Executive Director, Public Affairs

Gilead; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global biopharmaceutical leader is seeking an Executive Director to lead public affairs for the ACE Region. This high-level role involves developing and executing strategic communications and advocacy initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess extensive public affairs leadership experience, a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape, and a proven track record of building strong teams. This position is based in Uxbridge, UK, and promises a dynamic work environment focused on impactful healthcare solutions.

Qualifications

• Global public affairs leadership experience, preferably in pharmaceutical or biotech.
• Track record of effective stakeholder engagement, especially with the patient community.
• Strong understanding of the European healthcare environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute comprehensive regional communications and advocacy strategies.
• Leverage insights to inform strategies and provide counsel to business leaders.
• Build and maintain relationships with key ACE and Global stakeholders.

Skills

Global public affairs leadership experience

Expertise in corporate communications

Proven experience in management of product launches

Strong executive presence

Effective external stakeholder engagement

Job description

Overview

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.

Executive Director, Australia, Canada and Europe (ACE), Public Affairs

Gilead is seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to serve as Executive Director, Regional Lead, ACE Public Affairs. This pivotal role is responsible for developing and executing an integrated communications and advocacy strategy that advances the objectives of our ACE Region’s Commercial business. As a key member of both the Public Affairs function and the ACE Commercial leadership team, the Executive Director will shape and lead a comprehensive public affairs strategy encompassing external and internal communications, issue monitoring and response, leadership communications, and advocacy initiatives.

Acting as the primary liaison for the ACE regional commercial operations, the Executive Director will be instrumental in strengthening Gilead’s market presence, reputation, and stakeholder relationships across the region. This role demands an innovative thinker who can craft a unified strategy, drive seamless execution, and provide enhanced support to achieve critical business priorities. The ideal candidate is both a visionary strategist and a hands-on leader capable of coaching and inspiring a high-performing team. They will oversee a team of approximately 40 professionals, collaborating closely with agency partners and senior business leaders. This highly visible leadership role reports to the Vice President International Markets and Therapeutic Area Communications, Public Affairs and is based at Gilead’s Stockley Park office in London, U.K.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead & Execute Strategy: Drive the development and execution of a comprehensive regional 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.
• Corporate & Brand Narrative: Collaborate with global Public Affairs teams to shape and deliver a compelling corporate and brand story tailored to the key markets within the region, ensuring alignment across therapeutic areas and advocacy stakeholders.
• Product Launch & Access Strategies: Design and drive communications and advocacy initiatives that support new product launches and ensure access for patients in the region.
• Strategic Advisory Role: Provide counsel to the regional Commercial leadership team and cross-functional leaders on reputational impacts, ensuring alignment and market readiness. Partner with government affairs and policy on strategic imperatives. Serve as the Public Affairs Business partner to the Head of the ACE region and ACE cross-functional leadership team.
• Voice of Key Audiences: Amphilate the perspectives of regional 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 regional strategies align with corporate communications, global advocacy, citizenship, and health equity initiatives. 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 country teams (+40 employees) across the region to plan and execute country plans across corporate, internal and product communications. Develop a high-performing, future-ready public affairs team equipped with modern skills, clear objectives, and strategic priorities.
• Budget Oversight: Proactively manage financial resources to ensure operational effectiveness and alignment with core strategic priorities.

Required Qualifications:

• Global public affairs leadership experience, preferably in pharmaceutical or biotech, with significant experience in markets outside North America, including previous management of global teams and a reputation for outstanding leadership, team building & recruiting. Proven ability to develop strong teams.
• Deep expertise across the whole spectrum of communication functions including corporate, internal and product communications.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of media, digital, social media, and other modern strategies in healthcare.
• Familiarity with how advocacy and health equity intersect.
• Prior experience in HIV and/or Oncology communications, advocacy, government affairs, marketing or medical affairs is preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

It is the policy of Gilead Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively "Gilead" or the "Company") to recruit select and employ the most qualified persons available for positions throughout the Company. Except if otherwise provided by applicable law, all employment actions relating to issues such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, returns from layoffs, company-sponsored training, education assistance, social and recreational programs are administered on a non-discriminatory basis (i.e. without regard to protected characteristics or prohibited grounds, which may include an individual’s gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, veteran status, and age, unless such protection is prohibited by federal, state, municipal, provincial, local or other applicable laws). Gilead also prohibits discrimination based on any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors: Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.