Director, U.S. Oncology Public Affairs Community Engagement and Advocacy

Gilead Sciences • Washington DC, DC

3d

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. As a Director, U.S. Oncology Public Affairs Community Engagement and Advocacy you will...

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree plus minimum of 12 years of communications and public affairs experience and strong business acumen or master’s degree with 10+ years preferred.
• Minimum 8 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, with significant experience in oncology-focused patient advocacy and community engagement.
• Deep understanding of breast cancer therapeutic landscape.
• Proven cross-functional leadership and strategic planning capabilities.
• Experience in patient advocacy, community engagement, and issues management
• Strategic thinker who can devise solutions to patient care while working in the framework of a drug development company
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement abilities and collaborate effectively with internal customers and cross-functional teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and external stakeholders through strategic advocacy and compelling communication.
• Experience using qualitative and quantitative patient insights to inform advocacy strategy and measure impact.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements related to patient advocacy and external engagement.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity, with experience designing or supporting initiatives that address disparities in cancer care.
• Familiarity with digital platforms and tools for patient engagement, education, and advocacy outreach.
• Experience designing and delivering internal training programs to build organizational understanding of patient advocacy principles.
• Demonstrate ability to deliver high-impact, patient-centric solutions in a matrixed organization.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Co-lead the development and execution of a comprehensive U.S Oncology Patient oncology advocacy strategy that aligns with Public Affairs, the Oncology Franchise, and corporate objectives, including Commercial and Medical Affairs launch planning.
• Partner across Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Market Sciences, Clinical Development, Legal, Ethics and Compliance, Regulatory, Market Access, Commercial, and Government Affairs & Policy to ensure advocacy efforts are integrated and aligned.
• Build, expand and maintain trusted relationships with U.S. patient advocacy organizations.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the company and external advocacy stakeholders, representing the company with transparency, integrity, and empathy.
• Maintain bi-directional communication with advocacy groups to identify unmet needs, share Gilead’s perspective, and bring community insights back into internal planning and decision-making.
• Collaborate with U.S. Medical Affairs and Commercial teams to ensure a coordinated approach to external engagement with advocacy partners.
• Monitor and assess local, state, and federal healthcare policies impacting oncology patients.
• Engage advocacy groups in advancing health equity initiatives.
• Collaborate with Therapeutic, Corporate, and Internal/External Communications to develop and execute external communications plans focused on education and disease awareness, clinical milestones, and advocacy partnerships.
• Coordinate with Global Community Engagement & Advocacy leads to align U.S. advocacy efforts are consistent with global strategies
• Lead initiatives such as Patient Perspectives Panels, and advisory boards to gather key insights that inform cross-functional projects and strategic decisions.
• Oversee Gilead’s presence at key patient advocacy events and awareness campaigns, including sponsorships, materials, booths, and employee engagement.
• Keep abreast of emerging trends in patient advocacy and incorporate such innovative approaches into program design and execution.
• Manage budgets and sponsorships in compliance with company policies.
• Oversee external consultants and project execution.
• Coordinate and manage projects with external consultants as needed or appropriate.
• Develop systems to track communications, engagements, and initiatives with advocacy stakeholders.
• Develop tailored advocacy presentations for diverse audiences and update to reflect evolving priorities.
• Serve as an internal expert on oncology patient advocacy, providing strategic counsel and thought leadership.
• Champion inclusive advocacy strategies that reflect diverse patient experiences and perspectives.
• Lead training initiatives to deepen employee understanding of the patient journey and advocacy best practices.
• Proactively seek out AI tools to compliantly integrate into the Public Affairs digital efforts, working to roll out trainings in partnership with the Public Affairs Strategy and Operations team

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: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees