Director, Kite US Medical Affairs Business Strategy and Operations

Director, US Medical Affairs Strategy & Operations Kite Medical Affairs Strategy and Operations function is responsible for driving operational excellence and medical effectiveness. This is achieved by working collaboratively within medical affairs and collaborating with cross‑functional stakeholders not limited to commercial, development, regional teams, and Gilead operational teams. Medical affairs Operations ensure the appropriate systems, tools and processes are in place to support and enhance Kite medical affairs business effectiveness. The Medical Affairs Operations and Strategy Lead will serve as an instrumental partner and operational expert to support the successful execution of the US Medical Affairs strategy. This role involves overseeing cross‑functional projects, optimizing processes, and ensuring alignment between the organization’s medical, clinical, and cross functional objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Medical Affairs, operational excellence, and leadership, with the ability to drive innovative strategies and execute them with precision. Position will be filled in Foster City, CA, El Segundo, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA, or Parsippany, NJ. Key Responsibilities Strategic Planning and Leadership: Partner with senior leaders to develop and execute the Medical Affairs strategy in alignment with organizational objectives. Lead the US annual planning process, including budget development, resource allocation, and goal setting. Monitor and assess industry trends to anticipate challenges and opportunities for the Medical Affairs function. Governance and Operational Excellence: Drive operational efficiency by streamlining processes, workflows, and systems within Medical Affairs. Enhance and oversee metrics and KPIs to track performance, ensuring continuous improvement. Develop and maintain US governance frameworks to support compliance, quality, and risk management. Support the Medical Affairs system and technology roadmap to support 3‑year business objectives of Medical Affairs. Support the assessment of future technologies for the department and help direct departmental implementation of new technologies. Partner with IT to ensure project goals are in line with global business plans of action and project plans are tracked. Partner with Finance to ensure US projects are managed with fiscal discipline and track to budget. Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Serve as a key liaison between Medical Affairs and other functions (Commercial, Development, Manufacturing, etc.) to ensure alignment and coordination. Facilitate effective communication and information sharing to drive seamless execution of medical strategies. Program and Project Management: Oversee the implementation of strategic initiatives, ensuring delivery on time and within scope. Manage cross‑functional project teams to execute high‑impact projects that support Medical Affairs priorities. Enhance dashboards and reporting systems to track the progress of key initiatives. Business Insights and Analytics Support: Work with commercial operations to leverage data and analytics to generate actionable insights that inform medical and business strategies. Lead the country insight gathering process for roll‑up to global medical affairs including advisory boards. Key Leader on the US Medical Affairs leadership team: Ensures with head of USMA – a high‑performing team to deliver operational and strategic excellence. Embodies & fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability within Medical Affairs. Ensures effective & measurable outcomes for USMA team. Basic Qualifications Advanced scientific degree (MD, PharmD, PhD) and 8+ years of biotech/pharmaceutical industry experience Master’s Degree and 10+ years of biotech/pharmaceutical industry experience Bachelor’s Degree and 12+ years of biotech/pharmaceutical industry experience High School Degree and 16+ years of biotech/pharmaceutical industry experience Preferred Qualifications Deep understanding of Medical Affairs business needs and requirements to identify best‑in‑class solutions Demonstrated success in developing effective creative solutions to complex problems Demonstrated excellence in managing highly complex multiple projects simultaneously Demonstrated success in establishing effective working relationships with a diverse range of internal and external key stakeholders Strong attention to detail, excellent project management and problem‑solving skills, and thinks creatively Able to work under limited direction 5+ years in medical affairs or leading project delivery role in pharma Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to work with medical and/or scientific teams Ability to independently lead and prioritize multiple projects and priorities simultaneously and function in a fast‑paced environment Work effectively both independently and as part of a team Ability to learn quickly and comprehensively about new subject areas and environments Self‑motivation, flexibility, resourcefulness, and problem‑solving capabilities Passion for science Outstanding Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and MS Project 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: Bay Area: $243,100.00 – $314,600.00. Other US Locations: $221,000.00 – $286,000.00. Kite 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: Company Overview 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 Equal Employment Opportunity 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 click.appcast.io for assistance. For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the ‘Know Your Rights’ poster. Notice: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT Your rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Kite Pharma