Intern - Kite - Corporate Operational Excellence

Kite Pharma•Foster City, CA

11h•$19 - $55•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Gilead / Kite intern you will contribute to high-impact meaningful projects that will not only further advance our company’s mission but will allow you to gain real world experience at one of the most innovative organizations in the world. You will also have opportunities to participate in special events including professional development and leadership presentations, social/network building activities and local community volunteer programs.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age at the start of the internship.
Must be enrolled full‑time in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, JD or PhD program at a nationally accredited U.S. college or university, with continued full‑time enrollment required in the Fall semester following the internship.
Must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) or as a graduate/doctoral student.
Must have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 2.8 at the time of application and hire (official transcripts will be requested).
Must be independently authorized to work in the United States now and in the future (current or future work authorization must not require school or employer sponsorship).
Must be able to commit to a full‑time internship lasting 10–12 consecutive weeks between May and August.
Must be willing and able to work at the designated site for the duration of the internship (relocation may be required). All internships are hybrid; fully remote roles are not offered.

Nice To Haves

Preferred degree level: Undergraduate
Preferred area of study: life sciences, engineering, data science, business, public health, finance, operations, or a related discipline
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (MS Office) tools, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify issues and proactively seek solutions
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in a collaborative environment
Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and diversity, including the ability to work respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds
Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment with short timelines
Strong analytical skills and proficiency with Excel; experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI is a plus
Ability to work with large or complex data sets, identify patterns and trends, and translate analysis into actionable insights
Interest in cell therapy, biopharmaceutical development, business operations, process improvement, and responsible applications of AI
Ability to structure ambiguous problems, map complex processes, and create clear, simple solutions
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop executive-ready PowerPoint presentations

Responsibilities

Develop an end-to-end map of the cell therapy value chain and identify the activities, decisions, handoffs, dependencies, and potential constraints that sit on the critical path.
Analyze how internal FTE capacity and external spend are deployed across functions, activities, and stages of the cell therapy lifecycle, using available operational and financial data.
Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to validate the critical-path map, understand where work is concentrated, and identify resource gaps, duplication, bottlenecks, or opportunities to simplify ways of working.
Assess where AI and automation could be applied to high-value activities, with consideration for business impact, feasibility, data availability, risk, and required human oversight.
Develop a prioritized set of recommendations that highlights where Kite could redirect resources or deploy AI to improve cycle time, productivity, decision quality, and return on investment.
Translate findings into an executive-ready roadmap and final presentation that clearly communicates the current-state fact base, priority opportunities, expected value, key assumptions, and recommended next steps.
Showcase your work with a final presentation (PPT) near the conclusion of your internship