Sr Director, Corporate Strategy & Projects

Biopharma Careers; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 261,000 - 338,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilead Sciences Inc. is seeking a Senior Director to partner with the VP and senior leadership, translating long-term ambition into actionable priorities and measurable outcomes.

You will build cross-functional alignment, influence executive decisions, and lead complex initiatives requiring broad organizational engagement. The role requires exceptional strategic judgment, executive presence, and the ability to connect perspectives across functions to drive enterprise value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 14+ years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree, MBA, PhD, or MD with 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Significant experience in corporate strategy, management consulting, corporate development, business operations, finance, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of Gilead's portfolio, business model, and strategic context.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the VP and senior leaders on high-priority enterprise issues.
• Lead development of strategic frameworks, recommendations, and perspectives on the company's most critical business challenges.
• Lead major components of corporate strategy development, enterprise planning, and scenario planning.
• Assess external trends, strategic risks, and long-term growth opportunities to help shape enterprise priorities and strategic direction.
• Own and independently lead complex enterprise initiatives sponsored by executive leadership.
• Establish governance structures and operating mechanisms that enable effective execution and decision-making.
• Drive enterprise outcomes by aligning stakeholders, resolving competing priorities, and ensuring delivery against strategic objectives.
• Align leaders across functions around enterprise priorities and strategic decisions.
• Lead cross-functional problem solving and influence decisions in highly matrixed environments.
• Foster enterprise-first thinking, collaboration, and high-quality decision-making.
• Lead development of strategic recommendations and executive communications for senior leadership and the Board.
• Shape Board & GLT discussions through strategic insights, recommendations, and facilitation of workshops, strategy sessions, and other key forums.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on enterprise strategic matters.
• Contribute to a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and coach junior team members and rotational talent.
• Foster an enterprise mindset and strategic leadership capabilities across the organization.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive presence

Influence

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree + 14+ years experience

MBA/PhD/MD

Job description

Job Description

Reporting to the VP, Corporate Strategy & Projects, the Senior Director serves as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership, helping shape enterprise strategy, influencing critical decisions, and leading initiatives that drive long-term value creation.

This leader identifies, frames, and advances the company's most important strategic decisions, translating long-term ambition into actionable priorities and measurable outcomes. The Senior Director builds alignment across senior leaders, influences enterprise decision-making, and drives complex initiatives requiring executive sponsorship and broad organizational engagement.

Success in this role requires building trusted partnerships across the enterprise. Team members are expected to have exceptional strategic judgment, executive presence, influence, and the ability to connect perspectives across functions to drive enterprise outcomes.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Enterprise Strategy & Insights

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the VP and senior leaders on high-priority enterprise issues.
• Lead development of strategic frameworks, recommendations, and perspectives on the company's most critical business challenges.
• Lead major components of corporate strategy development, enterprise planning, and scenario planning.
• Assess external trends, strategic risks, and long-term growth opportunities to help shape enterprise priorities and strategic direction.

Strategic Initiatives & Execution

• Own and independently lead complex enterprise initiatives sponsored by executive leadership.
• Establish governance structures and operating mechanisms that enable effective execution and decision-making.
• Drive enterprise outcomes by aligning stakeholders, resolving competing priorities, and ensuring delivery against strategic objectives.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence

• Align leaders across functions around enterprise priorities and strategic decisions.
• Lead cross-functional problem solving and influence decisions in highly matrixed environments.
• Foster enterprise-first thinking, collaboration, and high-quality decision-making.

Executive & Board Engagement

• Lead development of strategic recommendations and executive communications for senior leadership and the Board.
• Shape Board & GLT discussions through strategic insights, recommendations, and facilitation of workshops, strategy sessions, and other key forums.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on enterprise strategic matters.

Organizational & Talent Development

• Contribute to a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and coach junior team members and rotational talent.
• Foster an enterprise mindset and strategic leadership capabilities across the organization.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 14+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree, MBA, PhD, or MD and 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Significant experience in corporate strategy, management consulting, corporate development, business operations, finance, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of Gilead's portfolio, business model, and strategic context.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, or life sciences expertise.
• Demonstrated success influencing enterprise-level strategic decisions.
• Proven experience leading large-scale cross-functional strategic initiatives.
• Experience developing corporate or enterprise strategy.
• Experience partnering directly with executive leadership and supporting Board-level discussions.
• Strong systems-thinking orientation and enterprise mindset.
• Ability to balance long-term strategic thinking with executional pragmatism.
• Executive presence and confidence challenging assumptions constructively.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and influence skills.
• Expertise in executive storytelling and strategic communications.
• Proven ability to develop and mentor high-potential talent.
• Ability to thrive in highly ambiguous and rapidly evolving environments.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is: $261,375.00 - $338,250.00. 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:

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 TitleI of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

Miscellaneous Policies

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.