Global Head of Lab Systems & Automation

Job Purpose and Key Responsibilities:

The Global Head of Lab Systems & Automation is accountable for the strategy and global end-to-end lifecycle management of Vaccines R&D laboratory computerized systems, including robotics and automation solutions. This role provides strong leadership, strategic direction, and focus to implement and maintain automated and/or computerized systems & applications in an ever-changing environment in terms of GSK Vaccines’ growth profile, laboratory science innovation, regulatory requirements, and quality/EHS standards.

The Global Head of Lab Systems & Automation plays a pivotal role in supporting the organization in generating high quality structured data to drive our R&D projects forward. This role is focused on strong collaboration between Tech, Digital & Data, and Quality – applying business acumen, deep technical experience in laboratory instrumentation & automation, and process knowledge to drive innovative, pragmatic solutions for Vaccines R&D Scientists.

The Global Head of Lab Systems & Automation will act as the Operational Technology (OT) Officer for Vaccines R&D ensuring that OT risk is appropriately assessed, prioritized, and mitigated across Vaccines R&D. This role will ensure that centrally defined OT security standards and controls are appropriately considered and adopted / adapted in the labs and is accountable for OT cybersecurity controls and compliance.

Role based in Cambridge, MA and requires 3 days minimum on-site presence.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership

• With strategic vision, guides the Lab Systems & Automation organization, partners, and customers to deliver innovative solutions for Vaccines R&D’s Scientists. Promote advancement of automation systems through a focus on automation innovation to drive scientific/business process improvement and the generation of high-quality structured data.

• Leads country-based Lab Systems and Automation teams ensuring business-as-usual lifecycle management support for Vaccines R&D lab systems; appropriate planning, resourcing, and successful execution of multiple operational/innovation projects conducted in parallel with business-as-usual operations.

• Drive employee engagement within the global Lab Systems & Automation team with emphasis on people development, enriching roles, effective recognition, and open & honest conversations.

• Play a leadership role to ensure standards, policies, and procedures are fit-for-purpose (e.g. Computer System Validation, Data Integrity, OT design / cybersecurity risk assessments & mitigations).

Stakeholder Management

• Work in partnership with a broad range of stakeholder groups including the R&D scientific functions as well as Tech, Computer System Validation, and Quality to define and implement fit-for-purpose system solutions to optimize the value of lab equipment and the productivity of Scientists.

• Proactively define lab automation technology standards, identify process improvement/cost saving opportunities, and accelerate generation of scientific results.

• Application of agile methodology to quickly respond and deliver in a fast pace changing environment.

• Manage, coordinate, supervise external partners throughput the entire systems lifecycle.

• Maximizing investment value for GSK while negotiating with external partners.

• Liaise with other GSK sites / orgs as well as external companies on benchmarks and best practices.

• Liaises with stakeholders across the Vaccines R&D sites (Belgium, Italy, US) and with Pharma R&D to promote leveraging of technology, systems/applications, and automated solutions between functions and sites.

OT Officer responsibilities

• Vaccines R&D representative at the R&D OT Operations Forum and Data Governance Risk Council

• OT Cybersecurity Risk Assessment and Compensation Process: 

  • Responsible for carrying out risk assessments with respect to OT cybersecurity across the business area and managing the risk compensation process.

  • Understand new threats, the potential for business impact and how GSK will respond via our cybersecurity standards and controls.

  • Appropriate risk escalation of any issues and exceptions in accordance with the R&D OT Cybersecurity escalation process

• Risk Mitigation:

  • Feed critical deliverables into VxRD Digital and Data Strategy to drive investment

  • Collaborate with R&D Digital & Tech and Central Tech, including the Cybersecurity Office (CSO), and Global Products & Technology (GP&T) stakeholders to ensure the controls p