What it does: Research, develop and manufacture innovative pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare products.
Staff stats: Around 1,500 in Australia, 80 in New Zealand and 100,000 globally
The good bits: Excellent corporate culture, flat structure, impactful work
The not so good bits: Complex tools and systems
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer.
GSK have three global businesses that research, develop and manufacture innovative pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare products.
In 2018, GSK invested over $7 billion in research and development globally, focusing on science related to the immune system, human genetics and advanced technologies.
The Pharmaceuticals business has a broad portfolio of innovative and established brands with leadership positions in respiratory, HIV and an exciting and innovative pipeline in oncology and immunology.
GSK are the leading vaccines company in the world. Approximately 1 in 4 of the world’s children receive at least one GSK vaccine. The Australian National Immunisation Program ensures that by the time an Australian child starts school, they will have benefited from 9 GSK vaccines, helping to prevent 12 serious infectious diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, rotavirus, gastroenteritis and diphtheria.
GSK are also the world’s largest consumer healthcare company with a broad portfolio of products spanning across pain relief, specialist oral health, skin health, nutrition and digestion. Australians and New Zealanders probably know GSK best for trusted brands like Panadol, Voltaren, Sensodyne, Advil and Centrum which have become household names.
GSK’s goal is to be one of the world’s most innovative, best performing and trusted healthcare companies.
GSK’s strategy is to bring differentiated, high-quality and needed healthcare products to as many people as possible, with their three global businesses, scientific and technical know-how and talented people.
Here in Australia, GSK employs around 1500 employees, with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, manufacturing sites in Victoria and New South Wales and sales and medical colleagues in all states and territories.
At GSK, creating an inclusive organisation that respects and promotes the diversity of their employees and the communities they serve is a key focus. The very essence of successful scientific innovation relies on diversity of people and thought.
GSK’s values and expectations are at the heart of everything they do and help define their culture – so that together they can deliver extraordinary things for their patients and consumers and make GSK a brilliant place to work. GSK’s values are Patient Focus, Transparency, Respect, Integrity and its expectations are Courage, Accountability, Development, Teamwork.
In 2017, GSK appointed its first female CEO, Emma Walmsley, a mother of four children. Emma has created a culture that ensures GSK is a place where outstanding people do amazing things. As a science-led global healthcare company, GSK exist to help people do more, feel better, live longer. This special purpose – along with their goal of being one of the world’s most innovative, best performing and trusted healthcare companies – helps them attract some of the best and brightest minds in the world.
“We want to represent the modern world that we live, work and compete in, so every single employee can feel supported when they come to work at GSK, and give the best of themselves every day.” – Emma Walmsley, CEO
GSK are a responsible company and commit to use their science and technology to address health needs, make their products affordable and available, and for their employees to be their best in and out of work.
Living GSK’s mission starts from within. It is important that employees are proud of the work they do, the company they work for and the contributions they make.
GSK’s focus on people is not just about their staff. GSK work closely with local and global communities to support people who need it most.
Globally GSK work with a number of organisations to provide humanitarian donations to those in need. GSK provided donations to more than 80 countries across the world.
A great example of how GSK live their values and expectations is their partnership with Save the Children. GSK have reached over 2.8 million children in 45 countries, and GSK employees have raised over £3.3m which is matched by GSK.
Since its launch in 2009, GSK’s employee volunteering program, PULSE, has sent more than 705 employees from 63 countries to serve 120 non-profits around the world. It has also provided over $38 million worth of skilled services to their partners.
GSK’s Australian and New Zealand staff volunteered more than 1,200 hours through their corporate volunteering program ‘Orange Day’, supporting community organisations like the Abbotsford Convent, Fareshare, OzHarvest and many others.
If you’re a student interested in a career at GSK, the Industry Based Learning (IBL) program is a great place to start. GSK’s IBL program is developed for undergraduate University students in their penultimate or final year of study upon commencement of the program.
The twelve-month, full time program is the perfect opportunity for students to launch their careers, offering invaluable hands-on work experience, building on their university learning and gaining a competitive advantage for all career paths. In 2019, GSK offered 52 places in the program across their three businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
If you’ve got a Bachelor or Master’s degree in business, commerce, engineering or human resources, as well as “a strong interest in general management and the real potential to be a future leader of the business” you can apply for the GSK Future Leaders Program.
These three-year programs will involve three to four rotations, placing you in different locations across Australia. Within each rotation you will work on an important project, making a valuable contribution to the business and challenging yourself to be the best you can be.
For both programs, the complete recruitment process takes around two months. It involves an online application, completing 1-3 online tests, a video interview and attending an assessment centre. You’ll maximise your chances of receiving an offer by demonstrating “ambition, commercial awareness and a self-motivated, proactive approach”. Throughout the recruitment process, keep in mind that GSK is looking for “clear, effective communicators who can quickly build a rapport with a wide range of people” and “adapt to change and keep focused when the pressure is on”. You’ll need “the drive and confidence to trust your own judgment” while being “a real team player who actively collaborates with others”. You’ll also need “an analytical mind, a talent for multi-tasking and the ability to influence others”.
GSK doesn’t publicly disclose the remuneration it offers, however, graduates report the salary for those doing the Future Leaders Program as somewhere between average to generous. There are also a range of employee benefits for GSK employees including discounts on the company’s products, free on-site yoga, Pilates and exercise classes, and great cross functional bonding activities.
GSK believes that the world is always changing so they must take every opportunity to learn and develop. When GSK employees grow as individuals, GSK grow as a business.
The company has a comprehensive range of talent management initiatives. These facilitate staff achieving their short and long-term career goals.
The company also provides external and internal development courses, as well as supporting those who pursue further tertiary education.
In 2017 globally, 1,600 leaders supported the development of colleagues through GSK’s coaching program. GSK trained 3,300 employees to support their promotion to roles as first or second line leaders. In addition, 434 graduates and postgraduates joined GSK’s Future Leaders and Esprit development programs.
GSK are committed to creating a culture and flexible working environment where your work ‘works’ for you, allowing you to perform at you best. You can expect to find yourself in a respectful, professional, supportive and friendly environment. GSK have a flat structure with accessible leaders who are approachable, visible and accessible. It is not uncommon to see a senior leader playing table tennis with a member of the IBL team. For those interested in it, there are plenty of opportunities for after-hours socialising too. Put simply, GSK’s culture is shaped to motivate you to do your best work, in a place where you can be you, feel good and keep growing.
"Globally we have an extensive footprint. Focusing our work on Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare, our business spans more than 150 countries with over 100,000 employees. Our major research and development centres are located in the UK, US, Spain, Belgium and China. In Australia and New Zealand, we employ over 1,500 people across R&D, manufacturing, sales & marketing and core business services such as HR and finance.
Finding the next generation of leaders for our business is no small task since there’s no one kind of person who succeeds at GSK. The international scope and inherent diversity of our business mean that all types of people can flourish and grow within the company. At GSK we offer Early Talent Programs designed to develop talented, ambitious students and graduates who share our purpose to help people do more, feel better and live longer.
Our Industry Based Learning Program is aimed at penultimate and final year undergraduate students. The IBL program is a full-time, 12-month internship that allows students to build on their university learning and gain invaluable industry experience.
Our Future Leaders Program is for dedicated, committed graduates who want to experience challenging work across multiple functions of our business. The program involves a mix of on-the-job and formal training with multiple rotations that enable you to gain a depth of expertise and a breadth of experience.
GSK is a place where outstanding people do amazing things. Are you excited to take on some of the world's biggest healthcare challenges?"