Privacy Counsel

Gilead Sciences • Foster City, CA

1d • $210,375 - $272,250

About The Position

Gilead is seeking a Privacy Counsel to support U.S. privacy compliance and provide some global support as a key contributor to the global Privacy & Data Ethics team within the Office of Ethics and Compliance. The role advises business and legal stakeholders on privacy compliance and risk management, helping the company meet its obligations under applicable privacy laws. The Associate Director works closely with the global privacy team to provide strategic and practical privacy advice across markets, including privacy-by-design, governance frameworks, and translating legal requirements into actionable business guidance. The position reports to the Head of Global Privacy.

The role provides practical, business-aligned privacy advice across U.S. operations; responds to and triages privacy inquiries; supports privacy risk assessments; and partners with Privacy Operations and cross-functional teams to maintain effective, consistent intake, assessment, and documentation processes. It also develops guidance, templates, playbooks, training, and awareness materials. The Privacy Counsel serves as a primary advisor on HIPAA-related matters, including advising the Benefits function on handling health data and supporting program documentation, and builds subject-matter familiarity in health data and emerging privacy risks.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and eight years of experience, or a master's degree and six years of experience, or a Ph.D.
• Juris Doctor degree.
• At least four years of U.S. privacy experience is preferred.
• At least four years advising multinational organizations on privacy compliance; experience in technology, healthcare, financial, or digital sectors is preferred.
• Admission to a U.S. state bar in good standing.
• Strong understanding of U.S. and global privacy regulations.
• Proficiency with privacy management platforms such as OneTrust, BigID, TrustArc, or ServiceNow.
• Proven project execution and process-development experience, including implementation and ongoing management.
• Strong legal and business judgment, drafting, analytical, and negotiation skills, and ability to translate complex legal requirements into practical stakeholder guidance.
• Some experience advising on HIPAA and health data privacy compliance, supporting business functions such as Benefits, and contributing to related policies, procedures, and guidance.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, including experience working effectively in a global, matrixed environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities and independently navigate competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach and bias for action in addressing privacy challenges.

Nice To Haves

• CIPP certification.
• IAPP certification or equivalent.
• Privacy experience in the technology, healthcare, financial, or digital sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, business-aligned privacy advice across U.S. operations, enabling responsible data use while managing risk.
• Monitor centralized intake channels and triage privacy inquiries, determining whether to respond directly, conduct a privacy risk assessment, or escalate.
• Give timely guidance on day-to-day privacy matters, including data collection, use, disclosures, marketing practices, vendor interactions, and individual rights.
• Support and advise on privacy risk assessments, identify risk triggers, evaluate proposed processing activities, and escalate high-risk matters as needed.
• Partner with Privacy Operations and cross-functional teams, including IT, Security, Contracts, and Compliance, to ensure effective and consistent intake, assessment, and documentation processes.
• Develop and refine standard guidance, templates, and playbooks to improve the consistency and scalability of privacy advice.
• Lead development of practical privacy training and awareness materials that translate privacy requirements into clear guidance for stakeholders.
• Serve as a primary privacy advisor on HIPAA-related matters, including advising the Benefits function on compliant use and handling of health data and supporting related program documentation.
• Develop subject-matter familiarity in health data considerations and emerging privacy risks, advising on routine matters and escalating complex issues appropriately.

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: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree