Director, Analytical Operations

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Laboratory Automation will serve as a technical and strategic leader within the Analytical Development (AD) organization. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, and management of automated platforms and workflows. The director will transform manual sample preparation schemes, HPLC/GC-MS analysis, and data processing into seamless, continuous high-throughput operations. The goal is to sustain an enterprise-wide automation vision that accelerates method development timelines, improves data quality, and enhances laboratory capacity. This individual will also partner closely with stakeholders in PDM and IT/Digital to drive digital transformation across method development, sample management, and high-throughput platforms.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field; or MS/BS with commensurate experience.
8+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical/biotech analytical development and laboratory automation with Ph.D., 10+ years with MS and 12+years with BS.
Demonstrated success delivering automated, integrated laboratory workflows that improve throughput, quality, and cycle time.
Hands-on experience with common automation and integration technologies (e.g., liquid handling platforms, robotic arms, plate handling, barcode/RFID, vision systems) and laboratory middleware.
Experience integrating automation with LIMS/ELN/SDMS and data systems; familiarity with API-based integration and data pipelines.
Strong understanding of analytical development workflows (e.g., method development/qualification, characterization, stability, sample management) and associated instrumentation.
Strong knowledge of data integrity principles.
Proven ability to influence across functions (AD, Process Chemistry, Formulation, IT/Digital, Quality, Procurement, Facilities/EHS) and communicate with executive stakeholders.
Strategic thinking: connects automation investments to scientific outcomes and business value.
Systems mindset: designs solutions that consider people, process, data, and technology end-to-end.
Change leadership: drives adoption through stakeholder engagement, training, and clear operating models.
Execution excellence: delivers reliably in a matrixed, fast-paced environment with disciplined project management.
Talent development: recruits, coaches, and develops diverse technical teams; fosters collaboration and accountability.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the Analytical Development lab automation strategy and multi-year roadmap aligned to pipeline, capability needs, and digital/IT strategy.
Lead selection, development, deployment, and lifecycle management of automation platforms (e.g., liquid handlers, robotics, integrated analytical systems) across AD laboratories.
Partner with AD functional leaders to identify high-value use cases and translate scientific workflows into standardized, scalable automated processes.
Supervise integration of HPLC, GC, and MS instruments with robotics for continuous automated testing.
Work closely with Tech Dev and IT stakeholder in the integration of automation with informatics (LIMS/ELN/SDMS), scheduling, data pipelines to enable end-to-end digital workflows and data integrity.
Establish and maintain governance for automation demand intake, prioritization, standards, and portfolio tracking (value realization, throughput, quality, and cycle time).
Build and lead a high-performing team (automation engineers, application scientists, and/or system owners); coach, develop, and hire as needed.
Manage vendor and partner relationships.
Oversee capital planning and operating budgets for automation investments; develop business cases and ROI models.
Develop training, support, and sustainment models to ensure robust adoption, uptime, and user satisfaction.
Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement; apply Lean/continuous improvement principles to laboratory workflows.