Head of CMO Innovation

Company Overview

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting-edge technology to transform people’s lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. GSK has kicked off 2026 with impressive growth in sales, profits, and earnings. We anticipate five major new FDA product approvals and 15 phase III/pivotal study readouts over the next two years. So far, we have secured two FDA approvals, with three more expected later this year. By uniting science, technology, and talent, we are committed to getting ahead of disease together.

This is a newly created founding leadership role established to build and lead the CMO Innovation Group. The role is accountable for defining the vision, strategy, operating model, and governance of innovation across CMO (Chief Medical Office), creating a sustainable capability that accelerates business impact and organizational transformation.

The Head of CMO Innovation Group will provide strategic leadership for the innovation portfolio, identifying and scaling high-value opportunities, fostering a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, and ensuring innovation efforts are aligned with business priorities. The role will build and lead a high-performing team, establish strong cross-functional partnerships, and position the Group as the central engine for intentional, measurable, and enterprise-wide innovation within CMO.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the strategic vision, operating model, and direction of the CMO Innovation Group, with overall accountability for the innovation portfolio and delivery of measurable business impact.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Head Data Value Office CMO and a visible champion for innovation across CMO, influencing and aligning senior stakeholders, including the Head of CMO, the CMO Leadership Team, and key enterprise partners.
• Establish and lead innovation governance, chairing or co-chairing the Portfolio Working Group and representing the portfolio at Growth Board forums, securing investment, shaping priorities, and driving decisions in complex and ambiguous environments.
• Lead the transformation required to embed AI-, data-, and digital-enabled ways of working into CMO's operating model, accelerating adoption, capability building, and sustainable organizational change.
• Build and cultivate a strong innovation ecosystem by developing strategic partnerships across AIML, R&D Digital & Tech, Enterprise AI, DP&I, and the CMO Innovation Champions network, while representing CMO innovation internally and externally.
• Own the Group's annual investment portfolio, headcount strategy, and multi-year resource plan, continuously optimizing funding and capacity to align with evolving business priorities and portfolio needs.
• Recruit, build, and lead the founding CMO Innovation Group, initially managing three direct reports and scaling the capability toward a mature-state organization of approximately 10–20 FTEs.
• Establish and strengthen the Group's innovation capital, creating a compelling narrative, proven track record, and trusted reputation as the leading source of innovation expertise and delivery excellence within CMO.
• Foster a culture of experimentation, continuous improvement, and evidence-based innovation, ensuring ideas are translated into scalable solutions that deliver tangible value for patients, the business, and the organization.

Basic Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, business, or other data/technology-related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience in innovation, transformation or venture-building within a large, matrixed organisation; pharma/life sciences experience is an advantage
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement, innovation and manage complex data projects.
• Systems-thinking: able to connect domain knowledge, process expertise and technology acumen, and to simplify complex, disparate concepts for senior and cross-functional audiences.
• Demonstrated experience operating in matrix (hub and spoke) organizational structures, working with policy development, quality systems or standards frameworks within regulated environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree or equivalent in computer science, data science, business, or other data/technology-related field.
• Formal training in structured innovation methods (e.g. the Innovator's Method, Lean Startup, Design Thinking) is an advantage.

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Skills

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Data Mining, Digital Fluency, Digital Transformation, Organization Transformation, Process Improvements, Process Innovation, Product Development, Product Management, Project Management, Regulatory Compliance Management, Security System Design, Strategic Planning• If you are based in Cambridge, MA; Waltham, MA; Rockville, MD; or San Francisco, CA, the annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges $213,675 to $356,125. The US salary ranges take into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role. Available benefits include health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process.

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.

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We are a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years.

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together. Find out more on our career site.