AI Strategy Director, Development Operations

This role sits within DP&I (Development Operations Platforms & Innovation), part of Development Operations at GSK. DP&I is building the capability to deploy AI at scale across clinical operations and the wider Development Operations function, with a mandate to help reshape how GSK plans, delivers, and continuously improves clinical trials.

DP&I develops and deploys scalable, AI-native capabilities, shared foundations, and new ways of working across Development Operations. Working across clinical operations, technology, product, data, and external partners, the team builds the platforms, products, and partnerships needed to turn innovation into measurable value.

Job Purpose

As AI Strategy Director, you will drive the AI-native Development Operations strategy: defining where AI can create meaningful value across Development Operations, testing concepts hands-on using frontier tools, and shaping how priority capabilities move from concept to scaled deployment. You will work directly with business SMEs and enterprise technology teams to prototype, pressure-test, and deploy AI-enabled workflows. Where external capability is needed, you will lead vendor evaluation and shape build-buy-partner decisions with commercial rigour. This role combines strategy, hands-on solution testing, and deployment judgement. It requires structured problem-solving, strong commercial and enterprise credibility, and hands-on fluency with frontier agentic development tools. This role reports into the Head of Asset Acceleration and AI.

You will shape how GSK uses AI to measurably accelerate trial delivery and improve outcomes for patients.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the AI-native Development Operations strategy and roadmap, anchored to measurable clinical trial outcomes.

• Lead prioritization for AI opportunities across Development Operations in line with the AI-native Development Operations strategy and R&D priorities.

• Continuously scan the external landscape for emerging AI capabilities, frontier tools, vendor offerings, and new ways of working, translating relevant developments into clear implications for Development Operations strategy, portfolio priorities, and build-buy-partner choices.

• Define the build-buy-partner approach for each priority capability, including vendor and partner evaluation where needed, balancing speed, differentiation, risk, cost, and long-term platform value.

• Build and defend business cases with clear ROI, payback logic, and success criteria; enforce stage-gate discipline, including the decision to stop or reshape initiatives that do not demonstrate value.

• Shape the deployment strategy and roadmap with enterprise AI, technology, data, security, regulatory, and quality teams to ensure scalable and compliant delivery using shared foundations rather than one-off point solutions.

• Drive cross-functional alignment and endorsement for the AI-native Development Operations strategy across the enterprise.

• Partner with leaders across R&D to identify priority workflow bottlenecks, define measurable outcomes, and shape AI-native capabilities.

• Lead 0-to-1 incubation for priority opportunities: frame hypotheses, use AI-native development tools to run hands-on experiments with technology teams and business SMEs, and define the evidence required to scale, reshape, or stop.

• Define adoption strategy for priority AI-native capabilities, including workflow redesign, user readiness, and change interventions required for scaled deployment.

Stakeholder Management:

• Leaders across R&D to identify priorities, secure sponsorship and align on value.

• Leaders across enterprise AI, technology, security, and quality teams to enable scalable deployment.

• Strategic relationships with external vendors, consulting partners and technology providers to assess capabilities, shape partnerships and deliver value.

• Frontline users across Development Operations to ensure solutions solve real problems and value is realised at scale.

Why You?

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

• Extensive experience in Pharma strategy, applied AI/technology, or related roles.

• Deep understanding of clinical operations and wider clinical development, gained in industry, consulting or other relevant settings.

• Strong knowledge of industry trends and technologies shaping the future of clinical trials.

• Demonstrated experience building business cases and delivering AI-enabled transformation programmes with measurable business outcomes.

• Practical fluency across AI, data and technology topics to work effectively with technical teams.

• Strong commercial judgement and experience shaping vendor decisions in complex enterprise settings.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to translate complex strategic and technical topics for senior, non-technical audiences.

• Hands-on experience with AI-native development tools, including frontier agentic development tools (e.g. Claude Code, Codex), and rapid prototyping practice.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (PhD, MBA, MSc, or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

• Experience in top-tier strategy, venture build, applied AI, or digital consulting environments.

• Track record of driving AI-enabled value beyond pilot through to scaled adoption and measurable portfolio-level impact.

• Broad knowledge of Pharma industry processes, particularly within R&D, clinical development, or drug discovery, and familiarity with the regulatory, scientific, and operational challenges unique to the sector.

• Knowledge of GxP, regulatory pathways, or compliance frameworks relevant to deploying AI in clinical operations.

#LI-GSK*

• 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 $0 to $0. 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. In compliance with Ontario's provincial pay transparency legislation, this job posting includes a salary range to support equitable and informed hiring practices. The annual compensation for this role is CAD0 to CAD0 , determined based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity. GSK is dedicated to promoting transparency and fairness throughout our recruitment process.Salary ranges for other locations are shown because some markets have pay transparency laws that require salary information on job postings, and those locations are potential job sites for this role. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific location or country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process. Belgium Salary Range / Fourchette salariale – Belgique: EUR 0 to EUR 0 The annual gross base salary range for new hires in this position is listed above for each applicable location. These ranges take into account a number of factors including the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position may offer an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role. More detailed information on the total benefits package will be supplied during the recruitment process. This role is available for applicants from multiple locations, and therefore salary ranges for certain locations are also shown. Salary ranges for other locations are shown because some markets have pay transparency laws that require salary information on job postings, and those locations are potential job sites for this role. If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific location or country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process. Please note salaries vary by country based on the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. Offers are typically made within the advertised range based on the candidate’s skills, experience and qualifications, with the upper end generally reserved for highly experienced candidates or other exceptional circumstances aligned with these criteria.

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.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the Link where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive

Important notice to Employment businesses/ Agencies

GSK does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact GSK's commercial and general procurement/human resources department to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to GSK. The obtaining of prior written authorization is a condition precedent to any agreement (verbal or written) between the employment business/ agency and GSK. In the absence of such written authorization being obtained any actions undertaken by the employment business/agency shall be deemed to have been performed without the consent or contractual agreement of GSK. GSK shall therefore not be liable for any fees arising from such actions or any fees arising from any referrals by employment businesses/agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site.

Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, GSK may be required to capture and report expenses GSK incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure GSK’s compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements. For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/