Senior Director, Gilead Patient Solutions Public Affairs (United States - California - Foster City)

This job is with Gilead Sciences Inc., an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

At Gilead, we're creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we've 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 world's biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

 

Every member of Gilead's 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 we're 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.

At Gilead, our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has led to transformative advances in HIV treatment and prevention, a cure for hepatitis C, and important progress across viral, inflammatory, and oncology diseases. We   set   bold ambitions in our work to address some of the world's most urgent public health challenges and improve the lives of patients around the globe.  

Position Overview  

The Gilead Patient Solutions (GPS) team   operates   in almost 140 low-and lower-middle income countries across the world to champion innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes, promote health system sustainability, strengthen   infrastructure   and uplift communities.   The Senior Director, Gilead Patient Solutions Public Affairs, will develop and execute an integrated communications and advocacy strategy that advances   company   priorities, supports sustainable access to innovation for patients, and strengthens Gilead's reputation across a diverse set of countries . You will report to and serve as a trusted deputy and strategic thought partner to the Executive Director, Intercontinental Public Affairs, helping shape priorities across the GPS region, connecting insights across functions and geographies, and ensuring coordinated responses to emerging opportunities and challenges.  

The role ensures that patient needs ,   public health , and

Gilead's   priorities   remain   at the center of communications,   advocacy,   and stakeholder engagement strategies.   It   operates   with a   distinct   global mandate, partnering closely with regional, market, and functional leaders as well   as   international NGOs,   and   patient organizations . This is a high-impact, externally   facing,   and internally connected role for a seasoned public affairs leader. The ideal candidate will bring strong instincts from a complex, regulated, global biotechnology environment and will be comfortable operating across corporate reputation, advocacy, global NGO engagement, internal and external communications, media, issues management and crisis response.  

Key Responsibilities  

Strategic Public Affairs Leadership  

• Serve as the public affairs partner to GPS leadership, l ead ing   strategies that support patient-centered access to innovation, advance public health priorities, and align communications, advocacy, NGO engagement, and stakeholder outreach for   GPS.  

• Identify   connections and emerging themes across markets, functions,   stakeholders   and external environments, translating insights into coordinated public affairs strategies and practical action .  

• Serve as a senior counselor to the Executive Director, ICR and Regional Cross Functional Leadership teams, providing clear recommendations, direct feedback, and practical communications guidance on complex internal and external matters.  

• Partner closely with colleagues across Public Affairs, Patient Advocacy, Government Affairs,   Value & Access,   Corporate Communications, Commercial,   Medical   and other functions to align strategies and stakeholder engagement approaches .  

• Bring a global, enterprise-level lens to public affairs planning across   nearly 140  countries, ensuring strategies are locally relevant, culturally informed, and aligned with broader corporate priorities.  

External Communications  

• Lead external communications strategy for Gilead Patient Solutions reinforcing Gilead's role as a trusted partner in global health, while ensuring message discipline across and alignment across the enterprise,   regions   and markets.  

• Create clear, credible, and compliant communications that explain Gilead's commitments, partnerships, access initiatives, and public health impact to external audiences.  

• Build proactive storytelling opportunities including executive visibility, thought leadership, milestones, partnerships, and reputation-building initiatives.  

• Prepare senior leaders for external engagements, media interviews, conferences, panels, NGO meetings, and stakeholder forums.  

Global NGO, Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement  

• Partner with cross-functional teams on engagement strategies with global NGOs, patient organizations, advocacy coalitions, and other external stakeholders.  

• Develop and sustain trusted relationships with organizations advancing public health, patient support, healthcare   delivery   and broader community health priorities .  

• Co-create education, engagement, and capacity-building initiatives with external partners where   appropriate   and compliant.  

• Partner across markets to ensure stakeholder engagement is coordinated, purposeful, and aligned with local needs, enterprise priorities, and applicable laws and industry standards.  

Issues,   Crisis   and Reputation Management  

• Proactively  identify and manage potential global and regional issues;  establish governance, protocols, and response frameworks.  

• Embed reputation management into program design and apply  data ‑ driven insights to  monitor risk and sentiment across geographies.  

• Draft, review, and guide external statements, press releases, Q&A documents, holding statements, leadership messages, briefing materials, and reactive communications.  

Internal Communications and Enterprise Alignment  

• Partner with global corporate and internal communications teams to integrate GPS priorities into enterprise narratives and employee engagement efforts. <]]>