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Director, Global Medical External Affairs

Gilead Sciences


Job Location:

Foster, CA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 243100 - 314600
Posted: 5 September 2026 (6 days ago)
Application Deadline: 3 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

At Gilead were creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years weve tackled diseases such as HIV viral hepatitis COVID-19 and cancer working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the worlds biggest health challenges and our mission requires collaboration determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gileads team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions and were looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible together.

Job Description

The role serves as a key liaison across Global Medical Affairs and external stakeholders driving project execution process optimization governance and performance measurement while supporting scientific exchange educational initiatives society collaborations association partnerships and strategic engagements.

The preferred work location for this position is Foster City CA or Parsippany NJ.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Program Management & Operational Excellence

  • Lead strategic initiatives and complex cross-functional projects supporting Global Medical Affairs external engagement priorities.
  • Develop and implement governance frameworks business processes operational standards and best practices to support scalable and compliant program execution.
  • Serve as business owner for systems tools and workflows supporting external engagement activities driving process optimization and continuous improvement.
  • Partner with Medical Affairs Ethics and Compliance Legal Finance Procurement Commercial and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and effective program execution.
  • Develop and maintain centralized processes tracking mechanisms and reporting tools to support operational oversight and portfolio management.
  • Establish KPIs dashboards and performance metrics to measure operational effectiveness stakeholder engagement and business impact.
  • Deliver executive-level reporting analyses and recommendations that support leadership decision-making and resource prioritization.
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency transparency governance and organizational effectiveness across Medical External Affairs activities.

Strategic External Engagement

  • Support development and execution of Global Medical Affairs external engagement strategies aligned with organizational and therapeutic area priorities.
  • Coordinate strategic interactions with professional societies healthcare organizations academic institutions and other external stakeholders.
  • Facilitate cross-functional planning and alignment for external engagement activities and collaborative initiatives.
  • Develop executive briefing materials strategic assessments and recommendations for senior leadership.
  • Support planning and execution of leadership engagement activities with key external organizations and stakeholders.

External Partnerships & Scientific Collaboration

  • Manage a portfolio of strategic external relationships and collaborative initiatives.
  • Coordinate internal teams supporting external engagement activities and stakeholder interactions.
  • Monitor partnership activities deliverables and objectives to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
  • Represent Medical Affairs on internal and external working groups committees and collaborative initiatives as appropriate.
  • Identify opportunities to enhance scientific leadership thought leadership organizational reputation and external engagement effectiveness.

Performance Excellence & Innovation

  • Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on process optimization operational effectiveness and stakeholder experience.
  • Develop training materials guidance documents and best practices for global and regional stakeholders.
  • Analyze program performance data and generate actionable insights to inform future strategies.
  • Champion data-driven decision-making and performance measurement across external engagement activities.
  • Evaluate and implement innovative technologies analytics and engagement approaches that enhance organizational effectiveness.

Knowledge Experience & Skills

  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
  • Strong project and program management skills including planning prioritization execution risk management and delivery of multiple initiatives simultaneously.
  • Experience managing external collaborations association relationships educational initiatives or strategic partnerships within the healthcare pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.
  • Strong business acumen with the ability to assess opportunities evaluate organizational needs and support strategic decision-making.
  • Proven ability to work effectively in highly matrixed global organizations and navigate competing priorities.
  • Experience developing executive-level presentations business cases dashboards and communications for senior leadership audiences.
  • Strong operational mindset with experience optimizing processes implementing new systems and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Ability to analyze synthesize and communicate complex information into concise actionable recommendations.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to represent the organization professionally with external stakeholders.
  • Experience managing budgets contracts timelines milestones and performance metrics.
  • Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to establish credibility and maintain productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
  • High level of organizational agility sound judgment and attention to detail.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including PowerPoint Excel Teams and other collaboration tools.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelors degree and Twelve Years experience; OR
  • Masters degree (MBA MSN MPH or equivalent) and Ten Years experience; OR
  • Doctoral degree (PhD PharmD or equivalent) and Eight Years experience.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience across grants and corporate sponsorship programs society relations non-profit engagement scientific communications or related functions within the pharmaceutical biotechnology healthcare non-profit or association sectors.
  • Experience leading business operations strategic initiatives process improvement programs or technology implementation projects.
  • Knowledge of corporate sponsorships and memberships independent medical education scientific grants healthcare compliance requirements and industry standards related to external funding and educational support.
  • Experience managing relationships with medical societies professional associations academic institutions continuing education providers or healthcare organizations.
  • Familiarity with contract management procurement processes budget planning and vendor management.
  • Experience developing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) operational metrics and reporting dashboards.
  • Demonstrated success leading organizational change process transformation or cross-functional business initiatives.
  • Experience supporting global programs and working with international stakeholders.
  • Advanced degree in business healthcare administration life sciences public health or related discipline preferred.

People Leader Accountabilities:

Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams modeling inclusion and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.

Develop Talent - understand the skills experience aspirations and potential of their employees and coach themoncurrent performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receivingthe feedbackand insight needed to grow develop and realize their purpose.

Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals purpose and organizational objectives and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.


The salary range for this position is:

Bay Area: $243100.00 - $314600.00.


Other US Locations: $221000.00 - $286000.00.


Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation including experience qualifications and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role) paid time off and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical dental vision and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information visit:

Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.


For jobs in the United States:

Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives backgrounds and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race color religion national origin sex age sexual orientation physical or mental disabilitygenetic information or characteristic gender identity and expression veteran status or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal state and local order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974 and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact for assistance.


For more information about equal employment opportunity protections please view theKnow Your Rights poster.

NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT


Gilead Sciences will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about discussed or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge (b) in furtherance of an investigation proceeding hearing or action including an investigation conducted by the employer (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.


Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.


For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.


Required Experience:

Director


About Company

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Gilead Sciences is continuing to hire for all open roles. Our interview process may be conducted virtually and some roles will be asked to temporarily work from home. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be implementing a phased approach to bringing employees back to site to ensu ... View more

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