Director, Corporate Operational Excellence

Kite Pharma; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 226,000 - 293,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Discretionary bonus

Stock-based incentives

Paid time off

Job summary

Kite Pharma is seeking a Director of Corporate Operational Excellence to lead enterprise-wide programs that improve efficiency and performance across the organization. You will partner with senior leaders to translate strategic priorities into scalable initiatives that accelerate innovation.

Based at Kite’s Santa Monica or Foster City HQ, you will drive cross-functional transformation, establish governance and KPIs, and guide change management to sustain impact across R&D, Tech Ops, Commercial

Qualifications

• PhD with 10+ years of relevant experience (or MS/MA with 12+ years, or BS/BA with 14+ years).
• Experience leading enterprise-wide initiatives from strategy to execution.
• Strong executive presence with senior leadership partnering.

Responsibilities

• Identify and lead enterprise-wide initiatives to improve efficiency and performance.
• Partner with CEO Staff, Corporate Strategy, and Enterprise Planning to translate priorities into scalable programs.
• Drive cross-functional transformation and embed continuous improvement across the organization.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Executive presence

Change management

Strategic thinking

Data-driven decision making

Program governance

Education

PhD (10+ yrs)

MS/MA (12+ yrs)

BS/BA (14+ yrs)

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 a strategic, enterprise-minded leader to serve as Director, Corporate Operational Excellence. This role is responsible for proactively identifying, shaping, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and organizational performance.

The Director will partner closely with senior leadership, including the CEO Staff, Corporate Strategy, and Enterprise Planning, to translate strategic priorities into scalable, high-impact programs that strengthen Kite’s core business and accelerate innovation.

This individual will operate at both a strategic and executional level, leading complex, cross-functional initiatives, driving large-scale transformation, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the organization. The role requires a strong ability to anticipate business needs, diagnose root causes, and mobilize the organization around data-driven solutions.

This position is based at Kite’s global headquarters in either Foster City, CA or Santa Monica, CA and reports to the Head of Corporate Operational Excellence.

Kite is transitioning from its current Santa Monica headquarters, with employees expected to relocate to either our El Segundo or Thousand Oaks offices beginning in January 2027. While this role will be based in Santa Monica through 2026, applicants should take this planned relocation into consideration. Kite supports a flexible working policy, offering a balanced approach with two days of remote working and three days working onsite.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Strategy & Operational Excellence

• Proactively identify enterprise-wide opportunities to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability, leveraging data, benchmarking, and deep business insight
• Translate corporate strategic priorities into actionable, cross-functional programs and initiatives that drive measurable business outcomes
• Serve as a thought partner to senior leadership to shape, prioritize, and sequence initiatives aligned to Kite’s strategic roadmap

Leadership of Cross-Functional Corporate Initiatives

• Lead and oversee large, complex enterprise initiatives spanning Research, Development, Tech Ops, Commercial, and Corporate functions
• Drive alignment across senior stakeholders, ensuring clarity in objectives, roles, governance, and decision-making
• Influence without authority to mobilize cross-functional teams and deliver results at scale

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and embed repeatable frameworks for continuous operational improvement, including identification, prioritization, and execution of initiatives
• Diagnose organizational inefficiencies and performance gaps, and design interventions that unlock productivity, reduce cycle time, and enhance quality
• Drive change management strategies to enable adoption and sustain impact

Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead end-to-end program delivery, from problem framing and analytics through execution and value realization
• Ensure rigorous program governance, including KPIs, milestone tracking, and risk management
• Drive accountability for outcomes and ensure initiatives deliver measurable and sustained impact

Data, Insights & Decision Support

• Leverage data and analytics to identify opportunities, inform decision-making, and track performance
• Develop and monitor KPIs and executive dashboards to assess program effectiveness and organizational health
• Incorporate external benchmarking and best practices to continuously elevate Kite’s operating model

M&A Integration & Enterprise Programs

• Lead or support integration and separation efforts related to mergers and acquisitions, including oversight of transition service agreements
• Ensure seamless execution of integration initiatives aligned with enterprise priorities and timelines

Basic Qualifications

• PhD with 10+ years of relevant experience
• OR
• MS/MA with 12+ years of relevant experience
• OR
• BS/BA with 14+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large-scale, cross-functional corporate initiatives from strategy through execution
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and drive operational efficiency and effectiveness improvements at an enterprise level
• Deep understanding of biopharma operations, including drug development and commercialization
• Strong executive presence with experience partnering with senior leadership and influencing decisions
• Track record of leading complex programs with measurable business impact
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and structured thinking capabilities
• Strategic, enterprise mindset with the ability to connect long-term vision to near-term execution
• Strong ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and drive outcomes in a fast-paced environment
• Outstanding stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization
• Experience establishing operational excellence frameworks, governance models, and performance systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience synthesizing complex topics for executive audiences
• Ability to lead through influence, inspire teams, and drive accountability without direct authority
• International and cross-market experience preferred

The salary range for this position is: $226,185.00 - $292,710.00. 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:

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.

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 www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.

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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 [e-mail] 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.