Associate Director, Strategic Planning and Operational Excellence - Portfolio Strategy, Insights and Analytics

Kite Pharma • Santa Monica, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

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 highly motivated individual to join Kite’s Portfolio Strategy, Insights, and Analytics Team as Associate Director, Strategic Planning & Operational Excellence, reporting to the Executive Director. This individual will be responsible for driving operational excellence, capability development, governance, reporting, and analytics, partnering closely with Portfolio Strategy Team, Insights and Analytics Team, Kite Product Team Leads, and the broader Commercial & Development organization. The Associate Director will serve as a key business and cross-functional partner in driving the impact and effectiveness of the Portfolio Strategy, Insights, and Analytics team. To create a strong partnership with stakeholders and leaders across the organization, and to ensure continued professional growth, this Associate Director will be based at our Santa Monica, CA Headquarters.

Requirements

• Advanced scientific degree (i.e., MD, PharmD, PhD) and 6+ years of experience in Portfolio Management, Strategy, Business Operations, or related functions within biopharma or similar industry
• Master’s Degree and 8+ years of experience in Portfolio Management, Strategy, Business Operations, or related functions within biopharma or similar industry
• Bachelor’s Degree and 10+ years of experience in Portfolio Management, Strategy, Business Operations, or related functions within biopharma or similar industry
• High School Degree and 12+ years of experience in Portfolio Management, Strategy, Business Operations, or related functions within biopharma or similar industry

Nice To Haves

• MBA, PhD, or scientific background preferred.
• 3 - 5 years at top consulting firm a plus.
• Strong understanding of drug development and corporate governances.
• Experience influencing senior leaders and teams through communication and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead across a matrixed cross-functional team.
• Thorough analytical skills, including quantitative modeling and complex problem-solving ability.
• Strong collaboration, relationship building, and interpersonal skills.
• Adaptability within an agile environment and willingness to perform varying duties depending on the shifting needs of the business.
• Ability to work autonomously and under minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Develop, enhance, and manage portfolio committee operations, including governance frameworks, meeting structures, and content preparation
• Support semi-annual Kite and Gilead Portfolio Reviews, ensuring alignment with corporate strategic goals
• Drive continuous capability development/enhancements in support of Portfolio Strategy and Portfolio Committee
• Standardize processes and methodologies, including NPV modeling, productivity assessments, and PTRS across product teams
• Design, deploy, and maintain business analytics and reporting capabilities that will ensure transparent and informed decision making across the Kite portfolio
• Define and track key performance metrics to enable transparency and accountability
• Facilitate alignment across stakeholders to ensure execution of strategic objectives
• Partner with Clinical Development to manage and track development milestones across programs
• Collaborate with Product Team Leads to support Kite and Gilead portfolio reviews
• Partner with Gilead Portfolio Strategy & Analytics team to identify, prioritize, and implement areas to harmonization and standardization

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees