Associate Director, Human Samples and Data Access

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Associate Director, Human Samples and Data Access

The R&D Translational Sciences (TS) team at GSK is a world-class centre of excellence in genetics, genomics and translational science focused on generating proprietary genetic and genomic insights into Research Unit-directed disease and product strategies. Our operating principles include emphasis on end‑to‑end translation, strong integration between translational leads and core functional teams, and maintaining excellence in foundational capabilities while increasing earlier translational impact.

Reporting to the Director for Human Samples and Data Access in TS, the Associate Director will lead the sourcing, acquisition and stewardship of human samples and translational data that directly support our discovery and development work. You will work across GSK’s matrix with disease and translational teams, platform groups and external partners to deliver high-quality, ethically sourced samples and data. We value clear strategic thinking, strong collaboration, practical problem solving and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. This role offers growth, visible impact and the chance to help unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Translational Leadership: Execute and evaluate strategies to identify and secure human-derived samples and foundational data needed by research and translational teams.
• Stakeholder Management: Work with internal stakeholders across disease, clinical, translational and tech teams to define sample and data requirements that meet scientific and regulatory needs.
• Sample and Data Acquisition: Manage end-to-end sample and data acquisition activities, including partner evaluation, contracting, logistics, chain of custody, and quality checks, ensuring integrity and traceability in accordance with established protocols and procedures.
• Sample and Data Re-use: Manage sample access projects re-using GSK internal samples from research and clinical trials, including tech tools for data and document retrieval.
• External Partnerships: Build and maintain trusted partnerships with academic groups, clinical consortia, biobanks and external vendors.
• Compliance and Documentation: Ensure ethical, legal and regulatory compliance for use of human samples and associated data, and maintain clear documentation and traceability.

Why you?

Basic Qualifications & Skills:

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

• Extensive experience in sourcing, acquiring, and using human samples and translational data in bioscience research including designing sample collections and input into study set-up (e.g. ICF/protocol/CRF/lab needs).
• Experience leading the contracting and management of external collaborations and third-party vendors.
• Expert-level knowledge of ethical considerations for human-subject research in at least two of: UK/USA/China.
• Significant post-Ph.D./Masters experience in bioscience/pharma research, with some wet-lab or biobanking experience.
• Strong project management skills in a matrixed environment, with the ability to prioritise and manage simultaneous tasks to meet timelines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with experience of managing different stakeholder types.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

Please note the following skills are not necessary, just preferred, if you do not have them, please still apply:

• PhD with post-doctoral or industry experience in translational research, genomics, or biomarker development.
• Basic understanding of drug discovery and development.
• Background in at least one relevant disease area of respiratory, immunology, hepatology or neurology.
• Practical knowledge of modern single-cell, spatial, or omics technologies and how they influence human sample needs.
• Experience managing sample meta-data integration into HBS LIMS and tech systems (e.g. VBA programming, SQL etc).

Closing Date for Applications – 10th May 2026

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Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert. 

When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

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. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

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Our approach to R&D

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.

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