Director, Global Head of Nucleic Acid Vaccines CoE at GSK in Cambridge, MA

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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. R&D is committed to discovering and delivering transformational vaccines and medicines to prevent and change the course of disease.

We believe the Greater Boston area is an important hub for the biotech and pharma industry, which is why we’ve invested in growing our footprint and expanding our R&D space in Cambridge, with a primary focus on additional state-of-the-art lab space. Here, we will bring together talent and expertise, building upon GSK’s long history of vaccine development, to create globally leading viral capabilities and cutting-edge vaccines technologies, as we add to our robust portfolio targeting infectious diseases at every stage of life.

The Nucleic Acid Vaccines Center of Excellence (NAV CoE), a global team within Drugs Substance Vaccines Technical Research and Development organization, has mission to develop next generation mRNA Drug Substance vaccine platforms for rapid development of new vaccine candidates. It has branches in Rockville, US (to be moved to Cambridge, US in Q2 2025) and in Rixensart, Belgium.

We are seeking a Director to lead the NAV CoE, to be based in Cambridge. This senior leader in RNA technologies will be responsible for establishing the NAV CoE at its new Cambridge location, transferring current labs and team members from Rockville, recruiting top-tier scientists, and building a high-performing team to advance vaccine candidates from discovery and pre-clinical phases through the CMC roadmap. Additionally, the Head of NAV CoE will drive the development of innovative next-generation RNA technologies to maintain GSK's leading position in the industry.

This role will report to the Global Head of CVDS (based in Belgium) and will play a significant role in shaping current and next generation GSK vaccine platforms to accelerate addressing unmet medical needs, a compelling field having a direct impact on patients and global health. This exciting opportunity will allow you to lead key activities, collaborate with top talents in the vaccines industry, and advance your career while ensuring timely project delivery in collaboration with process development colleagues and GMP teams.

Key responsibilities:

Leader of leaders: Lead a team of leaders heading platform development, analytical development and project delivery, based in Cambridge, MA and Belgium. This organization has the following missions:
- Delivery of new vaccine candidates using a full platform approach.
- Evolve our current Drug Substance RNA vaccine platform through innovation & technology.
- Onboard and develop alternative nucleic acid modalities & platforms to shape next generation vaccine technologies.
Design and drive scientific strategy for vaccine early development phases and integrate it into the end-to-end CMC strategy. Collaborate closely with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery.
Build and Integrate a High-Performing global organization of leaders and top scientists, prioritizing people’s development and integration into the global Drug Substance and broader R&D organization.
Cultivate department culture: Excellence in science and operations, embracing an open global mindset, fostering a positive culture of transparency and collaboration within the global organization.
Act as a key opinion leader: use critical thinking and strategic proficiency to ensure impact within DS, across functions and at senior leadership level to continuously improve and shape the CMC strategy & framework.

The successful applicant will spend 3-6 months within the first year in Rockville, MD to support and guarantee a smooth transition of methods and know-how to the new laboratories in Cambridge, MA.

Basic Qualifications:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

PhD in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific field.
Three or more years of academic independent research in an environment related to mRNA science, technology, therapy and/or vaccines.
Five or more years of leadership experience in industry in an environment related to mRNA science, technology, therapy and/or vaccines.
Five or more years of experience leading a team.

Preferred Qualifications:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

Knowledge of regulatory vaccine landscape FDA/ICH/ISPE.
Agile mindset fitting a CoE environment.
Strong ability in scientific and people leadership, and communication skills at senior level.
Strong ability in scientific and people leadership, and communication skills at senior level.
Comfortable challenging the status quo and letting the science leading the way.
Collaborative approach working comfortably in the global DS and vaccines networks across different cultural environments.
Great communication & interaction skills motivating a team of deep experts and scientist around common goals.

#Li-GSK

#Vx-Cam

Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is 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. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

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.

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