Senior Director, Discovery Sciences & Technologies

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, Discovery Sciences & Technologies, at Gilead you will provide strategic and scientific leadership in assay development, high‑throughput screening, and advanced drug discovery technologies to enable target validation, lead generation, and progression of programs through development‑candidate nomination.

The successful candidate will bring a proven track record of building and scaling best‑in‑class drug discovery technologies and infrastructure, and advancing a diverse portfolio spanning small molecules, biologics, and heterobifunctional modalities. This individual will be a key member of the DST senior leadership team and a critical partner to multidisciplinary research teams across all Gilead therapeutic areas.

DST scientists design and execute rigorous, quantitative, and physiologically relevant in vitro biochemical and cellular assays that underpin decision‑making throughout discovery. In this highly matrixed environment, the Senior Director will be expected to work effectively across functions — including medicinal chemistry, protein therapeutics, structural biology, computational/data sciences and therapeutic biology teams — to advance transformational therapies into clinical development for patients.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Lead and inspire a high‑performing team responsible for developing biochemical, biophysical, and cellular pharmacology assays across all therapeutic areas and modalities.

• Establish and execute assay and screening strategies that enable target discovery, hit identification, and lead optimization, while proactively identifying rate-limiting steps and key decision points.

• Apply and integrate diverse biophysical and cellular approaches to drive deep mechanistic understanding of target engagement, pathway modulation, and inhibitor behavior.

• Drive the adoption and internal development of next‑generation lead‑generation technologies, including novel assay platforms, automation, data analytics, and innovative screening methodologies, to maintain state‑of‑the‑art discovery capabilities

• Evaluate and influence external technologies, platforms, and innovations in support of in‑licensing, partnerships, and strategic collaborations

• Provide clear scientific direction, critical data interpretation, and decision support at project teams and governance forums.

• Manage resources effectively across multiple concurrent programs to ensure efficient progression of programs across Gilead’s research portfolio.

• Mentor, develop, and empower scientific leaders and emerging talent, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, accountability, and collaboration.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in biochemistry, enzymology, biophysics or a related discipline with a minimum of 15+ years of drug discovery experience in an industrial research environment.

• Deep expertise in protein–ligand interactions, supported by strong experience with biophysical and cell-based technologies.

• Demonstrated success in developing and deploying biochemical and cellular assays for target validation, lead generation, and SAR driven optimization.

• Proven track record of advancing discovery programs from HTS to development candidate nomination.

• Experience with mass spectrometry–based approaches, and expertise in covalent inhibitors and degrader modalities, is highly desirable.

• Established ability to lead, mentor, and develop senior level scientists and to drive impact in a highly matrixed organization.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to diverse scientific and non-scientific audiences.

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: $261,375.00 - $338,250.00. 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.

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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.