Associate Director, Medical Affairs

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

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join Global Medical Affairs as an Associate Director, Medical Affairs. The role will initially support a portfolio of early lifecycle and pipeline programs across multiple disease areas, with scope potentially evolving in response to portfolio and organizational priorities.

The Associate Director will be responsible for defined scientific communication workstreams spanning publication strategy and execution, scientific narrative development, evidence translation, congress activity, and Medical Affairs content. The balance across these responsibilities will vary according to program maturity, data availability and business need.

Working across a complex matrix, the Associate Director will translate scientific evidence, external landscape developments and stakeholder needs into clear communication priorities and high-quality deliverables. The role requires strong scientific judgement, strategic thinking, adaptability, independent execution and the ability to influence stakeholders and manage competing priorities.

Scientific Content, Narrative and Evidence Translation

• Working with relevant Medical Affairs and Scientific Communications leaders, responsible for defined components of integrated scientific communication strategy for assigned programs, connecting scientific evidence, external landscape, stakeholder needs, publications, congress activity, scientific narratives and field medical content.
• Develop and maintain evidence-based scientific narratives as the clinical evidence base, external scientific landscape and program priorities evolve.
• Develop and/or review field medical resources, FAQs, congress materials and other scientific communication assets, ensuring they are scientifically accurate, balanced, appropriately referenced and suitable for their intended purpose.
• Apply an audience-centered approach to scientific communications, adapting the depth, format and channel of communication while maintaining scientific accuracy, balance and consistency.
• Partner with field medical teams and other relevant stakeholders to understand scientific exchange needs, identify content gaps and translate complex evidence into clear, practical and scientifically balanced resources.
• Monitor and synthesize relevant developments in the external scientific, clinical and treatment landscape to identify implications for scientific communication priorities and content.
• Translate appropriate scientific and stakeholder insights into recommendations for communication strategy, content development and evidence dissemination.
• Support congress strategy, planning and execution, including the development and review of materials used before, during and after scientific meetings.
• Ensure alignment and consistency across publications, scientific narratives, congress activity and Medical Affairs content while recognizing the distinct purpose and audience of each communication.
• Ensure scientific communications are accurate, balanced, appropriately referenced and developed in accordance with applicable company policies, governance processes, Medical, Legal and Regulatory review requirements where applicable, and relevant external standards.

Publication Strategy and Scientific Dissemination

• Responsible for defined publication strategy and scientific dissemination workstreams for assigned programs and disease areas, with appropriate strategic oversight from the Senior Director, Scientific Communications.
• Translate evolving development program objectives, Medical Affairs priorities, scientific evidence and external landscape developments into clear publication priorities and executable plans.
• Provide scientifically grounded recommendations on communication priorities, sequencing, channels, resource needs and appropriate trade-offs.
• Independently guide the development, scientific review and delivery of peer-reviewed manuscripts, congress abstracts, posters, oral presentations and related publication deliverables with agency partners.
• Partner with internal subject-matter experts, external authors, investigators, alliance partners and other relevant stakeholders to develop and execute high-quality publication tactics.
• Represent Publications in relevant cross-functional forums for assigned programs and provide clear updates, recommendations and escalation of material issues.
• Contribute actively to Global Publication Planning Team discussions and maintain accurate, transparent and current documentation of publication plans, decisions and status.
• Ensure publication activities comply with applicable company policies and relevant external standards, including ICMJE, Good Publication Practice and congress requirements.
• Oversee publication vendors, medical writing partners and other external resources, including scope, timelines, scientific quality, and performance

Basic Qualifications

• BA/BS and 10 years relevant experience, MA/MS and 8 years relevant experience, or PhD and 2 years relevant experience.
• Relevant experience in Scientific Communications, Publications, Medical Affairs or a closely related discipline within the biopharmaceutical industry, academia or a medical communications environment.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex scientific communication deliverables or workstreams in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate scientific, clinical, translational and/or real-world evidence and communicate its implications accurately and clearly.
• Demonstrated experience developing and reviewing scientific publications and Medical Affairs content.
• Experience working effectively in multidisciplinary and matrix teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced scientific or clinical degree, or an equivalent combination of relevant scientific education and substantial professional experience.
• Experience contributing to integrated scientific communication and/or publication strategies.
• Experience working across multiple assets, programs, disease areas or lifecycle stages.
• Strong knowledge of publication standards and scientific communication best practices, including ICMJE and Good Publication Practice.
• Knowledge of Medical Affairs content development, governance and review processes, including Medical, Legal and Regulatory review.
• Ability to critically evaluate clinical, translational and real-world evidence and communicate its implications accurately and clearly.
• Excellent scientific writing, editing, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior, cross-functional and external stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong planning, prioritization and decision-making skills, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and operate effectively in ambiguity.
• Experience managing external vendors, agencies, budgets or complex external partnerships.
• Experience working in global, regional or multi-country Medical Affairs environments.
• Experience in cell therapy, oncology, hematology or another complex specialty therapeutic area.
• Experience with publication planning, content management or medical review systems.

The salary range for this position is:

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:

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

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 .

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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.