Senior Medical Director – Respiratory Translational Medicine (Early Pipeline Unit)

Role Summary

Senior Medical Director – Respiratory Translational Medicine (Early Pipeline Unit) focusing on COPD within GSK’s Early Portfolio Unit. Lead translational and clinical strategies to accelerate COPD programmes from early translational work to early proof-of-concept, co-leading the COPD Disease Area Acceleration Team and driving matrix-team performance. On-site presence required at US or UK sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide disease-level leadership to develop causal maps of pathobiology and translational tools/endpoints/biomarkers to derisk mechanisms and programmes.
• Provide translational and clinical leadership in defining and executing innovative early translational and clinical development strategies for COPD programmes; ensure study designs align with the IEP and CDP, incorporating rationale, regulatory requirements, product development plans and commercial goals.
• Stay updated on advancements in respiratory research, COPD biology, trial methodologies, and regulatory changes.
• Contribute to regulatory interactions, briefing documents, presentations, and responses.
• Contribute to Business Development due diligence projects.
• Champion translational and biomarker strategies across the early respiratory portfolio.

DAAT Leadership

• Co-lead the COPD Disease Area Acceleration Team, aligning scientific/clinical strategies with business objectives through matrix leadership of large cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate therapeutic potential and clinical tractability of targets within COPD.
• Identify transformational opportunities where projects provide significant patient benefits.

Program Delivery

• Ensure quality, on-time, and on-budget delivery of studies/programs within the therapeutic area of the Early Portfolio Unit.
• Design and implement experimental medicine studies.
• Oversee risk assessment across programs and implement mitigation strategies.

Collaboration and Matrix Working

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across Advance Pipeline Unit, Commercial, Research Tech and Development organizations.
• Build networks with internal/external stakeholders including academic institutions, CROs, and regulators.
• Represent GSK in external collaborations and negotiations.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Anticipate challenges and develop risk-mitigation strategies.
• Make decisions balancing risk/benefit with clear project impact.
• Lead the writing/review of study-related documents and regulatory submissions; communicate effectively at all levels.

Ways of Working

• Promote innovative business processes and strategies to improve clinical development outcomes.

Qualifications

• Medical degree and clinical specialty training board qualification/registration in Respiratory Medicine/Pulmonary Medicine/Pulmonary & Critical Care.
• Experience in global pharma/biotech in respiratory medicine focusing on COPD, including biology and potential targets.
• Industry experience in COPD clinical drug development, translational medicine, and early-phase development.
• Experience planning clinical development for an asset/indication.
• Experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders on complex projects and leading cross-functional matrix teams.
• Experience in translational medicine, clinical research methodology, and biostatistics to design innovative, efficient trials with data-driven decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in addition to medical degree and clinical training in Respiratory Medicine/Pulmonary Medicine/Pulmonary & Critical Care.
• Strong leadership with a track record of high performance in cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to build relationships with internal/external stakeholders.
• Creative problem solving in clinical trials and projects; experience deriving causal confidence from novel data or endpoints.
• Coaching/mentoring experience; strong professional network with leaders in the field.
• Experience with tech-enabled solutions in biology, translation, or clinical development.

Education

• Medical degree; board qualifications in Respiratory Medicine or related field. PhD preferred.