Programme Lead – Project Willow at GSK · London

Programme Lead – Project Willow Location: UK – London – New Oxford Street GSK remains committed to achieving bold commercial ambitions for the future. By 2031, we aim to deliver £40 billion in annual sales, leveraging our existing strong performance momentum to significantly increase our positive impact on the health of billions of patients globally. Our Ahead Together strategy is centred on early intervention to prevent and alter the course of disease, thereby protecting people and supporting healthcare systems. Our diverse portfolio consists of vaccines, specialty medicines, and general medicines. Through continuous innovation and a dedicated focus on scientific and technical excellence, we strive to develop and launch new, groundbreaking treatments that address critical health challenges. Job Purpose The Programme Lead for Project Willow is responsible for the end-to-end leadership, integration, and control of GSK's global R&D site strategy and capital reinvigoration programme. The overarching goal of Project Willow is to transform GSK's R&D footprint into a smaller number of high-performing, fit‑for‑purpose hubs that align to future scientific needs while improving efficiency and reducing structural costs. Key Responsibilities Programme Direction & Strategy Alignment: Own the overall programme direction, ensuring alignment between RDLT strategy, site plans, and delivery priorities. Governance & Executive Engagement: Lead programme governance and serve as the primary interface to RDLT and senior decision forums to ensure effective executive engagement and timely decision-making. Delivery Integration: Ensure consistent scope, standards, sequencing, and decision-making across sites and functions to maintain programme coherence. Enhancing Productivity & Experience: Drive initiatives to improve scientific productivity through modern, technology-enabled laboratories; foster collaboration by revitalising workplaces; and enhance site vibrancy to support user experience and cross-functional collaboration. Efficiency Improvements: Implement measures to consolidate under-utilised space and infrastructure, improving site efficiency and reducing ongoing structural expenditure. Programme Control: Oversee programme costs, schedules, risks, and scope with clear decision flows and formal change control processes. Stakeholder Alignment & Change Leadership: Ensure effective communication between the central programme and sites, align stakeholders and lead change management initiatives to secure buy-in and ensure smooth implementation. Requirements Knowledge/Experience: Extensive experience managing complex, large-scale programmes and initiatives, preferably in the R&D or pharmaceutical sector. Strong understanding of project governance frameworks, cost control mechanisms, and risk management. Proven ability to deliver programmes that influence organisational efficiency and strengthen scientific productivity. Experience integrating project delivery across multiple sites while maintaining standardisation and coherence. Competencies/Skills: Strategic thinking and ability to align project deliverables with organisational goals.  Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing, and executive engagement skills.  Expertise in decision-making, sequencing, and change control processes for large-scale programmes.  Strong leadership capabilities with an emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, communication, and change leadership. Why GSK? Project Willow offers a unique opportunity to drive transformation and leave a lasting impact on GSK's global R&D infrastructure. Collaboration, innovation, and efficiency are central to this role as the Programme Lead will play a critical part in reshaping the future of scientific discovery at GSK. GSK is committed to embracing diversity and inclusion, empowering its leaders to contribute their passion and unique perspectives to our goals and vision Why GSK? 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. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale. People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. 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. GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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. 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