Associate Director, Commercial Excellence IT

Gilead Sciences Inc.; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharmaceutical company in the UK is seeking an Associate Director, Commercial Excellence IT. The role involves advising on technology solutions for commercial excellence across global affiliates, particularly in CRM and Events Management. Required qualifications include extensive experience in commercial IT, knowledge of Veeva CRM, and strategic planning abilities. Join a mission-driven team dedicated to advancing global health through innovation and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to manage Managed Service Providers and Systems Integrators.
• At least 5 years' experience in a similar role.
• Experience engaging senior leadership across a matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic technology advisor to business partners.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex technology initiatives.
• Define strategic roadmap for CRM and Events Management capabilities.

Skills

Strong understanding of field force effectiveness

Experience delivering cross-functional IT solutions

Extensive experience with Veeva CRM

Proficiency in API technologies

Strategic IT planning experience

Experience with integration tools

Familiarity with SDLC methodologies

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

PhD

Tools

Veeva Events Management

Informatica

AWS AppFlow

Apigee

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Associate Director, Commercial Excellence IT (Ex-US) to join our Commercial IT organization. This strategic role will serve as the Capability Lead for Commercial Excellence, supporting affiliates across Australia, Canada, Europe (ACE), Asia, and Latin America. The successful candidate will act as a trusted technology partner to the business, driving innovation and enabling key capabilities—primarily focusing on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Events Management. This role will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Global Commercial Operations, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Business Conduct, and IT. It will be instrumental in shaping and executing technology strategies from ideation through delivery, ensuring alignment with business objectives and maximizing value. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, a problem-solving mindset, and a forward-thinking approach to technology. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of commercial excellence at Gilead, contributing to our mission of creating a healthier world for all.

Gilead is currently in the process of selecting its Next Generation Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution, a strategic initiative aimed at transforming commercial capabilities across its global operations. This role will play a leading part in the implementation of the new CRM platform across all ex-US affiliates, ensuring alignment with business needs, innovation and driving operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic technology advisor to cross-functional business partners—including Commercial, Marketing, Medical Affairs, and Compliance—across ex-US affiliates, translating complex business priorities into scalable, high-impact technology solutions that drive measurable value.
• Lead the end-to-end delivery of complex technology initiatives, from ideation and architecture through deployment and sustainment, ensuring alignment with enterprise strategy and business needs.
• Define and maintain the strategic roadmap for CRM and Events Management capabilities, collaborating with business stakeholders, product owners, and ecosystem teams such as Data & Analytics.
• Partner with CRM and Events Management Capability Managers to serve as the focal point for IT within the Commercial Excellence ex-US, consolidating regional business needs into prioritized technology roadmaps and actionable delivery plans.
• Oversee the technical design, development, and implementation of integrated solutions, ensuring adherence to architectural standards, regulatory requirements, and delivery methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid).
• Manage cross-functional teams and vendor partnerships to deliver new platforms and features with agility, velocity, and quality, while optimizing cost and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and practices to enable innovation, competitive differentiation, and strategic capability enablement across the Commercial ecosystem.
• Guide solution architecture and delivery planning, ensuring appropriate project governance, resource allocation, and risk mitigation across multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Collaborate with sourcing and procurement teams on RFPs, vendor evaluations, contract readiness, and capability assessments, ensuring alignment with Gilead's standards for quality, security, and compliance.
• Monitor industry trends in CRM, HCP engagement, and digital engagement platforms, translating insights into product strategies and adoption plans that drive measurable business value.
• Lead strategic planning and budgeting for Commercial IT portfolios, ensuring alignment with regional business strategies and global IT frameworks.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement and change management, ensuring successful adoption of new technologies through training, communication, business change management and post-deployment optimization.
• Represent Commercial IT in governance forums, architecture reviews, and external briefings, advocating for scalable, standardized solutions that support global-to-local harmonization.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualification: Associates Degree and Twelve Years Experience OR Bachelor's Degree and Ten Years' Experience OR Masters' Degree and Eight Years' Experience OR PhD and Two Years' Experience.
• Preferred Qualification:
• Minimum 5+ years' experience in a similar role, ideally within commercial IT or life sciences, with a strong track record of delivering major programmes and managing cross-functional teams.
• Extensive experience with Veeva CRM and Veeva Events Management, with exposure to Vault Platform and the Salesforce ecosystem.
• Strong understanding of field force effectiveness and sales operations processes, with the ability to translate business needs into scalable IT solutions.
• Strategic IT planning experience, including development of technology roadmaps aligned with business goals and priorities.
• Experience delivering cross-functional and cross-geographical IT solutions, with comfort engaging senior leadership and business stakeholders across a matrixed organisation.
• Familiarity with SDLC methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid, and product-centric approaches, and experience applying DevOps principles and CI/CD practices.
• Experience with integration tools such as Informatica and AWS AppFlow, and a solid understanding of solution architecture and integration protocols.
• Proficiency in API technologies, including RESTful APIs and platforms such as Apigee, with the ability to lead teams in designing robust and secure integration architectures.
• Strong enterprise technology knowledge, including cloud computing (e.g., AWS), platform architecture, and system integration, with the ability to assess capabilities and limitations.
• Proven ability to manage Managed Service Providers and Systems Integrators, ensuring delivery quality, governance, and vendor accountability.
• Gilead Core Values: Integrity (Doing What’s Right); Inclusion (Encouraging Diversity); Teamwork (Working Together).

About Gilead

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 leading biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing global health through scientific innovation. For over three decades, Gilead has been at the forefront of developing transformative therapies for life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, and cancer. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide. As part of our commitment to improving lives, we foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every individual is valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully. At Gilead, you will join a mission-driven team focused on discovering, developing, and delivering innovative therapeutics that make a real difference. 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.