VIDRU Business Programs Strategy Director

The Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Research Unit (VIDRU) Business Programs Strategy Director is accountable for translating vision and priorities into coherent enterprise‑wide programs, ensuring strategic initiatives are prioritized, integrated, and executed to deliver measurable business value. Through data‑driven insight, cross‑functional collaboration, and effective governance, the VIDRU Business Programs Strategy Director enables informed decision‑making and supports sustainable growth and performance in line with GSK’s goals for Innovation, Trust, and Performance.

The ideal candidate should have substantial strategic thinking, business acumen, and enterprise mindset to build effective engagement with senior leaders and executive stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Translate VIDRU vision into strategy through an integrated set of programs and initiatives, ensuring they deliver the intended strategic outcomes and business value.
• Synthesize inputs across functions into clear, enterprise‑level recommendations, even where trade‑offs are complex or contentious.
• Build strategic capability across VIDRU by partnering with leaders to frame priorities, assess trade‑offs, and manage portfolios, strengthening enterprise thinking and decision quality.
• Lead enterprise‑level strategic planning cycles, including framing choices, facilitating leadership discussions, and synthesizing decisions.
• Lead cross‑functional matrix teams of Senior Leaders.
• Establish governance structures for key strategic programs (steering committees, decision forums, cadence, and standards).
• Use data and insight (financial, operational, market) to inform strategic choices and track performance against company goals.
• Develop high‑quality strategic narratives, papers, and presentations for VIDRU Leadership Team, executive, and Board‑level audiences.
• Identify strategic risks, dependencies, and issues across programs.
• Provide leadership and direction to direct reports and program/project teams.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and ensure effective communication throughout the organization.
• Monitor external trends, competitive moves, and internal performance to propose strategic adjustments and new opportunities.
• Coach and influence cross‑functional teams to shape strategy and ensure enterprise mindset.
• Partner with the VIDRU Change Management Director and the VIDRU Business Programs Delivery Director to ensure successful adoption of transformation initiatives.

Basic Qualification

• Master’s degree in Science, Engineering or Business Administration/Management.
• 10 or more years of proven experience in consultancy, strategy teams or relevant leadership roles.
• Experience in strategy definition of large‑scale transformation within the pharmaceutical or life sciences R&D industry.
• Experience leading functional and cross‑functional matrix teams.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders, including preparing and delivering high‑impact presentations and strategic papers.
• Experience managing and coaching cross‑functional teams; able to influence without direct authority.

Preferred Qualification

• MBA or PhD in Science, Engineering or Business Administration/Management.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to translate vision and data into clear choices, plans, and priorities.
• Strong leadership skills to inspire and motivate teams of Senior Leaders through strategy definition, and ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills; comfortable with quantitative analysis, financial modelling, and scenario planning.
• Strong change leadership skills, including senior stakeholder engagement and driving adoption across functions and geographies.
• Familiarity with common strategic and operational frameworks (market/competitive analysis, value creation levers, operating model design).
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively convey vision, goals, and progress of transformation projects to stakeholders, including presenting to executives and board members.
• Strong analytical skills to assess vision statements and translate them into opportunities and anticipate future benefits of transformation initiatives.
• Ability to think critically and creatively to solve complex problems and overcome obstacles.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and evolving business environments, comfortable managing high degree of complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity.

What success looks like

You will translate VIDRU strategy into clear plans and measurable results. You will reduce friction across teams, speed decision making, and help leaders adopt better ways of working. Success means delivered benefits, trusted stakeholder relationships, and visible improvements in performance.

Salary and Benefits

Salary ranges for new hires in this position are $170,775 to $284,625, which vary by location, skills, experience, and education level. The role offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in GSK’s share‑based long‑term incentive program. Benefits include health care and other insurance benefits for employee and family, retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave.

Equal Opportunity Employment

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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, military service, or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.