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Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications

Gilead Sciences


Job Location:

Foster, CA - USA

Monthly Salary: $ 210375 - 272250
Posted: 26 June 2026 (30+ days ago)
Application Deadline: 23 September 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

We have the following exciting opportunity in our Foster City CA location.

Director Public Affairs U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications

Reporting to the Executive Director U.S. Prevention Public Affairs the Director Public Affairs U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications will lead the U.S. public affairs strategy and execution for the planned launch of once-weekly oral PrEP medication. This is a high-impact director-level position responsible for shaping the external narrative around a potential new HIV prevention option and ensuring communications support awareness access and equitable uptake.

The Director will serve as a core member of the cross-functional launch team partnering across Public Affairs Medical Affairs Commercial Market Access Government Affairs Legal and Regulatory to deliver an integrated compliant and community-informed launch approach. This role will emphasize prevention-focused storytelling public health impact and engagement with community and advocacy stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Positioning

  • Lead development of a comprehensive U.S. public affairs strategy for the once-weekly oral medication for the PrEP launch aligned with enterprise priorities and cross-functional launch plans.
  • Shape prevention-first messaging and positioning grounded in science public health need and health equity considerations.
  • Partner with Medical Affairs and Clinical Development to ensure accurate credible and compliant translation of clinical data for external audiences.
  • Anticipate and address policy access and societal dynamics (e.g. stigma disparities prevention uptake) that may impact launch success.
  • Establish frameworks narratives and best practices that can be scaled across future prevention and launch communication efforts.

Launch Planning & Execution

  • Own and direct the end-to-end launch communications strategy and execution leveraging internal and external partners.
  • Oversee spokesperson strategy and readiness including executive and third-party voices.
  • Drive integrated channel activation across earned owned paid and social media.
  • Partner closely with Market Access and Government Affairs to ensure communications support access coverage and prevention uptake.

Community & Advocacy Integration

  • Ensure community and advocacy perspectives are embedded throughout launch planning and execution.
  • Partner with advocacy and community engagement leads to amplify prevention awareness and education efforts in a credible non-promotional manner.
  • Support development of community-informed narratives that reflect real-world needs barriers and opportunities in HIV prevention.

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Serve as a strategic connector across functions ensuring alignment across Public Affairs Medical Affairs Commercial Market Access Legal Regulatory and Government Affairs.
  • Provide communications counsel to senior leaders and influence decision-making on high-profile complex issues.
  • Ensure all communications are fully compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Shape and influence enterprise-level narrative and decision making related to HIV prevention including access policy and launch strategy considerations.
  • Represent Public Affairs in cross-functional leadership forums ensuring alignment of communications strategy with broader business objectives.

Issues Management & Reputation

  • Anticipate and manage potential issues and sensitivities (e.g. access pricing prevention equity comparisons to existing PrEP options).
  • Develop and execute issues management and crisis preparedness plans tied to the launch.
  • Protect and enhance corporate reputation in the context of HIV prevention leadership.

Measurement & Insights

  • Accountable for monitoring analyzing and driving performance in media coverage stakeholder sentiment and engagement metrics.
  • Accountable for delivering measurable impact across media stakeholder engagement and reputation aligned to defined launch success metrics.
  • Translate insights into real-time optimization of launch strategy.
  • Report impact and performance against defined KPIs in coordination with Corporate Communications and Reputation teams.

Knowledge Experience and Skills

  • 12 years of relevant experience in public affairs communications or related roles within the biopharmaceutical or healthcare sector with a bachelors degree or 10 years of relevant experience with a masters degree.
  • Proven experience leading communications strategy and execution for a major product launch ideally in HIV infectious disease or prevention/public health.
  • Strong understanding of the HIV prevention landscape including PrEP access dynamics and health equity considerations.
  • Deep experience working in highly matrixed environments with demonstrated ability to influence across cross-functional teams (including Legal and Regulatory).
  • Experience engaging with external stakeholders including advocacy organizations public health leaders and third-party experts.
  • Strong expertise in issues management media relations and corporate reputation.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate complex clinical and policy topics into clear credible communications.
  • Strategic thinker with strong executional discipline and attention to detail.
  • Recognized subject matter expert in public affairs strategy particularly within HIV prevention or public health contexts.
  • Excellent verbal written and interpersonal communication skills including experience advising senior leaders.
  • Strong project management capabilities with ability to manage multiple priorities and external partners.
  • Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements governing biopharmaceutical communications.
  • Passion for public health HIV prevention and advancing equitable access to care and prevention tools.

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: $210375.00 - $272250.00. 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


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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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