Job description
Site Name:UK - County Durham - Barnard Castle
Posted Date:Nov 19 2024

Site Automation Lead  

We make and supply medicines and vaccines all around the globe and our teams own every production stage, from creating quality products at our manufacturing sites to designing effective supply forecasting and regulatory inspections; all powered by digital, data and analytics. Weoperateat impressive scale, producing over 2.3 billion packs of medicines and doses of vaccines in 2023.  

We continue to modernise, so we can launch even more new products at speed whilst continuing to deliver across our entire portfolio through our relentless focus on quality, safety, and service. The way we work will change. For some, the shift in technology and products will be revolutionary. Our R&D pipeline demands a new kind of supply chain, and we need thevery bestminds and capability to help us on our journey to make more complex products, harnessing the power of smart manufacturing technologies including robotics, digitalsolutions,and artificial intelligence to deliver for patients. 

The Site Automation Lead will provide strategic input and direction to enable our sites to meet its business goals by ensuring that advanced instrumentation, automation, and control engineering techniques are implemented across theBarnard Castle Sitein a GMP compliant manner to meet local and global requirements. 

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:  

• Direct responsibility for providing input and implementing an automation strategy that aligns with site and global expectations. 

• Lead a team of automation engineers and external contractors to design, implement and successfully deliver (through the validation phase) instrumentation, automation and control systems for existing and new pharmaceutical equipment and facilities. 

• Interface with key site Engineering, IT, Production, Technical and Qualitymanagersand staff in a matrix organization to define scope and setappropriate directionto ensure robust process automation systems are designed and delivered in a consistent and supportable manner. 

• Interface with key site Engineering, IT, Production, Technical and Qualitymanagersand staff in a matrix organization to drive automation/control obsolescence mitigation and investments. 

• Interface and partner with the GSK community of Shared Services,CentersofExcellenceand other sites to contribute, share, and leverage technology andmaintainstandards asappropriate.  

• Provide technicalexpertiseto the site on novel and advanced automated manufacturing/packaging processes and influence capital investment appropriately. 

• Provide training and technical support for onsite Users / Engineers in Automation technologies and applications such as Serialization 

• Provide subject matterexpertiseto regulatory inspections and interact withauditorsas necessary. 

Why you?  Basic Qualifications:   

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

• Degree in a Science/Engineering related disciplinesuch as Automation, Control, Electrical or Mechatronic. 

• Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing experiencegained fromthe pharmaceutical industry.; Black Belt or Green Belt desirable. 

• Technicalexpertisein several scientific and engineering automation areas including ISA standards (e.g. S88, S95), P&ID nomenclature, Automation architecture, instrumentation and electrical wiring diagrams, communication networks, control panels, HMI, MES, SCADA,PLCand Historians. 

• Broad and in-depth knowledgewithpractical experience of computer and application validation (preferably using GAMPmethodology),cGMPs, and 21 CFR Part 11 in an FDA regulated environment. 

• ProvenLeadership Skills in a cGMP environment gained from hands-on programming andtroubleshootingfor Automation,Instrumentationand IT systems. 

• Ability tointerfacewith operational and senior management within the organization. 

• Experience gained designing and programming automation applications. May include both firmware and software development. 

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

• MEng / MSc in a Science or Engineering related discipline such as Automation, Control, Electrical or Mechatronic. 

• A sound scientific and engineering understanding of pharmaceutical secondary processing. 

• Good knowledge of IT architecture management, data warehousing, virtualization & implementation processes 

• Practical knowledge of Cybersecurity within an OT space. 

• Demonstrated project management skills. 

• Working knowledge and understanding of EHS Practices and regulations with respect to the installation of automated plant.  

• A good appreciation of FDA PAT initiatives and the impact on the Pharma industry. 

• Proventrack recordin providing automation support and maintenance for instrumentation,automationand controls. 

Closing Date for Applications: Tuesday 3rdDecember 2024 (EOD) 

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. 

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.

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.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on or . 

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