Director, Product Strategy & Innovation

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Product Strategy & Innovation

Company: GSK

Location: GSK HQ, London, United Kingdom (with flexibility for Stevenage, UK; Siena, Italy; Upper Providence, PA, USA; Warsaw, Poland)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Strategy & Innovation, Clinical Operations Technology

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years (Director Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the definition and execution of a strategic innovation program aimed at transforming clinical research operationalization through novel solutions and digital enablers.

• Act as the Business Product Owner, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver next-generation data acquisition and future-state clinical trial solutions.

• Drive simplification of the Global Clinical Operations (GCO) technology ecosystem, identifying opportunities for process optimization and enhanced user experiences for sites and patients.

• Manage product development budgets, ensure Return on Investment (ROI) commitments are met, and champion the adoption of new processes and products across the organization.

• Foster a culture of innovation, leveraging data analytics, systems thinking, and product management discipline to achieve significant value, efficiency, and acceleration across GSK's clinical trial portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Clin Ops Platforms & Innovation (CP&I) group, part of Global Clinical Operations (GCO). The emphasis on "Test and Start" processes indicates a focus on piloting and scaling innovative solutions within the clinical trial landscape. The "Director, Product Strategy & Innovation" title, coupled with the responsibilities, suggests a senior leadership role focused on GTM strategy for new operational technologies and methodologies within clinical research.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Identify and champion opportunities for innovation to accelerate Global Clinical Operations (GCO) activities through strategic product development.

• Serve as the Business Product Owner, guiding cross-functional teams (including Tech, domain experts, data engineers, and business SMEs) to deliver innovative solutions aligned with GCO's vision for next-generation data acquisition and future-state clinical trials.

• Lead discovery and brainstorming sessions to identify transformational simplifications within the GCO technology ecosystem, focusing on reducing system complexity and defining improved site and patient workflows.

• Leverage product development experience and clinical trial knowledge to pinpoint areas for optimization and efficiency gains in operational processes.

• Manage product development budgets effectively, ensuring all ROI commitments are met and value realization is tracked and reported.

• Accountable for driving the successful adoption of new processes and products rolled out across the organization, ensuring user buy-in and effective implementation.

• Identify and maximize opportunities for product development, prioritizing initiatives that deliver the greatest strategic impact and business value.

• Be hands-on in exploring, testing, iterating, and validating potential solutions with stakeholders and customers to ensure product-market fit and user satisfaction.

• Manage key stakeholder relationships across cross-functional teams, including regular interactions with functional heads and department leads to identify and deliver innovation.

• Ensure ongoing alignment with senior stakeholders, confirming that adopted tooling effectively addresses business problems and delivers expected outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic vision, product lifecycle management, and hands-on execution. The emphasis on "accelerating GCO activities," "next generation data acquisition," and "future state clinical trials" points towards a role focused on the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy and operationalization of new technologies and methodologies within clinical research.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in roles requiring leadership in product strategy, innovation, and business transformation.

• Proven track record of launching successful enterprise-grade products with measurable adoption and impact, ideally scaling to thousands of users.

• Demonstrated experience in leading high-performing teams to drive business transformation, with a focus on coaching, mentoring, and fostering innovation.

• Expertise in two or more of the following: business process reengineering, business transformation, process optimization, product management, engineering, product design, or related fields.

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy & Innovation: Ability to identify market opportunities, define product roadmaps, and drive innovation initiatives.

• Clinical Trial Operations: Deep understanding of the clinical trial landscape, operational processes, and associated challenges.

• Systems Thinking: Capacity to analyze and optimize complex, interconnected systems and processes across large organizations.

• Data Analytics & BI: Experience leveraging data analytics, business intelligence, or machine learning to inform strategic decisions and improve operational efficiency.

• Product Management Discipline: Proficiency in product lifecycle management, user story development, and agile methodologies.

• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional ability to build consensus, influence, and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership.

• Business Process Reengineering: Expertise in identifying inefficiencies and redesigning core business processes for optimal performance.

Preferred Skills:

• Pharma Industry Knowledge: Broad understanding of Pharma R&D, clinical development, or drug discovery processes, including regulatory and scientific challenges.

• Machine Learning/AI: Demonstrated experience with software products, predictive modeling, and applied ML/AI algorithms to solve complex business challenges.

• Cross-functional Team Leadership: Proven ability to lead and navigate matrixed organizations through complex, multi-phase projects.

• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with platforms like VS Code, Copilot, Lovable, or similar for rapid prototyping and engineering collaboration.

• Budget & ROI Management: Experience managing product development budgets and demonstrating measurable ROI.

• Change Management: Skills in driving adoption of new processes and technologies within a large organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" experience level aligns with a Director role. The requirement for launching "enterprise-grade products with measurable adoption and impact" and "scaling deployments to thousands of users" underscores the GTM and operationalization aspects of this role. The mention of VS Code and Copilot points to a modern, tech-forward approach to product development and innovation within GSK.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing successful product launches and strategic initiatives with clear evidence of measurable adoption and impact at an enterprise level.

• Provide case studies highlighting experience in business process reengineering, business transformation, or process optimization, detailing the problem, solution, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Showcase examples of leveraging data analytics, business intelligence, or machine learning to drive strategic decision-making and improve operational efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document and articulate complex workflows and system interactions clearly for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Demonstrate experience in defining and implementing new site and patient workflows and experiences within a digital ecosystem.

• Showcase a methodical approach to exploring, testing, iterating, and validating potential solutions, including user feedback loops and validation strategies.

• Present evidence of driving the adoption of new processes and products, detailing change management strategies and success metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role focused on Product Strategy and Innovation within Clinical Operations, a strong portfolio is crucial. It should not only highlight past successes in product launches but also demonstrate a deep understanding of process optimization, systems thinking, and the ability to drive adoption of new technologies and methodologies within a complex, regulated environment like pharmaceutical clinical trials.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Poland: PLN 408,750 - PLN 681,250 gross annually.

• Other Locations: Salary ranges will vary by country based on market rates and will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Benefits:

• Statutory Benefits: All statutory benefits in accordance with Polish law will be maintained.

• Additional Benefits (Poland):

  • Private healthcare
  • Additional paid days off
  • Life insurance
  • Private pension plan
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Care of family member leave

• Performance-Based Incentives:

  • Potential eligibility for a bonus (based on defined, non-discretionary criteria).
  • Awards for exceptional performance (granted at the employer’s discretion).

• Agile Working Culture: Emphasis on flexibility, with opportunities to discuss specific arrangements with the hiring team.

Working Hours:

• Approximately 40 hours per week, with an agile working culture encouraging flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range for Poland is comprehensive and reflects a senior Director-level position. The inclusion of "fully paid parental leave & care of family member leave" is notable. The emphasis on "agile working culture" and "flexibility" suggests a modern approach to work arrangements, common in innovative tech and pharma roles. The note about salary transparency laws explaining why ranges are displayed for certain locations is also helpful for candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Healthcare.

Company Size: GSK is a global biopharma company with a significant employee base, operating across multiple continents. The CP&I team is described as a "small and responsive innovation group," suggesting a focused, agile unit within a larger corporate structure.

Founded: GSK has a long history, formed through mergers of legacy pharmaceutical companies, with a strong foundation in scientific research and development.

Team Structure:

• The Product Strategy & Innovation group is part of CP&I (Clin Ops Platforms & Innovation), which itself is within GCO (Global Clinical Operations). This indicates a specialized, innovation-focused team embedded within the core clinical operations function.

• The team is composed of colleagues with diverse skills and backgrounds (e.g., tech, domain experts, data engineers, business SMEs) working collaboratively, reflecting a cross-functional and interdisciplinary approach.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Approaches: The team's mission includes delivering data-driven approaches to decision-making across GCO.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A key remit is to define and lead programs that redefine operationalization through novel solutions, using a "build, buy, or collaborate" model.

• Systems Thinking & Digital Enablers: Emphasis on applying analytical approaches and digital operational enablers to design high-performing clinical trials.

• Agile & Iterative: The "Test and Start" process implies an iterative development and deployment methodology, focusing on validating solutions before scaling.

Company Website: https://www.gsk.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: GSK's mission "to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together" sets a context of ambitious goals and a blend of scientific rigor with technological advancement. The CP&I team's role as an innovation engine within GCO suggests a culture that values forward-thinking, experimentation, and the application of modern technologies to solve complex operational challenges in drug development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: Opportunity to shape the future of clinical operations technology and strategy at a global biopharma leader.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Deep engagement with diverse teams across technology, clinical operations, R&D, and business functions, building a broad understanding of the organization.

• Innovation Leadership: Lead cutting-edge initiatives at the intersection of clinical trials, product development, data science, and emerging technologies.

• Career Advancement: Potential pathways into broader leadership roles within GCO, CP&I, or other strategic functions within GSK, leveraging expertise in product strategy and innovation.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in areas such as AI/ML, advanced analytics, systems thinking, and product management within a regulated industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant potential for impact and growth by being at the forefront of operational innovation in a critical industry. The ability to influence strategy and drive adoption of new methodologies positions the candidate for leadership advancement within GSK's R&D and operations functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

Office Location(s):

• Primary location: GSK HQ, London, United Kingdom.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role necessitates close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including tech, domain experts, data engineers, and business SMEs, suggesting an environment that fosters teamwork and shared problem-solving.

• Innovation Hub: Being part of the Product Strategy & Innovation group implies working in an environment that encourages exploration, experimentation, and the development of novel solutions.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to modern development tools (e.g., VS Code, Copilot) and a focus on digital operational enablers suggests a tech-forward workspace.

• Agile Methodology: The mention of "Test and Start" processes and agile working points to a dynamic and iterative work style.

Work Schedule:

• Standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, but the emphasis on an "agile working culture" suggests flexibility in scheduling to accommodate project needs and individual work styles, provided business objectives are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and agile working culture are key aspects for candidates seeking work-life balance and modern work arrangements, while the global office locations highlight GSK's international presence and the potential for diverse team interactions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of the resume and cover letter, focusing on alignment with the required qualifications and experience, particularly in product strategy, innovation, and clinical operations.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion to assess technical skills, strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit. Expect questions related to past product launches, innovation initiatives, and team leadership.

• Cross-Functional Panel Interview: Interviews with key stakeholders from tech, clinical operations, and business functions to evaluate collaboration skills, ability to influence, and understanding of GCO processes.

• Case Study/Presentation: A common element for Director-level roles focused on strategy and innovation. Candidates may be asked to present a strategic proposal, analyze a complex operational problem, or showcase a past project demonstrating their impact. This is where the portfolio review will be critical.

• Final Round/Executive Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to assess overall fit, strategic vision, and potential contribution to GSK's long-term goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: For each project or product launch presented, clearly articulate the business problem, the solution implemented, and the quantifiable results achieved (e.g., acceleration, efficiency gains, cost savings, adoption rates). Use metrics relevant to clinical operations and product GTM.

• Showcase Process Optimization: Detail how you identified inefficiencies and implemented process improvements. Illustrate the before-and-after state, highlighting your role in the transformation.

• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Present examples where you analyzed interconnected systems and processes, demonstrating a holistic approach to problem-solving and solution design.

• Highlight Innovation & GTM: Showcase your ability to identify novel opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and manage their successful launch and adoption. Focus on the "Test and Start" approach if applicable.

• Tailor to GSK: Research GSK's current strategic priorities in clinical operations and innovation. Frame your portfolio examples to demonstrate alignment with their vision.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Problem Solving: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical challenge related to accelerating clinical trials, improving data acquisition, or simplifying the GCO technology landscape.

• Product Vision & Roadmapping: Articulate how you would develop a product strategy and roadmap for a new clinical operations technology.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Prepare examples of how you have managed complex stakeholder relationships, built consensus, and influenced decision-making, particularly with senior leadership.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Be ready to discuss how you use data and analytics to inform product strategy, measure success, and drive operational improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Director role will heavily scrutinize strategic thinking, leadership, and tangible impact. A well-curated portfolio that demonstrates success in product innovation, process optimization, and GTM within a complex environment is paramount. The focus on "innovation," "acceleration," and "digital enablers" in the job description suggests interviewers will probe for experience in bringing new ideas to life and scaling them effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Development: VS Code, Copilot, Lovable (or similar tools for rapid prototyping and engineering collaboration).

• Product Management Platforms: Tools for roadmap planning, backlog management, user story creation, and sprint tracking (e.g., Jira, Asana, Aha!).

• Collaboration Tools: Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar for real-time communication and team coordination.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Business Intelligence Tools: Tableau, Power BI, QlikView, or similar for data visualization, dashboard creation, and performance tracking.

• Data Analysis Platforms: Experience with tools that support data exploration, statistical analysis, and potentially ML/AI model development (e.g., Python libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn; R).

• CRM/Data Management: While not explicitly a sales role, understanding CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or clinical data management systems may be relevant for data acquisition and workflow integration.

CRM & Automation:

• Workflow Automation: Familiarity with platforms or methodologies for automating business processes, especially within clinical operations or IT systems management.

• Integration Tools: Understanding of how different software systems connect and exchange data is beneficial, particularly for simplifying the technology ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of VS Code and Copilot indicates GSK's investment in modern developer tools for rapid prototyping and innovation. Proficiency in data analytics and BI tools is essential for demonstrating ROI and driving data-driven decision-making. Experience with broader product management and collaboration suites is also expected for a Director-level role focused on cross-functional product delivery.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ambitious for Patients: A core GSK value emphasizing a patient-centric approach, driving innovation with the ultimate goal of improving patient health.

• Accountable for Impact: Focus on delivering measurable outcomes and demonstrating the value of initiatives, particularly in terms of efficiency, acceleration, and ROI.

• Doing the Right Thing: Upholding ethical standards, integrity, and compliance, especially critical in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages exploring new ideas, challenging the status quo, and embracing iterative development and learning.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working together across diverse teams and functions to achieve shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role demands seamless collaboration with technology, clinical operations, R&D, and business stakeholders, requiring strong partnership skills and the ability to bridge different functional perspectives.

• Data-Driven Dialogue: Discussions and decision-making are expected to be informed by data and analytical insights.

• Agile & Iterative: A collaborative style that embraces rapid feedback loops, experimentation, and iterative refinement of solutions.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactive and effective communication with senior leadership to align on strategy, gain buy-in, and ensure successful adoption of innovations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicitly stated GSK values (Ambitious for Patients, Accountable for Impact, Doing the Right Thing) provide a strong framework for understanding the expected behaviors and priorities within the organization. For this role, the emphasis on "Accountable for Impact" and "Innovation" will be particularly relevant, requiring candidates to demonstrate how their work drives tangible improvements in clinical operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Large Organization: Driving innovation and adoption within a global biopharma company like GSK requires strong change management skills and the ability to influence across diverse departments and geographies.

• Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Implementing novel solutions within the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry necessitates a deep understanding of compliance and validation requirements.

• Defining and Scaling Novel Solutions: The "Test and Start" process means challenges in moving from pilot to full-scale deployment, requiring robust strategies for validation, scalability, and ROI demonstration.

• Technology Ecosystem Complexity: Simplifying the GCO technology landscape is a significant undertaking, requiring strategic vision and cross-functional alignment to rationalize systems and workflows.

• Measuring ROI for Innovation: Quantifying the benefits of new technologies and processes, especially those focused on future-state capabilities, can be complex.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge Clinical Operations Technology: Gain deep expertise in emerging technologies and digital enablers transforming clinical trials.

• Pharma R&D Landscape: Broaden understanding of the entire drug discovery and development lifecycle.

• Product Management Excellence: Develop advanced product management skills in a complex, regulated environment.

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone strategic thinking, executive communication, and large-scale program management.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to engage with industry forums, conferences, and thought leaders in clinical operations innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the complexity and high-impact nature of the role. Successfully navigating these will provide significant opportunities for professional growth and development, particularly in areas of change leadership, strategic execution, and innovation management within the pharmaceutical sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you identified a significant opportunity for innovation in a complex operational environment. How did you go about defining the strategy and gaining buy-in for your proposed solution?" (Focus on your approach to opportunity identification, strategy formulation, and stakeholder management).

• "How would you approach simplifying a complex technology ecosystem, such as the GCO technology stack, to drive efficiency and improve user experience?" (Demonstrate your systems thinking, process optimization skills, and ability to prioritize).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do GSK's values – 'Ambitious for Patients,' 'Accountable for Impact,' and 'Doing the Right Thing' – resonate with your approach to product strategy and innovation?" (Connect your experiences and philosophy to GSK's core principles).

• "Describe your experience working in an agile environment and driving adoption of new processes within a large organization. What strategies did you employ?" (Showcase your change management and agile execution capabilities).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each key project, follow a clear story arc: the challenge/opportunity, your strategy and solution, the execution (including collaboration and overcoming obstacles), and the quantifiable results/impact.

• Quantify Everything: Use specific numbers, percentages, and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. For example, "Reduced trial recruitment time by X%", "Increased data accuracy by Y%", "Achieved Z% user adoption within 6 months."

• Highlight Innovation & GTM: Clearly articulate what was novel about your solution and how you managed its launch and adoption. If applicable, discuss your experience with "Test and Start" methodologies.

• Showcase Systems Thinking & Process Optimization: Use diagrams or flowcharts to illustrate complex systems or process improvements. Explain how you analyzed interdependencies.

• Engage and Interact: Be prepared to discuss your portfolio in detail, answer probing questions, and potentially adapt your presentation based on interviewer feedback or interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic leadership, a deep understanding of product development and GTM within a regulated environment, and a data-driven approach to innovation and impact measurement. Be ready to articulate complex ideas clearly and connect your experience directly to GSK's mission and operational challenges.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Director, Product Strategy & Innovation position:

• Submit your application through the GSK Careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate a portfolio that prominently features your experience in launching enterprise-grade products, driving process optimization, and leveraging data analytics for strategic decision-making. Prepare case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and quantifiable business impact (e.g., acceleration, efficiency, ROI).

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume highlights achievements directly relevant to product strategy, innovation management, clinical operations, systems thinking, and cross-functional leadership. Use keywords from the job description and quantify your accomplishments with specific metrics.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare compelling examples for strategic questions, leadership scenarios, and how you've driven innovation and adoption. Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure a clear, concise, and impactful walkthrough.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research GSK's mission, values, therapeutic areas, and recent advancements in clinical operations and technology. Understand their commitment to getting ahead of disease and how this role contributes to that mission. Be prepared to discuss how your approach aligns with their culture and strategic goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.