Associate Director, Medical Affairs

Kite Pharma

15d

About The Position

At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come. The Associate Director of Operations supporting US Medical Affairs will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth execution of operational activities within the US Medical Affairs department. This individual will oversee the planning, coordination, and management of processes, systems, and resources that support medical strategies, initiatives, and compliance. In addition, this role will lead and oversee operational activities supporting field-based teams such as Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Clinical Value MSLs. This role ensures that field medical teams are equipped with the resources, tools, and strategies to achieve their goals, while maintaining compliance with regulatory and company standards. This role is within the Kite Global Medical Affairs Excellence, Strategy, Training and Operations team (MAESTRO) and works closely with the Director, US Medical Operations and Head of US Medical Affairs.

Requirements

• Advanced degree required (MBA, MPH, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent in Life Sciences, Business, or related field). Additional certification in project management or data analytics is a plus.
• 5+ years in Medical Affairs, field operations, or pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with significant experience in product launch environments.
• Demonstrated leadership in strategic planning and operational execution for new product launches.
• Experience with cross-functional launch teams (Medical, Commercial, Regulatory, IT).
• Advanced strategic thinking and analytical skills, including data-driven decision-making.
• Expertise in CRM, analytics platforms, and digital engagement tools.
• Understanding of compliance, regulatory, and launch-specific requirements.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to drive process improvement and change management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement operational frameworks that drive transformation and innovation across field medical teams and US Medical Affairs, with direct accountability for launch readiness and long-term capability-building.
• Ensure alignment between strategic goals and operational execution at the field level ensuring operational execution not only aligns but proactively advances Medical Affairs objectives, especially for high-impact launches like anito-cel.
• Serve as a strategic partner to leadership, driving cross-functional alignment and representing field operations in enterprise-wide strategic planning and decision-making.
• Develop solutions to a wide range of complex problems
• Draft FMLT agendas, setting agendas that drive innovation, accountability, and measurable outcomes for field medical operations.
• Ensure field teams have access to up-to-date tools, platforms, and data to engage healthcare professionals effectively.
• Review the selection, implementation, and optimization of advanced tools, platforms, and analytics, ensuring field teams are equipped for digital engagement and data-driven decision-making.
• Champion the adoption of emerging technologies and digital solutions, evaluating ROI and driving continuous improvement in operational efficiency and field engagement.
• Monitor and report on the progress of Medical Affairs projects and programs.
• With minimal direction provide support to complex, multi-stakeholder projects and programmes, providing strategic oversight, risk management, and executive-level reporting on progress, impact, and outcomes.
• Support executive director in planning and budget management for field operations, including forecasting, variance analysis, and optimization of spend for maximum impact.
• Drive the development and execution of multi-year field plans, ensuring business processes are future-ready and scalable for new product launches and therapeutic expansion.
• Collaborate and partner with cross functional internal and external stakeholders, ensuring contracts and vendor relationships support strategic objectives and deliver value.
• Oversee and optimize administrative processes, ensuring efficiency and compliance in contract execution and resource allocation.
• Oversee financial governance and compliance for field operations, ensuring robust controls and transparency in all financial processes.
• Provide oversight and strategic resolution of complex operational issues, ensuring business continuity and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Answer contracting and purchasing inquiries by clarifying desired information; researching, locating, and providing information, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and compliance standards.
• Lead strategic problem-solving and escalation processes, ensuring timely resolution and continuous improvement.
• Champion process improvement and change management initiatives, driving operational excellence and innovation.
• Maintain process integrity & internal controls; ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations., ensuring field operations exceed regulatory standards and are audit-ready for launches and ongoing activities.
• Establish and monitor strategic field KPIs, leveraging advanced analytics to generate actionable insights and inform executive decision-making.
• Own strategic budget and vendor management for field medical operations, ensuring alignment with launch priorities and long-term business goals.
• Oversee field resource allocation to ensure efficient use of internal and external resources for maximum operational impact.
• Oversee and optimize budgets for technology and vendor partnerships, ensuring investments support strategic objectives and innovation.
• Lead high-value vendor negotiations, ensuring contracts deliver strategic value and support launch and operational priorities.
• Support onboarding processes for new field medical team members. onboarding programmes, building high-performing teams ready for launch and future growth.
• Co-create and execute enterprise-level strategic roadmaps for field medical operations, positioning the organization for sustained success in new product launches and therapeutic areas.
• Lead strategic expansion initiatives, including workforce planning and capability-building for new launches and therapeutic areas.
• Establish and monitor strategic KPIs, leveraging advanced analytics to generate actionable insights and inform executive decision-making.
• Lead strategic problem-solving, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence across field medical teams.
• Act as advisor and strategic liaison, representing field operations at the executive level and driving cross-functional collaboration for launch success.
• Lead enterprise-wide communication strategies, ensuring alignment, transparency, and engagement across all stakeholders for major initiatives and launches.
• Present strategic operational insights and recommendations to executive leadership, influencing decision-making and organizational direction.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree