Director, Strategy & Operations — Hybrid (2 days Remote)

Kite Pharma, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 206,000 - 266,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Stock-based incentives

Paid time off

Job summary

Kite Pharma, Inc. is seeking a Director of Business Strategy & Operations to partner with the VP/GM, US Commercial, ensuring strategic plans translate into coordinated action and measurable outcomes.

The role is based at Kite’s Santa Monica, with a planned relocation to El Segundo or Thousand Oaks in 2027, and a hybrid work policy allowing two days remote and three onsite. The position demands an advanced scientific degree with 8+ years or equivalent, plus strong leadership, executive presence,

Qualifications

• Advanced scientific degree (MD, PharmD, PhD) with 8+ years experience, OR Master’s with 10+ years, OR Bachelor’s with 12+ years.
• Experience leading complex strategic and operational initiatives in pharma/biopharma, preferably in commercial, finance, or consulting.
• Strong executive presence, judgment, communication, and stakeholder influence; ability to lead without direct authority.
• Proven enterprise mindset, ability to navigate ambiguity and align cross-functional priorities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the GM, synthesizing complex information into executive-ready insights and Board materials.
• Translate strategy into priorities, roadmaps, performance metrics, and actionable plans to drive execution.
• Lead annual strategic, financial, resource, and headcount planning, including the consolidated Plan of Action.
• Design and manage leadership governance, planning cycles, quarterly business reviews, and accountability mechanisms.
• Coordinate initiatives across US Commercial, aligning ownership, resources, risks, and measures of success.
• Represent US Commercial in enterprise and global planning forums and translate direction into commitments.
• Track performance, identify barriers, and drive mitigation and process improvements.
• Lead major GM-sponsored meetings and cross-functional readiness for US product launches.
• Advance organizational and leadership effectiveness through improved collaboration and decision-making.
• Develop high-impact communications for leadership meetings and internal/external audiences.
• Serve on the Kite Commercial BS&O Forum, aligning priorities with US planning and execution.

Job description

Kite Pharma, Inc. is seeking a Director of Business Strategy & Operations to partner with the VP/GM, US Commercial, ensuring strategic plans translate into coordinated action and measurable outcomes.

The role is based at Kite’s Santa Monica, with a planned relocation to El Segundo or Thousand Oaks in 2027, and a hybrid work policy allowing two days remote and three onsite. The position demands an advanced scientific degree with 8+ years or equivalent, plus strong leadership, executive presence,