Senior Director, Strategic Projects

Job Description

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.

Job Description

At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers.

We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world's most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come.

As a Senior Director, Strategic Projects , at Gilead you will lead high-priority U.S. Commercial strategic initiatives and serve as a key advisor to leaders across Business Units and functions. You will bring strategic perspective, structure, and cross-functional leadership to complex priorities, translating business needs into coordinated action and measurable outcomes.

The Senior Director, Strategic Projects will report to the Executive Director, Business Enablement, Strategy & Transformation and will be based in Foster City, California . This position requires an onsite presence in Foster City, and relocation assistance is offered .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives and workstreams aligned with U.S. Commercial priorities and organizational objectives, including initiatives addressing enterprise needs, external landscape shifts, and industry dynamics.
• Translate strategic priorities into coordinated action across Business Units and functions to drive business outcomes and enterprise value.
• Provide strategic thought leadership and develop insights, recommendations, and executive-level materials that support senior-management decision-making.
• Establish effective governance, decision-making structures, milestones, and accountabilities for priority initiatives.
• Identify interdependencies, risks, and strategic trade-offs across initiatives, proactively driving resolution and elevating critical decisions when appropriate.
• Build alignment and mobilize action across Business Units and functions without direct authority.
• Partner regularly with U.S. Commercial leadership teams, serving as a trusted advisor on high-priority business needs.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 14+ years of relevant experience; OR
• Master's degree/MBA and 12+ years of relevant experience; OR
• PhD and 12+ years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep experience in strategic program leadership, business operations, or management consulting.
• Demonstrated ability to structure and solve ambiguous, complex business problems and develop actionable strategic recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple interconnected priorities and translate strategy into coordinated action and business outcomes.
• Expertise designing practical governance, operating models, and decision frameworks that improve organizational effectiveness.
• Broad U.S. Commercial knowledge, including understanding of market access, payer dynamics, healthcare policy, and the external healthcare and industry landscape.
• Excellent executive communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex issues into clear insights and recommendations.
• Strong influencing, facilitation, and stakeholder-management skills across functions and organizational levels.
• Demonstrated judgment, learning agility, and ability to constructively challenge thinking and influence senior stakeholders.

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 them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and 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: $243,100.00 - $314,600.00. 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 disability, genetic 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 laws. In 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 View email address on gilead.yello.co for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

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.