R&D Learning & Capability Lead

Site Name: USA - Massachusetts - Cambridge, GSK HQ, Philadelphia Walnut Street, Stevenage
Posted Date: Feb 25 2026

The R&D Learning and Capability Lead will be responsible for driving the successful delivery of learning and development initiatives within R&D while ensuring alignment with enterprise-level strategies and standards. They will act as the key liaison between R&D and enterprise learning teams, championing talent intelligence, skills development, and learner experience to ensure R&D is equipped to meet current and future business goals.

This role will play a crucial part in building organizational capability, fostering a continuous learning culture, and contributing to the development of a highly skilled workforce.

Key Accountabilities:

Talent Intelligence (Skills Plan to Action)

• Lead the application of future skills requirements and skills gap analysis to develop actionable plans that align with R&D priorities and strategy.
• Collaborate with enterprise teams to leverage insights and intelligence to inform R&D specific learning initiatives.

Budgets and Financial Management

• Manage the financial aspects of learning initiatives, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation, ensuring efficiency, value delivery, and alignment with R&D priorities.
• Monitor and report on ROI and business impact of learning investments.

Skills Taxonomy Management

• Organize, categorize, and maintain an updated BU-specific skills taxonomy consistent with enterprise-wide standards.
• Ensure skills taxonomy supports R&D's strategic objectives and operational needs.

Learning Policies, Standards, and Quality Management

• Ensure R&D learning practices adhere to enterprise standards for accessibility, inclusion, and quality.
• Actively promote equitable participation across all learning programs and drive consistency in curriculum design and delivery.

Learner Experience Management

• Use data and feedback to deliver world class user experience that fuels employees to return repeatedly.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning within the BU and contribute to the broader GSK learning ecosystem.

R&D Capability Gap Assessment

• Conduct assessments to identify skills gaps and competency needs, providing actionable insights for R&D specific learning programs.
• Collaborate with R&D HR leaders and Capability Leads to prioritize and address capability gaps.

Learning Plans and Curriculum Design

• Develop and manage comprehensive learning plans aligned to R&D needs, ensuring effective forecasting and identification of future learning requirements.
• Oversee the design of curriculum frameworks that balance learner experience with strategic objectives.

Forecasting and Demand Management

• Lead efforts to predict future learning needs and resource requirements for R&D.
• Manage learning requests to ensure proactive alignment of programs and materials with anticipated demands.

Graduate and Apprenticeship Programs

• In partnership with the R&D Early Talent team, Design and manage career pathways for graduates and apprentices within R&D, ensuring alignment with workforce development goals.

Curriculum Design and Content Development

• Manage and lead R&D's external design and content delivery partners to deliver on time and budgets outcomes.

Content SME Input and Review

• Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) within GSK to incorporate specialized knowledge into learning content.
• Ensure the accuracy, quality, and relevance of all learning materials.

Learning Governance

• Support the learning governance council in R&D to ensure correct controls and management of the learning eco system.

Key Relationships:

• Enterprise Learning and Development Teams
• BU Capability, Technical and Functional Leaders
• Talent and Capability Teams
• External Vendors, Partners, and Industry Experts
• SMEs across BU functions

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree
• Expertise in talent intelligence, skills gap analysis, and the design of learning programs tailored to business needs.
• 7+ years of experience in leading and learning and development within a complex, matrixed organization in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Experience in managing budgets and demonstrating ROI for learning initiatives.
• Ability to develop and maintain a skills taxonomy aligned with business objectives.
• Experience in delivering accessible, inclusive, and high-quality learning solutions.
• Experience with stakeholder management skills and experience in building collaborative relationships across enterprise teams.
• Analytical skills with the ability to forecast and manage learning demand effectively.
• Experience in designing learning, graduate, and apprenticeship programs that align with talent acquisition and workforce planning strategies.
• Experience in curriculum design, content development, and ensuring SME input for content accuracy and relevance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strategic Thinking and Business Acumen
• Financial Acumen and Resource Management
• Leadership and Team Management
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Change…