Assoc Director, Vendor Outsourcing Business Strategy & Operations

Gilead Sciences • Foster City, CA

1d

About The Position

At Gilead, the mission is to create a healthier world by developing therapies for diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, and cancer, and ensuring global access to these treatments. The company values collaboration, determination, and its employees as critical assets in achieving its ambitions. Gilead is seeking an Associate Director, Vendor Outsourcing, Business Strategy & Operations to provide strategic support to leadership and ensure effective organizational operations. This role is situated within Development Operations, specifically Vendor Outsourcing (VO), which manages an end-to-end support model encompassing category management, sourcing, vendor qualification, contracting, and vendor performance & relationship management. VO is essential for compliant contracting, maintaining inspection-readiness, generating measurable value, and fostering continuous improvement across a diverse and complex global portfolio. The team manages various service categories including CRO, CRU, RWE, Observational Research, Central & Specialty Lab, HCP Consulting, Clinical Development Cooperatives, Functional Service Providers, Regulatory, Safety, Quality, and GXP-Medical Affairs & Development Systems. The Associate Director will serve as a strategic partner to leadership, driving functional initiatives aimed at enhancing business performance, operational efficiency, and execution excellence. The ideal candidate will possess technical category acumen, strong strategic thinking, hands-on operational execution capabilities, and the ability to influence stakeholders within a highly regulated, matrixed environment. This position reports to the Global Head of Vendor Outsourcing.

Requirements

• 10+ Years with BS/BA OR 8+ Years with MS/MA or MBA
• Experience in clinical development category management, business strategy, operations, vendor outsourcing, or regulated environments
• Proven ability to influence and drive outcomes in a matrixed, cross‑functional environment
• Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management
• Strong systems and analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive‑level materials

Nice To Haves

• MBA and/or advanced scientific degree
• Exposure to outsourcing governance, portfolio management, or operational excellence initiatives

Responsibilities

• Support or lead Vendor Outsourcing (VO) strategic initiatives to drive business results through operational rigor, disciplined execution, technical acumen and strong collaboration and alignment across VO partner functions and VO leadership.
• Lead and contribute to process improvement and simplification initiatives to enhance efficiency, scalability, and consistency across VO.
• Support and advance a “One VO” operating model, ensuring key processes are adaptable and applicable across multiple categories and subfunctions.
• Partner closely with the VO leadership to support leadership priorities, actions, follow-ups, and meeting minutes, including curating and facilitating effective leadership forums, e.g. VO All Hands and leadership meetings.
• Manage and maintain the VO SharePoint site, ensuring content is current, accurate, and accessible.
• Anticipate business needs and proactively identify focus areas to support organizational priorities and long‑term objectives.
• Collaborate and build strong networks within and outside the organization to advance initiatives and support leadership effectiveness.
• Support change management efforts related to both strategic and operational initiatives.
• Develop clear, concise, and executive‑ready communications, including presentations for senior leadership.
• Leverage data and analytics to generate insights that inform decision‑making and improve business outcomes.

Benefits

• discretionary annual bonus
• discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role)
• paid time off
• company-sponsored medical insurance plans
• company-sponsored dental insurance plans
• company-sponsored vision insurance plans
• company-sponsored life insurance plans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director