Director, Connectivity Architecture (Principal Design Authority)
The Director, Connectivity Architecture is GSK’s Principal Architect and Design Authority for global connectivity platforms. The role defines, governs and evolves the target‑state connectivity architecture, ensuring major initiatives deliver affordable, secure, resilient, observable and operable outcomes that enable us to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
This position provides leadership through architectural authority, standards and governance. It sets the standards for WAN/SD‑WAN, campus LAN/Wi‑Fi, cloud and data centre connectivity, DDI (DNS/DHCP/IPAM), firewalling and Zero Trust access, enabling consistent, scalable delivery across a global, regulated enterprise.
Key Responsibilities
* Own the enterprise connectivity architecture vision, principles and target state aligned to business strategy, security requirements and the digital roadmap.
* Define and maintain global connectivity standards, reference architectures and design patterns across WAN/SD‑WAN, LAN/Wi‑Fi, cloud connectivity, DDI, firewalling and Zero Trust access.
* Act as the authoritative Design Authority for material connectivity decisions—chair architecture reviews, approve high‑impact designs and manage deviations with clear guardrails.
* Embed ‘security by design’ and segmentation principles into all connectivity designs, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity and regulated environment requirements.
* Define architecture roadmaps that drive simplification, automation, lifecycle management, end‑of‑life remediation and platform standardisation.
* Own non‑functional requirements (NFRs) for operability, observability, resilience, performance and automation, ensuring they are testable and built into delivery templates.
* Provide architectural leadership into RFPs/vendor selection and solution validation; ensure supplier designs adhere to enterprise standards and long‑term value objectives.
* Partner with Operations/SRE to ensure architectures are operationally fit, measurable (telemetry‑first) and supported by clear runbooks and service models.
* Support investment decisions by articulating architectural trade‑offs across cost, risk, resilience, scalability and automation.
* Translate complex architectural decisions into clear, actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders and executive forums.
Required Qualifications, Experience & Skills
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent experience.
* Significant experience in enterprise networking and connectivity, including acting as Principal Architect/Design Authority for large‑scale transformations.
* Deep architectural expertise across SASE, WAN/SD‑WAN, LAN/Wi‑Fi, cloud/hybrid networking, DDI (DNS/DHCP/IPAM), firewalling and Zero Trust access.
* Strong architectural judgement and trade‑off analysis, balancing cost, risk, resilience, performance and automation.
* Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and delivery teams without direct line management responsibility.
* Experience defining operability/observability by design and working with SRE/Operations to embed NFRs and telemetry standards.
* Comfortable operating across platform‑oriented delivery, agile environments and large multi‑vendor engagements.
* Exceptional communication skills, able to translate complex technical topics into executive decision enablers.
Preferred Qualifications
* Experience in complex, regulated, mission‑critical enterprise environments.
* Working exposure to AI‑driven operations, automation and telemetry platforms for network observability.
* Relevant technical certifications desirable (e.g., Juniper, CCNP/CCIE, cloud networking).
Location and Working Pattern: This role is based at our UK HQ in Central London or in our US Upper Providence, Pennsylvania location and operates on a hybrid working model. You will be expected to work on‑site 2/3 days per week to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and support critical activities.
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.
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