Director, HR Operational Excellence

Gilead Sciences • Foster City, CA

6d • $210,375 - $272,250

About The Position

The Director, HR Operational Excellence leads Gilead’s global HR operational transformation agenda. The role partners with HR Shared Services, Centers of Excellence, HR Business Partners, and business stakeholders to redesign how HR work is delivered, scaled, optimized, and sustained. Leading a team of Operational Excellence professionals, the Director identifies and executes opportunities to improve service delivery and employee experience, simplify processes, and strengthen operating models. The position advises HR leaders on service design, operational readiness, automation, and continuous improvement, combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution and a focus on measurable outcomes.

The role develops and executes a multi-year global roadmap for HR service delivery, leads process redesign across the employee lifecycle, and works with HR Technology, Digital Experience, AI, and Shared Services teams to advance automation, digital self-service, and process digitization. It also improves coordination and delivery across the HR operating model; oversees complex work transfers, readiness, and service transitions; and builds continuous-improvement capability through coaching, tools, frameworks, and data-driven practices.

The Director leads and develops the Operational Excellence team, sets priorities, allocates resources, and fosters a collaborative, high-performance culture. The position is expected to build trusted partnerships, lead complex transformation from design through sustainment, and deliver measurable gains in service performance, efficiency, and experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 12 years of experience, or a master's degree and 10 years of experience, or a PhD and 8 years of experience.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influence skills.
• Strong facilitation and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity and complexity.
• Results-oriented approach with a bias toward execution.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to translate business challenges into scalable operational solutions.
• Ability to lead large, complex transformation efforts from design through sustainment.
• Ability to build trusted partnerships across HR and the broader business.

Nice To Haves

• 10 or more years of experience in Operational Excellence, HR Transformation, Management Consulting, Business Process Improvement, or a related discipline.
• Experience leading large-scale transformation, process redesign, service delivery, or operating model initiatives.
• Experience leading global, cross-functional programs with executive-level visibility.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and driving organizational change.
• Experience within HR, Shared Services, Employee Services, People Operations, or related functions.
• Experience implementing automation, workflow optimization, AI-enabled capabilities, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or related methodologies.
• Experience supporting service delivery organizations and global operating models.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap to improve global HR service delivery capabilities.
• Identify, lead, and partner on strategic initiatives that simplify, standardize, and transform HR service delivery.
• Partner with senior HR leaders to address complex operational challenges and improve business outcomes.
• Advise on operating model design, service delivery strategy, and organizational effectiveness.
• Lead end-to-end process redesign across the employee lifecycle and HR service ecosystem.
• Reduce process complexity and inefficiencies and improve employee and manager experiences.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies to deliver measurable improvements.
• Establish standards for process documentation, governance, and sustainment.
• Partner with HR Technology, Digital Experience, AI, and Shared Services teams to identify and prioritize workflow automation, AI-enabled capabilities, digital self-service, and process digitization opportunities.
• Support adoption and scaling of new tools and capabilities across HR.
• Improve delivery and operationalization of programs and services in partnership with COEs, HR Business Partners, Shared Services, and other HR teams.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, workflows, handoffs, and decision rights across HR teams.
• Design scalable operating models that improve service quality, consistency, accountability, and execution.
• Develop governance routines, performance measures, and operational disciplines to sustain results.
• Oversee intake, evaluation, prioritization, and execution of complex work transfers into HR service delivery organizations.
• Lead readiness assessments, transition planning, stabilization activities, and operational handoffs.
• Ensure new or changing work is embedded into ongoing operations with clear ownership and performance measures.
• Mitigate operational risk during organizational, program, process, and service transitions.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement across HR and coach HR leaders and teams on operational excellence principles and methodologies.
• Develop repeatable tools, frameworks, and approaches to strengthen problem-solving and improvement capabilities.
• Promote data-driven decision making and performance management practices.
• Lead and develop a global team of Operational Excellence professionals, set priorities, allocate resources, and ensure delivery of strategic commitments.
• Build organizational capability and succession strength within the team and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on impact and execution.
• Model inclusion, develop talent through feedback and coaching, and empower the team by aligning goals and removing barriers.

Benefits

• Discretionary annual bonus eligibility
• Discretionary stock-based long-term incentive eligibility, which may vary by role
• Paid time off
• Company-sponsored medical insurance
• Company-sponsored dental insurance
• Company-sponsored vision insurance
• Company-sponsored life insurance

What This Job Offers

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