Intern - Kite - Corporate Operational Excellence

Job Description

We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

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 Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

Intern - Kite - Corporate Operational Excellence

As a Gilead / Kite intern you will contribute to high-impact meaningful projects that will not only further advance our company’s mission but will allow you to gain real world experience at one of the most innovative organizations in the world . You will also have opportunities to participate in special events including professional development and leadership presentations, social/network building activities and local community volunteer programs.

Key Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop an end-to-end map of the cell therapy value chain and identify the activities, decisions, handoffs, dependencies, and potential constraints that sit on the critical path.

• Analyze how internal FTE capacity and external spend are deployed across functions, activities, and stages of the cell therapy lifecycle, using available operational and financial data.

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to validate the critical-path map, understand where work is concentrated, and identify resource gaps, duplication, bottlenecks, or opportunities to simplify ways of working.

• Assess where AI and automation could be applied to high-value activities, with consideration for business impact, feasibility, data availability, risk, and required human oversight.

• Develop a prioritized set of recommendations that highlights where Kite could redirect resources or deploy AI to improve cycle time, productivity, decision quality, and return on investment.

• Translate findings into an executive-ready roadmap and final presentation that clearly communicates the current-state fact base, priority opportunities, expected value, key assumptions, and recommended next steps.

• Showcase your work with a final presentation (PPT) near the conclusion of your internship

Required Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age at the start of the internship.

• Must be enrolled full‑time in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, JD or PhD program at a nationally accredited U.S. college or university, with continued full‑time enrollment required in the Fall semester following the internship.

• Must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) or as a graduate/doctoral student.

• Must have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.8 at the time of application and hire (official transcripts will be requested).

• Must be independently authorized to work in the United States now and in the future (current or future work authorization must not require school or employer sponsorship).

• Must be able to commit to a full‑time internship lasting 10–12 consecutive weeks between May and August.

• Must be willing and able to work at the designated site for the duration of the internship (relocation may be required). All internships are hybrid; fully remote roles are not offered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred degree level: Undergraduate

• Preferred field of study: Engineering, Data Science, Business Administration, Public Health, Finance, Operations, Life Sciences or a related discipline

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (MS Office) tools, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

• Strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify issues and proactively seek solutions

• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in a collaborative environment

• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and diversity, including the ability to work respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds

• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment with short timelines

• Strong analytical skills and proficiency with Excel; experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI is a plus

• Ability to work with large or complex data sets, identify patterns and trends, and translate analysis into actionable insights

• Interest in cell therapy, biopharmaceutical development, business operations, process improvement, and responsible applications of AI

• Ability to structure ambiguous problems, map complex processes, and create clear, simple solutions

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop executive-ready PowerPoint presentations

Gilead Core Values:

• Integrity (Doing What’s Right)

• Inclusion (Encouraging Diversity)

• Teamwork (Working Together)

• Excellence (Being Your Best)

• Accountability (Taking Personal Responsibility)

The expected hourly range for this position is $19.00 - $55.00.

Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including education level and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary.

Benefits include paid company holidays, sick time, and housing stipends for eligible employees.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit . Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at .

For jobs in the United States:

Kite Pharma 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.

Kite Pharma 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.

Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.