on a hybrid working model. You will be expected to work on site 2–3 days per week to collaborate with cross‐functional teams and support critical activities.
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.
If you require any adjustments to our application process, please contact UKRecruitment.Adjustments@gsk.com.
Director, Connectivity Architecture (Principal Design Authority) in London employer: WISE Campaign
GSK is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, empowering employees to make a meaningful impact on global health. With a commitment to employee growth, GSK offers extensive professional development opportunities and a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. Located in the vibrant heart of Central London, employees benefit from a dynamic environment that encourages creativity and teamwork while contributing to groundbreaking advancements in healthcare.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Connectivity Architecture (Principal Design Authority) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network with industry professionals! Attend events, webinars, or meetups related to connectivity architecture. Engaging with others in the field can lead to valuable connections and potential job leads.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a blog where you discuss trends in connectivity architecture, share insights, or even case studies from your past experiences. This not only demonstrates your knowledge but also makes you memorable.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions specific to enterprise architecture. Be ready to discuss your architectural decisions and how they align with business strategies, especially around security and resilience.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows your genuine interest in joining our team at GSK and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Connectivity Architecture (Principal Design Authority) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in enterprise networking and connectivity. We want to see how your skills align with our goals at GSK, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to influence and lead without direct authority. Share examples of how you've successfully guided teams or projects in the past, especially in complex environments.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language to explain your architectural decisions and trade-offs. Remember, we want to understand your thought process without getting lost in technical jargon.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at WISE Campaign
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of connectivity architecture principles, especially around WAN/SD-WAN, LAN/Wi-Fi, and Zero Trust access. Be prepared to discuss how these elements can be integrated into GSK's vision and how they align with the company's strategy.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead architectural discussions and influence stakeholders. Prepare examples of past experiences where you've successfully chaired architecture reviews or made high-impact design decisions.
✨Prepare for Trade-off Discussions
Expect questions about balancing cost, risk, and resilience in your architectural decisions. Think of specific scenarios where you've had to make tough trade-offs and be ready to explain your reasoning clearly.
✨Communicate Complex Ideas Simply
Your ability to translate complex technical topics into actionable insights for senior stakeholders is crucial. Practice explaining intricate concepts in straightforward terms, as this will be key during your interview.
