RNA Discovery Lead

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, Business Development, Design, Effective communication skills, Leadership Skill, Machine learning techniques

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced RNA Discovery Leader to join our Vaccines R&D team. The successful candidate will lead a matrix cross-functional team of scientists focused on the discovery and development of RNA-based vaccines. This role involves setting strategy and delivering new solutions to broaden application of RNA technologies for development of vaccines and therapeutics.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific, strategic, and operational guidance to project leaders, scientists, extended teams and cross functional scientific project teams engaged in discovery efforts to expand GSK’s RNA platform and delivery systems
• Lead design and evaluation of new RNA modalities, delivery systems, and external technologies to meet projects’ needs
• Coordinate scientific workflows to successfully accomplish team and platform research goals across the Vaccines business
• Work closely with project teams, preclinical, technical development teams, and leaders across GSK to align, deliver on program needs and develop solutions to address complex technical challenges
• Set discovery strategy, objectives and priorities aligned with portfolio deliverables, and ensure timely program advancement
• Establish key collaborations with internal and external partners
• Produce Go/No-go recommendations on Discovery programs to governing bodies (i.e., Vaccine R&D leadership team, Discovery Project teams, Research boards)
• Provide strong scientific leadership and collaborate with key internal stakeholders, including Vaccine Development Leads (VDLs), Discovery Project Leads (DPLs), R&D Leadership teams, Regulatory, Global Patents, Legal and Business Development Leaders, and external stakeholders
• Take a key role in preparation of internal documents and external patent applications, regulatory submissions, scientific papers, and other communications

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in virology, immunology, or a scientific field
• 7+ years of biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry experience in vaccinology, infectious diseases, and virology 
• 5+ years’ experience of RNA biology, design, and engineering of nucleic acid-based gene delivery of therapeutics and vaccines
• 2+ years’ experience leading preclinical vaccine/drug discovery projects, as well as model and technology development
• 2+ years’ experience leading matrix teams, presenting research and strategy, report writing, responding to regulatory questions, and publishing research findings
• 3+ years’ experience with LNP formulation of nucleic acids

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent collaborative and influencing skills to ensure engagement different stakeholders located across the R&D and those not directly reporting into the role
• Effective organizational skills, including ability to set, prioritize and achieve research goals by leveraging resources from different functions
• Experience in managing high level of complexity, requiring a combination of analytical capacity, scientific knowledge, and leadership experience in cross-functional teams
• Strong foundation and hands-on experience in RNA biology and RNA design
• Leadership capabilities and ability to think strategically
• Working knowledge of innate and adaptive immune responses 
• Experience in CMC and regulatory filings

Why GSK?

We’re combining the power of genetic and genomic insights into what causes disease, with the speed and scale of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to make better predictions about who a treatment might work for, and why. We believe this powerful combination of data and technology holds the key to fundamentally transforming medical discovery for the better, improving R&D success rates and shaping how even the most challenging diseases, like neurological conditions and cancer, can be both prevented and treated.​

In 2021 we delivered four major product approvals: Cabenuva for HIV, Jemperli for endometrial cancer, Xevudy for COVID-19 and Apretude, our new long-acting medicine for HIV prevention.