Director, Global MES Lead (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.

Job Description

 

The Director, Global MES Business Lead is a senior, business-facing leadership role accountable for defining, governing, and scaling the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) strategy across the global manufacturing network. This role serves as the primary bridge between Global Manufacturing, Quality, Technical Development, MSAT/Process Engineering/Automation, and IT to ensure MES platforms and business processes enable compliant, efficient, and digitally enabled operations across all sites.

 

At the Director level, this role owns the global MES product and business process vision and roadmap and is accountable for translating enterprise manufacturing and quality strategies into executable, scalable MES capabilities. The role emphasizes strong business ownership, cross-functional leadership, and operational value delivery, while partnering closely with IT and site teams for technical execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Global MES Strategy & Product Ownership

• Define and maintain the global MES strategy, roadmap, and operating model , aligned with enterprise manufacturing, quality, and digital transformation objectives.
• Serve as the global business owner for MES and electronic batch records , accountable for platform direction, lifecycle management, and business value realization across sites.
• Establish and govern global MES standards, design principles, templates, and best practices for MES/EBR implementation and sustainment.
• In partnership with Quality, develop and maintain standards and best practices for Electronic Batch Record review, including approaches and expectations for Review by Exception.
• Own prioritization of MES capabilities, enhancements, and site demands, balancing compliance, operational value, risk, and scalability.

 

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the primary MES business partner to Global Manufacturing, IT, Site Operations/Automation, Quality, Technical Development, and Supply Chain organizations.
• Translate manufacturing and quality needs into clear MES requirements, capabilities, and delivery roadmaps.
• Chair or contribute to cross-functional MES governance forums (e.g. Manufacturing Digital Council - MDC) to drive alignment, standard adoption, and timely decision-making.
• Represent MES in manufacturing, digital, and quality leadership forums as a trusted subject matter and business advisor.

MES Delivery, Lifecycle & Operations

• Provide business oversight for global MES delivery models, including build, deployment, validation, and sustainment in regulated (GxP) environments.
• Ensure consistent, compliant approaches to MES change management, risk assessment, issue resolution, deviations, and CAPA execution.
• Partner with IT/OT leadership to define and sustain effective run-and-build support models, vendor strategies, and service ownership.
• Guide MES deployment strategies for new facilities, expansions, tech transfers, and major process changes.

Compliance, Quality & Data Integrity

• Ensure MES solutions meet global GMP, data integrity, validation, and regulatory expectations .
• Support health authority inspections, internal audits, and regulatory engagements related to MES and electronic batch records.
• Embed compliance-by-design and data integrity principles into MES standards, processes, and operating models.

Digital Enablement & Continuous Improvement

• Enable digital manufacturing capabilities through MES, including integration with automation systems, historians, ERP, and analytics platforms.
• Drive standardization and harmonization of manufacturing workflows while supporting site-specific operational needs.
• Leverage MES data to support operational excellence initiatives such as right-first-time execution, cycle time reduction, and data-driven decision making.

Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead and influence global, matrixed teams across Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and IT without direct line authority.
• Build strong partnerships with site leaders, IT delivery teams, and external technology partners.
• Drive organizational change management to support MES adoption, standardization, and maturity across the network.

 

Qualifications & Experience

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing environments with significant experience in MES/EBR systems .
• Proven experience leading multi-site or global MES initiatives in regulated (GxP) environments.
• Strong understanding of Global Manufacturing, process engineering fundamentals, and GMP requirements.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with leading MES platforms (e.g., Werum PAS-X or equivalent) and integration to automation, historians, and ERP systems.
• Experience supporting inspections, audits, deviations, and change control related to MES.
• Experience across one or more modalities (e.g., biologics, cell therapy, API, OSD).
• Demonstrated success influencing cross-functional, matrixed global teams.

 

Key Competencies

• Strong business and operational acumen with the ability to connect MES capabilities to manufacturing and quality outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder influence and communication skills, including engagement with site and functional leaders.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business language.
• Structured problem-solving, prioritization, and decision-making in complex, regulated environments.
• Comfort operating at the intersection of Manufacturing, Quality, and IT/OT.

 

What Success Looks Like

• A clear, pragmatic global MES strategy that is adopted by sites and functions.
• Improved consistency, compliance, and speed-to-value across MES implementations.
• Strong partnership and credibility with Manufacturing, Quality, and IT stakeholders globally.
• MES positioned as a foundational enabler for digital manufacturing and data-driven operations.

 

The salary range for this position is: $210,375.00 - $272,250.00. 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*.

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

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