Business Unit Head, Specialty

The Business Unit Head of Specialty UK will be responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, and growth of the Specialty Business in the UK. This role is critical in building the GSK Specialty organisation to ensure the business can deliver value and meet strategic objectives across Specialty care assets and disease areas. You will manage the UK Specialty P&L, provide strategic direction for the Commercial Specialty Business Unit, and achieve sales and profitability objectives.

The role requires a balance of strong strategic capabilities together with proven ability to lead and manage a team to deliver operational excellence and impact through operational delivery. As well as leading the cross-functional team which includes partnering functions to ensure focus and alignment on the priorities.

The role will be part of the UK Commercial Leadership Team and play a pivotal enterprise role in contributing to the development of the UK Commercial strategy and driving the strategic and operational focus of the company.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Direction & Alignment:

• Shape and execute long-term strategy for UK Specialty to maximise growth ambition.
• Identify key growth opportunities and related brand priorities.
• Ensure collaboration with Specialty global TA and cross-functional partners (e.g., R&D, Medical, Market Access, Supply Chain, Customer Insights) to execute strategy.

Operational Management & Innovation:

• Manage and optimise the UK Specialty P&L.
• Evaluate and decide on the level of operational market support required by sales and marketing teams.
• Prioritise activities to maximise local opportunities for Specialty.
• Provide in-country support for new asset launches and ensure successful launches.
• Lead the development and delivery of a people plan to ensure the team has the right capabilities for today and the future.
• Generate country-level insights to inform LOC and regional Specialty strategy.
• Build and own expert market resources for LOC.
• Develop and achieve forecast goals and profit targets.
• Ensure all activities adhere to local country laws and company policies.
• Identify risks and execute plans to mitigate them.

Stakeholder Management:

• Manage external stakeholders (e.g., customers, policy makers, payers, providers) to communicate customer value propositions and build trust-based relationships.
• Influence regional decision-making by representing the voice and needs of the LOC and customers.
• Work with external stakeholders to communicate the value of GSK Specialty medicines and ensure optimal access.

Basic Qualifications:

• BA/BSc degree.
• 15 years of proven track record in delivering patient and business outcomes.
• Potential to be a future senior commercial leader (GM, MCL, or equivalent).
• Previous Specialty expertise is preferable.
• Proven Commercial leadership experience in GM, Business Unit, and/or Franchise role.
• Strong sales and marketing background.
• Evidence of managing strategic and operating plans.
• P&L management experience.
• Proven ability to influence change at the enterprise level.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams.
• Experience in the Pharmaceutical industry, with UK-specific experience preferable.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA degree or post-graduate qualification(s) in business management, sales/marketing, and/or leadership.

Critical Leadership Capabilities:

Strategic Direction and Alignment:

• Be ambitious for patients and set challenging targets to improve lives and drive growth.
• Be obsessively externally focused to understand industry and market dynamics.
• Lead a culture with GSK cultural pillars and harness the power of inclusion.

Leadership & Management:

• A committed mentor, people developer, and team builder.
• Collaborate cross-functionally and build alignment around a common vision.
• Encourage the team to bring forward the best ideas and leverage their expertise.

Driving Results:

• Act to surpass goals and seize opportunities in the pursuit of GSK’s Specialty commercialisation strategy.
• Set ambitious but realistic goals for self and team.
• Focus on new business opportunities to exceed targets.

Collaboration & Influence:

• Convey complex concepts and strategies effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Negotiate with a genuine give-and-take approach.
• Seek broad input and incorporate insights into decisions.

Stakeholder Management:

• Operate as a sophisticated influencer and skilled negotiator.
• Manage external stakeholders to communicate customer value propositions and build trust-based relationships.

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.

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.

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 on [email protected] or 0808 234 4391.  The helpline is available from 8.30am to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday, during bank holidays these times and days may vary.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a UK Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the link and scroll to the Careers Section where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive

Important notice to Employment businesses/ Agencies

GSK does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact GSK's commercial and general procurement/human resources department to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to GSK. The obtaining of prior written authorization is a condition precedent to any agreement (verbal or written) between the employment business/ agency and GSK. In the absence of such written authorization being obtained any actions undertaken by the employment business/agency shall be deemed to have been performed without the consent or contractual agreement of GSK. GSK shall therefore not be liable for any fees arising from such actions or any fees arising from any referrals by employment businesses/agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site.

Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, GSK may be required to capture and report expenses GSK incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure GSK’s compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements. For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at