Head of RNA Biology

About the role

GSK creates a place where people can grow, be their best, be safe, and feel welcome, valued and included. We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme. We embrace modern work practices; our Performance with Choice programme offers a hybrid working model, empowering you to find the optimal balance between remote and in‑office work. Reporting to the Head of Genetic Medicines Discovery, the successful candidate will define and own the strategy for GSK's RNA Biology function, building deep understanding of the RNA regulome and its role in disease pathology. This is a senior scientific and organizational leadership role with global accountability, requiring deep expertise in RNA biology and in how therapeutic oligonucleotides can intervene in that biology. The role carries responsibility for high‑performing teams, external partnerships, and a multidisciplinary, matrixed delivery strategy across GSK.

Responsibilities

• Define and own GSK's RNA biology strategy, establishing RNA as a tractable and well‑understood therapeutic target class aligned to the therapeutic priorities of the GSK therapy areas.
• Lead mechanistic structure‑function elucidation of therapeutically relevant RNAs, connecting secondary and tertiary structure to function and therapeutic intervention.
• Map the RNA regulome – transcriptional and post‑transcriptional regulatory networks, RNA‑binding protein interactions, and RNA modifications – to identify and prioritize points of therapeutic intervention.
• Establish the role of non‑coding RNA (lncRNA, miRNA, circRNA) in disease pathology, building causal target validation packages that link ncRNA biology to disease mechanism.
• Partner with chemistry, delivery, DMPK, and CMC colleagues across Genetic Medicines Discovery to translate mechanistic insight into improved molecules and development candidates.
• Lead the development of an RNA Center of Excellence within GSK, establishing the capability, talent, and infrastructure that make RNA biology an enterprise‑level asset adopted across discovery and early development.
• Act as a visible scientific ambassador for GSK externally – representing the RNA Biology function at