Director​/Senior Director, Oncology Early Translational Biomarkers

Director / Senior Director, Oncology Early Translational Biomarkers

Are you an experienced leader in Oncology Translational Medicine (OTM) looking to be part of an innovative, dynamic and growing organization? Do you thrive at the intersection of biomarker strategy, early clinical development and mechanistic research across multiple therapeutic modalities? If so, this Director / Senior Director, Oncology Early Translational Biomarkers is an exciting opportunity to explore.

GSK Oncology has a rapidly growing and diverse pipeline spanning novel small molecules, first- and best-in-class large molecules, and cutting-edge therapies, the opportunity to shape translational strategy across our early Oncology programs represents a rare and exciting career opportunity. You will partner with world-class scientists, clinicians, and KOLs—making decisions that directly impact patients with cancer.

Job Purpose:

The Director / Senior Director, Oncology Early Translational Biomarkers is accountable for the definition and implementation of a translational biomarker strategy and delivery across an expanding early oncology portfolio of spanning both small and large molecules, novel modalities and immune cell engagers.

The Early Translational Biomarkers team provides end-to-end translational medicine support from development and integration of biomarker strategies, assay development and technical validation through clinical deployment and data interpretation across early-phase proof of concept studies.

You will be the scientific and operational owner of translational medicine strategy for the early Oncology portfolio, embedded as the dedicated translational lead across program teams. You will deliver biomarker and translational strategies from preclinical through Phase 1. The role covers a wide range of therapeutic modalities requiring deep disease biology expertise, versatile biomarker and assay knowledge alongside experience in clinical implementation.

The role partners closely with Oncology Research Unit, Discovery, Innovative Biological Model Systems, Clinical Development and Oncology Tumour teams, Clinical Operations, Diagnostics, Biomarker Operations and external partners to ensure translational readiness, de-risk clinical entry and accelerate go/no-go decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the translational medicine lead for assigned early Oncology programs (preclinical to Phase
  1): define and own biomarker and translational strategies, plans and decision-enabling datasets.
• Identify cutting edge science and technological advances and incorporate them into biomarker strategies to guide indication selection, patient enrichment, and combination strategies.
• Develop program-specific translational plans including hypothesis-driven biomarker selection, assay strategy (fit-for-purpose), sample collection/handling, and statistical/analysis plans.
• Provide scientific input into target validation and discovery phases, pharmacology, PK/PD, target engagement, mechanism-of-action and patient selection strategies across modalities.
• Lead assay selection, qualification/validation strategy and oversight (internal and external CROs/diagnostic partners); ensure data quality and regulatory/compliance readiness.
• Integrate preclinical model data with clinical development plans, informing dose selection, biomarker endpoints and translational go/no-go criteria.
• Serve as the primary cross-functional interface for translational questions—represent translational perspectives in program governance, clinical project teams, and portfolio reviews.
• Translate complex scientific evidence into clear risk/benefit and go-to-clinic recommendations for portfolio decision-making.
• Prepare and present translational updates, sections for clinical protocols, investigator brochures, regulatory briefing documents and scientific reports.
• Mentor and support the development of junior scientists; contribute to team capability building and knowledge sharing.
• Manage external scientific partnerships (academic collaborators, CROs, diagnostics vendors) to deliver assays, sample logistics and high-quality data.
• Contribute to resource planning, budgets and timelines for…