Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Treatment Communications

Gilead Sciences • Foster City, CA

1d • $210,375 - $272,250

About The Position

The Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Treatment Communications will serve as the Public Affairs launch lead on Gilead’s U.S. HIV Treatment team, reporting to the Executive Director, U.S. Treatment Public Affairs. This director-level role leads public affairs strategy and execution for potential U.S. product launches, shapes external communications about a potential once-weekly oral HIV treatment option, and advances above-brand communications that improve understanding of the evolving HIV treatment landscape.

As a core member of the cross-functional launch team, the Director partners with Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Market Access, Government Affairs, Legal, Regulatory, community engagement, and advocacy teams. The role connects product launch communications with broader treatment-focused storytelling, the needs of people living with HIV, and Gilead’s long-term commitment to HIV. It also provides counsel to senior leaders, manages communications issues and reputation considerations, and measures the effectiveness of launch and above-brand communications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of experience, or a master’s degree and 10 years of experience, or a Ph.D. and 8 years of experience.
• 12 or more years of experience, or 10 or more years with an advanced degree, in public affairs, communications, or related roles in the biopharmaceutical or healthcare sector.
• Proven experience leading communications strategy and execution for a major product launch.
• Strong understanding of the HIV treatment landscape, including treatment approaches, access dynamics, community priorities, and health equity considerations.
• Experience working in highly matrixed environments and influencing cross-functional teams, including Legal and Regulatory.
• Experience engaging external stakeholders, including advocacy organizations, public health leaders, and third-party experts.
• Strong expertise in issues management, media relations, and corporate reputation.
• Ability to translate complex clinical and policy topics into clear, credible communications.
• Strategic thinking, executional discipline, and attention to detail.
• Experience developing above-brand, disease-state education, or thought leadership communications in a regulated healthcare environment.
• Expertise in public affairs strategy, particularly in HIV treatment, infectious disease, or a related healthcare area.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including experience advising senior leaders.
• Strong project management capabilities and ability to manage multiple priorities and external partners.
• Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements governing biopharmaceutical communications.
• Commitment to improving the lives of people living with HIV and advancing equitable access to treatment.

Nice To Haves

• Product launch communications experience in HIV, infectious disease, or another highly competitive therapeutic area.
• Recognized subject matter expertise in public affairs strategy, particularly within HIV treatment, infectious disease, or a related healthcare area.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of a comprehensive U.S. public affairs strategy for potential product launches, aligned with enterprise priorities, the U.S. HIV Treatment strategy, and cross-functional launch plans.
• Shape treatment-focused messaging and positioning grounded in science, the needs of people living with HIV, and health equity considerations.
• Partner with Medical Affairs and Clinical Development to accurately and compliantly translate clinical data for external audiences.
• Anticipate and address policy, access, and societal dynamics that may affect launch success, including stigma, disparities, and treatment access and adoption.
• Establish frameworks, narratives, and best practices that can be scaled across future HIV treatment and launch communications efforts.
• Lead above-brand communications that strengthen understanding of the HIV treatment landscape and reinforce Gilead’s leadership and long-term commitment in HIV.
• Develop disease-state education and thought leadership on unmet needs, treatment barriers, stigma, health equity, and the changing needs of people living with HIV, while maintaining separation from product-specific promotion.
• Coordinate above-brand storytelling and stakeholder engagement with Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Government Affairs, Market Access, Community Engagement and Advocacy, and other functions.
• Connect ISL/LEN launch communications with the broader U.S. HIV Treatment narrative, portfolio priorities, and reputation strategy.
• Lead end-to-end U.S. Public Affairs launch communications strategy and execution, leveraging internal and external partners.
• Oversee spokesperson strategy and readiness, including executive and third-party voices.
• Drive integrated activation across earned, owned, paid, and social media channels.
• Partner with Market Access and Government Affairs on communications supporting access, coverage, and appropriate uptake.
• Embed community and advocacy perspectives throughout launch and above-brand planning and execution.
• Partner with community engagement and advocacy leads on credible, non-promotional awareness and education related to the evolving HIV treatment landscape.
• Develop community-informed narratives reflecting the real-world needs, experiences, barriers, and priorities of people living with HIV.
• Connect cross-functional teams and ensure alignment across Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Market Access, Government Affairs, Legal, and Regulatory.
• Provide communications counsel to senior leaders and influence decisions on high-profile, complex issues.
• Ensure communications comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Shape enterprise-level narratives and decisions related to HIV treatment, access, policy, reputation, and launch strategy.
• Represent Public Affairs in cross-functional leadership forums and align communications strategy with broader business objectives.
• Anticipate and manage issues and sensitivities such as access, pricing, health equity, adherence, resistance, and comparisons with existing HIV treatment options.
• Develop and execute issues-management and crisis-preparedness plans for product launches and the broader HIV treatment narrative.
• Protect and enhance Gilead’s corporate reputation in the context of its HIV treatment leadership.
• Monitor, analyze, and drive performance across media coverage, stakeholder engagement, sentiment, and reputation metrics.
• Deliver measurable impact against defined launch and above-brand success metrics, using insights to optimize communications strategies in real time.
• Report impact and performance against defined KPIs in coordination with Corporate Communications and Reputation teams.
• As a people leader, foster inclusion, develop employee talent through coaching and feedback, and empower teams by aligning goals and removing barriers.

Benefits

• May be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus.
• May be eligible for discretionary stock-based long-term incentives; eligibility 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