Programme Director - Connectivity

  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • 06/06/2026
Full time Information Technology Telecommunications Cisco

Job Description

Programme Director - Connectivity/Network Transformation

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.

Position Summary

GSK is delivering a global network transformation to modernise, simplify and future proof enterprise connectivity, positioning the network as a digital platform that enables us to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

The Programme Director - Connectivity/Network Transformation is accountable for end to end programme delivery across multiple integrated workstreams (WAN/SD WAN, campus LAN/Wi Fi, cloud connectivity, security, DDI, observability and the managed services operating model). The role drives structured governance, disciplined execution and measurable benefits realisation, delivering change with minimal disruption across a global, regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead end to end delivery of the global, multi year network transformation programme; owning scope, milestones, dependencies and the integrated plan across the workstreams.
  • Establish and operate programme governance (SteerCo, RAID, dependency and change control) with clear decision points and escalation paths.
  • Drive cross workstream integration and sequencing across WAN, campus, security/segmentation, DDI, observability and MSP transition.
  • Own benefits tracking and value realisation, including cost reduction, performance/SLA improvements, resilience metrics and adoption of target standards.
  • Lead MSP transition readiness and onboarding, ensuring service continuity, knowledge transfer and alignment to contractual SLAs/SLOs.
  • Manage programme financials (budgeting, forecasting, variance control) across internal and vendor spend; ensure transparent reporting.
  • Co ordinate vendor and partner execution, milestone assurance, quality management and delivery performance management.
  • Embed organisational change management (OCM) at scale: stakeholder mapping, communications, training/enablement and adoption planning.
  • Ensure operational readiness and cutover planning are built into every wave, with clear acceptance criteria and handover to steady state operations.
  • Provide concise, executive ready reporting translating complex technical delivery into risks, decisions and outcomes.
Why You

You will bring a rare combination of deep technical programme expertise and true enterprise leadership, making you exceptionally well positioned to drive transformation at scale. Importantly, you don't just deliver technology change-you deliver business value.

Required Qualifications & Experience & Skills
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
  • Significant experience leading large scale global technology programmes; with a strong background in delivering network/infrastructure transformation.
  • Formal programme/project management certification (e.g., PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, SAFe Agilist/SPC).
  • Proven delivery of complex network transformation programmes (WAN/SD WAN, LAN/Wi Fi uplift/standardisation, cloud connectivity, security/SASE/Zero Trust).
  • Strong understanding of network migration risks and dependencies (routing, DNS, IP addressing, segmentation, policy impacts).
  • Experience operating in multi vendor and managed service environments; confident supplier performance management.
  • Outcome based delivery mindset: benefits definition, KPI tracking and value realisation controls.
  • Excellent executive communication-able to translate technical complexity into clear decisions and actions.
  • Ability to influence and align cross functional stakeholders without direct line authority.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in large, global, regulated environments (life sciences, manufacturing, R&D, critical infrastructure).
  • Familiarity with enterprise networking platforms (e.g. Juniper, Aruba, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks) from a programme leadership perspective.
  • Experience transitioning operating models (MSP/NaaS) including service acceptance, SLAs/SLOs and governance.
  • Exposure to observability, automation and AI driven operations / telemetry first delivery.
Location and Working Pattern

This role is based at our UK HQ in Central London or in our US Upper Providence, Pennsylvania location and operates on a hybrid working model. You will be expected to work on site 2/3 days per week to collaborate with cross functional teams and support critical activities.

Closing Date for Applications - CoP Wed 17th June 2026

Important Notice for Applicants

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities, contact us at where you can also request a call.

Employment Equality

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.