Operational Resilience Lead

Site Name: UK - County Durham - Barnard Castle
New Product Introduction (NPI) Operational Readiness Lead (Senior Director)
Business Introduction:
We manufacture and supply reliable, high-quality medicines and vaccines to meet patients’ needs and drive our performance.
Our network of 37 medicines and vaccines manufacturing sites delivered 1.7 billion packs of medicines and 409 million vaccine doses in 2024 to help make a positive impact on the health of millions of people. Our supply chain is not just core to our operations; it’s vital to bringing our innovations to patients as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible. Technology is transforming how we manufacture medicines and vaccines, enabling us to increase the speed, quality and scale of product supply.
We need the very best minds and capability to help us on our journey to make more complex products, harnessing the power of smart manufacturing technologies including robotics, digital solutions and artificial intelligence to deliver for patients.
Working closely with manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain and regulatory colleagues, you will prepare sites for safe, compliant and timely product start up. You will oversee capital investment, technology transfers and site commissioning to ensure equipment, facilities and personnel are qualified and ready for commercial production. This role offers visible impact, career growth and the chance to help GSK unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
Provide visible leadership and be accountable for capital investment and site capability-building (facilities and analytical equipment) to enable development, launch and commercialisation of new assets. Set the vision and lead operational readiness for new product introductions, aligning manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, regulatory functions on and off site in the broader GSK network to deliver safe, compliant and timely start-up. Ensure the site is inspection-ready and confident for regulatory reviews and pre-approval inspections, driving a culture of compliance and continuous preparedness and being accountable for inspection outcomes
Lead and drive cross-functional governance, convening senior stakeholders to make aligned decisions at key readiness gates and to resolve strategic trade-offs that impact timelines or product quality
Define, prioritise and be accountable for readiness initiatives and risk mitigation actions; Champion and drive capability development, ensuring workforce competence through targeted development plans, role clarity and on-the-job coaching so individuals and teams can sustain NPI activities. Drive site commissioning, qualification and process validation programs, ensuring equipment, facilities and people meet commercial production standards and acceptance criteria
create and lead a community of practice to continuously improve NPI capability and reproducibility and be accountable for cross-site learning outcomes
Partner with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to shape responses to regulatory questions and to drive a proactive inspection readiness agenda; Align and drive Supply Chain, Procurement and Logistics with launch priorities to secure materials, components and packaging; be accountable for supply risk outcomes
Use readiness metrics to drive leadership focus, track progress and ensure corrective actions are taken to protect timelines and product quality; Define KPIs that reflect business-critical readiness outcomes (e.g., launch-on-time, Right First Time) and use them to drive accountability, hold teams to account and celebrate delivery
We are seeking professionals with the following required skills and qualifications to help us achieve our goals:
Degree in science, engineering, pharmacy, manufacturing, supply chain or related field
At least 5 years’ experience in new product introduction, operational readiness, manufacturing or process transfer in the pharmaceutical or life sciences sector
Practical understanding of GMP requirements and quality systems
Strong planning and project management skills, with experience tracking milestones and risks
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
Experience with site commissioning, qualification and validation activities
Formal project management or continuous improvement qualification (for example PRINCE2, PMP, Lean Six Sigma)
Experience working with regulatory submissions and readiness evidence
Experience using electronic quality or batch record systems
This role is hybrid, with regular on-site presence required to support sites in the United Kingdom. You will work closely with local site teams and global partners
You will join a team that values inclusion, active listening and development. You will gain broad exposure across functions and the network. You will make a meaningful contribution to bringing new products into safe and reliable supply, helping patients and communities. New Product Introduction (NPI) Operational Readiness Lead (Senior Director)
Business Introduction:
We manufacture and supply reliable, high-quality medicines and vaccines to meet patients’ needs and drive our performance.
Our network of 37 medicines and vaccines manufacturing sites delivered 1.7 billion packs of medicines and 409 million vaccine doses in 2024 to help make a positive impact on the health of millions of people. Technology is transforming how we manufacture medicines and vaccines, enabling us to increase the speed, quality and scale of product supply.
We need the very best minds and capability to help us on our journey to make more complex products, harnessing the power of smart manufacturing technologies including robotics, digital solutions and artificial intelligence to deliver for patients.
Working closely with manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain and regulatory colleagues, you will prepare sites for safe, compliant and timely product start up. You will oversee capital investment, technology transfers and site commissioning to ensure equipment, facilities and personnel are qualified and ready for commercial production. This role offers visible impact, career growth and the chance to help GSK unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
You will join a team that values inclusion, active listening and development. You will gain broad exposure across functions and the network. You will make a meaningful contribution to bringing new products into safe and reliable supply, helping patients and communities. 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. 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.
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. Adjustments@gsk.30am to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday, during bank holidays these times and days may vary.
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