$281K - 364K a year
Lead and execute global HIV therapeutic area communications and advocacy strategies, engage cross-functional teams and external stakeholders, manage reputational issues, and develop high-performing communication teams.
Extensive global public affairs leadership experience in pharmaceutical or biotech, proven ability to manage product launches and teams, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and expertise in crisis communications and reputation management.
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, 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. Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 1987. Together we deliver life-saving therapies to patients in need. With the commitment and drive you bring to the workplace every day, you will be part of a team that is changing the world and helping millions of people live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our worldwide staff is a close community where you can see the tangible results of your contributions, where every individual matters, and everyone has a chance to enhance their skills through ongoing development. Our scientific focus has resulted in innovative treatments that are benefiting millions of people, a pipeline of both early- and late-stage drug candidates, and unmatched patient access programs to ensure medications are available to those who could otherwise not afford them. By joining Gilead, you will further our mission to creating a healthier world for all people. Gilead is seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to serve as Executive Director, Global Therapeutic Area Communications and Advocacy, HIV. This pivotal role is responsible for developing and executing an integrated communications and advocacy strategy that advances Gilead’s position as a leader in HIV treatment and prevention by articulating Gilead’s vision in the therapeutic area across external and internal audiences, raising awareness of unmet medical needs that our science and programs seek to address, and communicating progress against these goals. This role works closely with therapeutic area leads in Global Commercial Product Strategy & Operations, Clinical Development, Medical Affairs and Government Affairs, and engages colleagues across Public Affairs’ global centers of expertise and regional/country teams to help inform cross-functional priorities and drive tailored implementation at a local level. This is a site based role located at our global headquarters in Foster City, CA. Responsibilities Include: Lead and Execute Strategy: Drive the development and execution of comprehensive therapeutic area (TA) communications and advocacy strategies that align with business objectives and portfolio priorities. Establish clear goals and measurable KPIs in collaboration with internal stakeholders to ensure strategic focus, accountability, and high-performance outcomes. Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage insights, trends, and analytics to inform strategies, and provide business leaders with real-time counsel on external developments. Therapeutic Area and Franchise Narrative: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape and deliver a compelling therapeutic area and HIV franchise story tailored to the business strategies across HIV treatment, prevention and cure, ensuring alignment across key internal and stakeholders. Product Development and Regulatory Milestone Communications: Drive communications announcing key product development and regulatory milestones as pipeline candidates advance through development. Strategic Advisory Role: Provide counsel to the HIV TA leadership team and cross-functional leaders on reputational issues, ensuring alignment and market readiness. Partner with government affairs and policy on strategic imperatives. Voice of Key Audiences: Amplify the perspectives of external stakeholders, integrating reputational considerations into core strategies and business decisions. Issue Monitoring & Response: Identify reputational opportunities and challenges, leading internal efforts to manage and respond effectively to priority issues. Cross-Functional Alignment: Serve as a bridge between public affairs centers of expertise, ensuring TA-specfic strategies align with corporate communications and corporate responsibility teams. Ensure a structure and approach that complements existing teams and builds collaboration. Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with key ACE and Global internal and external stakeholders, including Commercial, Government Affairs, Medical Affairs, Marketing, policymakers, media, patient groups, advocacy organizations, and industry partners. Team Leadership & Development: Lead and support the communications and advocacy teams across the HIV TA to plan and execute integrated plans of action across corporate, internal and product communications. Develop a high-performing, future-ready public affairs team equipped with modern skills, clear objectives, and strategic priorities. Resource and Budget Oversight: Proactively manage financial and vendor resources to ensure operational effectiveness and alignment with core strategic priorities. Required Qualifications: Global public affairs leadership experience, preferably in pharmaceutical or biotech, including previous management of global teams and a reputation for outstanding leadership, team building & recruiting. Proven ability to develop strong teams. Proven experience in management of product launches Demonstrated experience shaping integrated communications and advocacy strategies that align with business priorities and reputation goals, particularly experience in product launches. Strong understanding of the European healthcare environment and the intersection of political, social, and commercial dynamics. Track record of effective external stakeholder engagement, specifically in developing strong relationships, particularly with the patient community, and engaging academic experts and healthcare advocates with empathy and confidence. Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional teams. Experience in issue management and crisis communications, corporate reputation management, and internal alignment. Proven ability to develop and lead high-performing communication teams, individuals and leaders. The salary range for this position is: $281,010.00 - $363,660.00. 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: https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing * Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. For jobs in the United States: 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 ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com 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 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. Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.
This job posting was last updated on 9/26/2025