Scientific Director - Neuroimmunology

Job Description: The Respiratory & Immunology Research Unit (RIRU) is seeking an enthusiastic and accomplished Neuroimmunologist for a Scientific Director role to lead. This individual will lead a dynamic team and contribute to GSK's mission of developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, ALS and Parkinson's Disease related Disorders. The successful candidate will engage in multidisciplinary teams to discover and develop novel therapies to clinical Proof of Mechanism/Concept. We are seeking a talented leader with drug discovery and people management experience in biopharmaceutical industry with focus on neuroimmunology in neurodegenerative diseases.

The successful candidate will have deep knowledge and subject matter expertise in both immunology and neuroscience to focus and drive drug discovery. This role will have responsibility for directly managing and leading a team of laboratory scientists, developing and driving strategy for targeting the immune cells for neurodegenerative diseases, and leading the biology in drug discovery project teams. The candidate will work collaboratively with other line leaders in the group focused on neurodegenerative diseases and in project matrix teams to drive drug discovery and development.

A talent who is ambitious, aspires to learn and work collaboratively, puts patients' first, courageous, reveres teamwork, assumes personal accountability, makes robust data-driven decisions, open-minded, transparent, advocate of career development (self and others) will succeed in this role.

Job Purpose and Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a subject matter expert in immunology and neurodegenerative diseases within and outside GSK
• Join the leadership team to define and execute drug discovery strategy for the group

• Generate innovative ideas by identifying emerging areas of science and convert those concepts into drug discovery opportunities
• Design and lead activities to elucidate target biology and enhance the understanding of disease biology, including defining critical paths, timelines, inflection points, Go/No Go decision points, and resource requirements

• Accelerate progress in drug discovery projects through effective interpersonal skills while working with key stakeholders across disciplines internally and externally (e.g. CROs, biotech partners, academic investigators).
• Identify and highlight transformational opportunities in drug discovery projects to overcome challenges with current approaches
• Communicate effectively at daily work and while writing documents and in presentations
• Follow SOPs, policies, and provide oversight in internal and external studies to assure compliance and integrity
• Support technical and leadership development of staff via mentoring and coaching
• Promote scientific excellence and advancement as an inspiring, influential and highly respected leader
• Act as a strong ambassador for GSK to influence potential external partners

About RIBU: The Respiratory & Immunology Research Unit (RIRU) was formed in 2024 to identify and advance novel molecular targets with genetic associations to disease based on the foundational observation that targets with human genetic evidence supporting their causal role in the intended indication improves clinical success by two-fold. The biology unit within RIRU (aka RIBU) works across multiple therapy areas including neurodegenerative, immune, and metabolic disease. Neurodegenerative disease portfolio includes projects in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. The remit of RIRU is to identify novel targets based on human genetics, develop assets for clinical studies, and perform up to Phase 2 studies in clinic. This goal is enabled through strategic external (23andMe, UK Biobank, FinnGen, Laboratory of Genomic Research, Public-Private Consortia like Accelerated Medicines Partnership, GSK-Oxford University joint Institute for Molecular and Computational Medicine, Biotech partnerships - Alector, Vesalius, Muna Therapeutics) and GSK-internal partnerships (Research Technologies).

Why you?

Basic Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD or MD/PhD) with 10 + years' experience in neuroimmunology and neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's with demonstrated by track record of translational research in drug discovery. Strong molecular and cell biology, as well as knowledge in pharmacology is required.
• Recognized intellectual leader in the field of neuroimmunology evidenced by publications in high quality peer reviewed scientific journals and/or patents.
• 5+ years demonstrated translational expertise in applying current state-of-the-art technologies such as iPSC-derived 2D and 3D complex in vitro models such as organoids with gene variants and omic analysis as well as cellular phenotypic assays
• 5+ years experience in identifying and advancing preclinical targets, performing robust peer reviews and due diligence, engaging internal and external partners.
• 5+ years experience generating documents for and presentation to internal governance boards as well as authoring regulatory reports and investigator brochures
• Understanding of basic clinical pathology and potential impact of the target pathways on proposed disease indications and corresponding patient populations
• Flexibility and willingness to learn about new targets and therapeutic areas; doing what is essential for the benefit of the programs.
• 5+ years experience of direct line management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Independent, energetic, resourceful and self-motivated with excellent inter-personal skills
• Profound awareness and interest in venturing into new emerging areas of research
• Ability to assess clinical unmet needs and commercial landscapes to guide identification and critical evaluation of disease, drug discovery opportunities and provide strategic direction in projects
• Prior experience in a director-level role in pharmaceutical and/or Biotech drug discovery, leading a group of biologists
• Strong self-motivation, capable of multi-tasking but with attention to detail, working on multiple projects in different phases of research, and delivering on objectives on time/on budget.
• Ability to inspire, lead and develop a team of biologists with a breadth of skills to foster a culture of innovation, teamwork, performance and trust
• Strong influencing skills and resourcefulness to facilitate collaboration across GSK and with external partners
• Experience in planning and managing resources.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Experience leading projects in multiple therapy areas
• Knowledge and experience working in various drug modalities (e.g. small molecules, biologics, ASO)
• Demonstrated examples of proposing new ideas and opportunities for drug discovery
• Significant and proven project/biology leadership experience in drug discovery

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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