Associate Director of Physico-Chem Analytics and Separations

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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. R&D is committed to discovering and delivering transformational vaccines and medicines to prevent and change the course of disease.

We believe the Greater Boston area is an important hub for the biotech and pharma industry, which is why we've invested in growing our footprint and expanding our R&D space in Cambridge, with a primary focus on additional state-of-the-art lab space. Here, we will bring together talent and expertise, building upon GSK's long history of vaccine development, to create globally leading viral capabilities and cutting-edge vaccines technologies, as we add to our robust portfolio targeting infectious diseases at every stage of life.

In the plan to create a new hub for mRNA-based vaccine discovery in Cambridge, we are building new laboratories that will be focused on the development of state-of-the-art methods that will be supporting deep product understanding, process and product development, as well as testing of pre-clinical and clinical samples for new mRNA-based vaccines.

As an Associate Director of Physico-Chem Analytics and Separations, you will lead a team of scientists specializing in chromatographic, electrophoretic, and mass spectrometric techniques. In this role, you will be responsible for implementing and driving the scientific direction for physico-chemical analytics and separations techniques at CPD, ensuring alignment with the global platform's vision and objectives. You will oversee and coordinate the efforts of Associate Scientists, Scientists, Senior Scientists, and Principal Scientists to develop and apply innovative analytical methods and technologies for the characterization and testing of mRNA, mRNA-LNP, proteins, lipids, and excipients in vaccine candidates. This work will be guided by Quality by Design (QbD) principles, with a focus on advanced separations sciences and physico-chemical characterization techniques to support discovery efforts, pre-clinical vaccine development, and early development.

Your role will also involve aligning with key stakeholders to ensure that analytical methods are fit for purpose and strategically aligned with organizational goals. You will work closely with teams in preclinical R&D, Drug Substance (DS), and Drug Product (DP) at CPD to deliver high-quality data that supports critical quality attributes (CQAs) and enhances product understanding. Through these efforts, you will play a pivotal role in advancing vaccine development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and integrate a high-performing team of top scientists and drive their integration into the global ARD department.
• Cultivate department culture: excellence in science and operations, embracing an open global mindset, fostering a positive culture of transparency and collaboration within the team, across departments at CPD, and across the global platforms.
• Develop analytical methods for next-generation mRNA vaccines using innovative separations and physico-chemical techniques, with automation in mind, and in collaboration with the other teams and departments, both onsite and across the global analytical platforms.
• Apply methods to early mRNA candidate vaccines in close collaboration with Preclinical, Drug Substance (DS), and Drug Product (DP) teams for deep product understanding and process development support at the preclinical, DS, and DP stages.
• Excel in delivering quality data and sound science to drive decisions for new vaccine candidate projects, as part of end-to-end accelerated vaccine CMC development programs.
• Help design and drive scientific strategy for vaccine early development phases and integrate it into the end-to-end CMC strategy. Collaborate closely with the Preclinical, Drug Substance, and Drug Product departments, as well as with the other ARD platforms and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery.
• Help lead specific development workstreams autonomously, in line with business priorities, following the Quality by Design framework.
• Function effectively as a core team member on multiple concurrent project workstreams and established work processes.
• Generate strong relationships in the area of technical development with high-quality partners beneficial to the organization, (inside: ARD, DS, DP, and Preclinical) to identify the needs, strengthen the development and implementation of new methods and technologies, with a specific focus on the preclinical interface.
• Participate and lead the transfer of developed analytical methods within ARD groups (different sites) or other external partners, and help facilitate cross-site analytical development efforts.
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate scientific data effectively within Technical R&D, including the Technical Development Team, and be able to defend scientific and technical decisions at the appropriate technical boards.
• Utilize technical process knowledge to meet regulatory requirements appropriate for the stage of development.
• Help author and review technical documents in support of various project development stages.
• Benchmark specific technologies in own functional area to bring innovation and technology to the state-of-the-art.
• Identify opportunities to apply new techniques to address project challenges.
• Ensure toxicology and development testing and stability are executed with respect to deadlines and in compliance with the expected requirements.
• May represent GSK externally in conferences, acting as a voice and ambassador for its department at various internal and external governance bodies and meetings.

Basic Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific field, with an additional (five PhD, eight MS) or more years of industry experience in the field.
• Five or more years of experience in analytical development utilizing Mass Spectrometry, Chromatography, HPLC, Electrophoresis, and Spectroscopy analytical methodologies for biomolecules such as mRNA and Proteins.
• Two or more years of experience utilizing Quality by Design (QbD) principles.
• Two or more years of experience leading teams composed of different professional and educational backgrounds and experiences, four or greater team members.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD. and seven or more years of experience in analytical development.
• Three or more years of experience leading teams.
• Demonstrated success working in a collaborative and cross functional team environment.
• Proven ability to shape and build high-performing teams, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, accountability, and flexibility in a collaborative and innovative space.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively motivate, mentor, and guide team members while managing stakeholders.
• Positive, open, and can-do mindset, focused on solving through collaboration and creativity.

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Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

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.

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