Head of Data Science Innovation for R&D Operations

We’re excited to be moving to our vibrant new home on New Oxford Street in central London from the end of June 2024. At GSK HQ, we’re building an energising space where we can connect, collaborate and get ahead of disease together. Designed especially for us, it’ll be one of the healthiest workplaces in the world, with best-in-class tech and bright, light spaces to help us thrive.

GSK is a place where outstanding people do amazing things. As a science-led global healthcare company, we exist to help people do more, feel better, live longer. Our goal is to be one of the most innovative, best performing, and trusted healthcare companies.

This is an exciting opportunity to channel your passion for Innovation in the field of Statistics and Data Science to help shape the future of the Biostatistics function and transform the way in which GSK uses data and quantitative thinking to drive decision-making in R&D.

Biostatistics is the single-largest functional group of Statisticians, Programmers and Data Scientists within GSK R&D, numbering approx. 900 permanent people in the US, UK, Europe and India. Our mission is to put statistical thinking at the heart of R&D decision-making; to ensure that predictive models and well-designed experiments and trials deliver robust evidence as the input to those decisions – ultimately making the R&D process more efficient and increasing the probability of success. We are investing in our cutting-edge innovation capabilities by expanding the Statistics & Data Science Innovation Hub (SDS-IH) led by Prof Nicky Best. The vision of SDS-IH is to be the catalyst for innovation and advanced data-driven decision making. To achieve this, we are forming agile teams dedicated to untangling and resolving complex data challenges across R&D, constructing robust data pipelines, comprehensive analytics, and dynamic dashboards to enable stakeholders to take data-informed decisions in real-time.

At the heart of SDS-IH lies a diverse coalition of Statisticians and Data Scientists - a synthesis of unique skills and experiences. Together, we are the architects of novel quantitative methodologies, systems, and tools – a living embodiment of our vision.

Why join The Statistics & Data Science Innovation Hub?

Within SDS-IH, we have created a new 'pillar', dedicated to supporting Statistics and Data Science projects across R&D, with a focus on the operational aspects of study and pipeline delivery . We are looking for an entrepreneurial statistician/data scientist to join us as Head of Data Science Innovation for R&D Operations to lead this pillar and help us supercharge quantitative decision-making across R&D. The goal for this pillar is to help GSK make more informed operational and financial decisions, by developing and deploying high-value predictive analytics models based on historical and real-time data. Furthermore, our ultimate vision is to interconnect and amplify current data and modelling initiatives across scientific and operations dimensions, fundamentally transforming and accelerating the landscape of medicine development by creating a framework to enable the consistent and scalable use of data and models across R&D. We envision a future where an advanced, partially automated system seamlessly orchestrates end-to-end clinical development plans. This system will not just streamline processes; it will set new benchmarks in efficiency, accuracy, and innovation in the journey of medicine and vaccine development from laboratory to patient.

Innovation and Business Improvement: Build strategic relationships with business and operations partners across R&D (e.g. Clinical Operations, Clinical Supply Chain, Portfolio Analytics, Finance, HR, Regulatory, Resource Management) and proactively identify and implement opportunities to leverage innovative statistical and data science methods to drive business improvements, and run prioritised experiments to identify ideas with high-level business impact within the R&D operations space

Framework Design and Implementation: Support the design and implementation of a framework to enable the consistent and scalable use of data and models across R&D and develop an advanced, partially automated system for orchestrating end-to-end clinical development plans, in collaboration with other pillars within SDS-IH and relevant R&D line functions.

Leadership and Team Management: Lead and inspire teams of Statisticians and Data Scientists to deliver functional products, using agile/MLOps and other principles as appropriate.

Strategic Development: As a member of the SDS-IH Leadership Team, develop and drive the SDS-IH strategy to connect and scale predictive modelling capabilities for enhanced efficiency, with a focus on the interplay between various business and clinical operations. Ensure alignment of priorities with the overall SDS-IH group and wider Biostatistics’ and company’s strategic goals.

MSc in statistics, computer science, mathematics, data science, engineering or related quantitative discipline. 

Experience of Pharma R&D (preferred) or related healthcare industry, including clinical trial operations (preferred) and regulatory compliance.

Demonstrable evidence of entrepreneurship with proven record of achieving business impact through development of innovative statistical/ML modelling solutions and delivery of novel data science products

Hands-on experience writing and delivering R and/or Python packages into production, including version control; testing; CI/CD; environment management through containers and/or virtual environments

Considerable leadership experience in planning and directing projects and effectively prioritising goals

Demonstrable evidence of influencing and partnering with diverse stakeholders of varying levels of seniority

Effective verbal and written communication and stakeholder engagement conveying complex concepts to diverse audiences and managing cross-departmental relationships

PhD (preferred) in data science, statistics, computer science, mathematics, engineering or related quantitative discipline. 

Demonstrated understanding of organizational dynamics in a matrix environment preferred.

*LI-GSK

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.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are open to all talent. In the US, we also adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to neurodiversity, race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class*(*US only).

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.

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