Principal Programmer/Analyst

By applying to this role, you will also be considered for other open positions within the Clinical Programming department at GSK. If you prefer not to be considered for multiple opportunities, please flag to our recruitment team.

Clinical Programming at GSK

GSK Clinical Programming brings together some of the most talented minds to engage in advanced data analytics, principles of data science, and developing new computational tools to support innovative research and develop novel therapies. We serve five key therapeutic areas: HIV, Immunology, Infections Disease, Oncology, Respiratory, and Vaccines, and offer unlimited growth opportunities and exciting career paths for a wide range of experience levels.

Your Role at GSK

The principal programmer reports into the associate director or research unit head. They possess strong technical and excellent communication skills. They are able to identify programming and/or process related gaps and problems and provide logical and analytical solutions to address these. They are experts in their TA-specific domains and are able to provide technical and domain area specific training to their colleagues. They are expected to represent programming, their study, or therapeutic area cross-functionally and act as the key point of contact for programming related queries. They are expected to demonstrate strong technical and/or study lead programmer skills, engage in external organizations, and successfully work with global teams.

Principal Programmers at GSK act as the study lead programmer and offer significant contributions towards the planning and execution of multiple programming activities for GSK clinical trials. They are accountable for creating, verifying, and documenting analyses of clinical data while adhering to study protocols, analysis plans and GSK / industry standards for themselves and their team. Principal programmers will be expected to participate in or lead capabilities and non-project initiatives, present at internal forums, and learn new programming languages. They will also interact with non-programming team members and represent their study during and function in core study team meetings.

• Completes programming activities under supervision
• Reads and understands specifications to implement them in code
• Acts as a subject matter expert and works as a lead within own discipline to investigate new technology as directed
• Provides technical contribution to complex tasks
• Ensures the collection of programs/outputs and issues are adequately managed for programming activities to achieve business outcomes
• Applies learning from previous activities to result in quicker and more efficient completion of the current task
• Shares learnings with peers and contributes to internal technical discussions/forums
• Initiates new directions and novel strategies to achieve department goals
• Identifies gaps in current programming practices and provides possible resolution suggestions
• Effectively communicates technical and complex approaches to peers and non-technical colleagues
• Project manages or leads programming activities under supervision, to achieve technical or business outcomes within own discipline
• Contributes to and influences the strategic planning and direction of a project
• Contributes to department strategies and key initiatives through working groups and sub teams
• Anticipates problems within discipline, proactively uses own expertise and/or seeks input from others, to recommend solutions and influence appropriate change
• Uses technical expertise to provide innovative solutions to project related problems of colleagues and of other projects within the research unit
• Makes decisions on the implementation of programming requirements for low-risk topics of work and can propose solutions for higher risk activities
• Contributes to the development or improvement of departmental policies and working practices
• Develops responses to audit/inspection questions and complete CAPAs within agreed timelines
• Demonstrates appropriate engagement with outsourced partners. Performs and documents oversight of outsourced activities including Quality Assurance (QA)
• Identifies and addresses issues with assigned activities and works to develop solutions with internal teams and/or outsourced partners
• Effectively presents at internal forums and / or external professional industry meetings
• Demonstrates effective communication to outsourced partners on project deliverables
• Works effectively and proactively in multi-disciplinary teams and a matrix environment through effective listening and active participation in challenging discussions
• Demonstrates networking skills through interactions across departments and divisions
• Self-awareness of development needs and proactively identifies opportunities to support development objectives
• Able to understand and clarify boundaries of responsibility within own role; allocates decision making authority and task responsibility to others as appropriate
• Acts as a mentor or coach for new and junior staff members

Why you?

Qualifications & Skills:

We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:

• A BSc, BA or equivalent in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, or related subject
• Statistical programming and some level of lead experience in clinical R&D is required.
• Advanced proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as R, Python, and/or SAS
• Experience with using other clinical data analysis and reporting tools, such as Spotfire, SAS Azure, or S-Plus
• Advanced macro development and debugging, and executing complex programming activities skills
• Knowledge of standard macro development process
• Strong expertise in CDISC standards and its application
• Strong knowledge of Good Practice (GxP), and International Council for Harmonization (ICH) requirements
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Expertise with submission activities and related documentation

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:

• MSc or PhD (or equivalent) in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or related subject preferred
• Solid understanding of the pharmaceutical regulatory and publishing processes (e.g., 21 CFR Part 11)
• Advanced expertise in end-to-end clinical trial process and application of key clinical documents
• Expertise in therapeutic area specific requirements
• Very effective written, and verbal communication skills
• Experience with mentoring and supervising junior programmers on technical tools and concepts
• Experience with outsourcing of statistical programming work in the clinical trials setting (e.g., working with CROs, academic institutions, etc.)
• Expertise in representing programming function in cross-functional meetings, initiatives, and working group
• Strong interest in or experience contributing to external organizations (e.g., PHUSE, PharmaSUG, etc.)
• Experience with working within a global team and managing expectations across different time zones

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. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years.

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.

Find out more: 

Annual Report 2021

Our approach to R&D

Closing Date for Applications: until filled

Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert. 
When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

During the course of your application, you will be requested to complete voluntary information which will be used in monitoring the effectiveness of our equality and diversity policies. Your information will be treated as confidential and will not be used in any part of the selection process.  If you require a reasonable adjustment to the application / selection process to enable you to demonstrate your ability to perform the job requirements, please contact 0808 234 4391. This will help us to understand any modifications we may need to make to support you throughout our selection process.

*LI-GSK

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. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years.

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 workplace where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and thrive as set out in our Equal and Inclusive Treatment of Employees policy. We’re committed to being more proactive at all levels so that our workforce reflects the communities we work and hire in, and our GSK leadership reflects our GSK workforce.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are open to all talent. In the US, we also adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to neurodiversity, race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class*(*US only).

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.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to our process which might help you demonstrate your strengths and capabilities.

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Salary : $66,400 - $84,100