Senior Director, Clinical Development (MD)

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

About The Position

The Senior Medical Director provides strategic and scientific leadership for one or more oncology development programs, serving as clinical development lead from early development through registration planning, as applicable. The position shapes clinical development strategy, oversees execution across multiple studies, and partners with cross-functional teams to advance programs in alignment with corporate objectives. The role influences development decisions, represents clinical development to senior leadership and external stakeholders, and contributes to portfolio and lifecycle planning. The position also includes people-leader responsibilities: creating an inclusive environment, developing talent through coaching and feedback, and empowering teams by aligning goals with organizational objectives and helping remove barriers. The role may require travel of up to 25%.

Requirements

MD or DO degree.
At least 6 years of clinical, scientific, and/or drug development experience, including substantial experience in biopharmaceutical clinical development.
Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Nice To Haves

Board certification in Hematology/Oncology or a related specialty.
Significant experience leading oncology drug development programs with responsibility for clinical strategy and execution.
Demonstrated experience leading first-in-human, proof-of-concept, and registrational development programs.
Cell therapy experience, including autologous, allogeneic, and/or in vivo cellular therapy platforms.
Experience leading interactions with global health authorities and supporting major regulatory submissions.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive decision-making in a matrix environment.
Scientific leadership demonstrated through publications, presentations, advisory boards, and engagement with external experts and key opinion leaders.
Experience mentoring and developing physicians, scientists, and cross-functional team members.
Strong strategic thinking and ability to balance scientific rigor, operational feasibility, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.
Experience evaluating external innovation, licensing opportunities, partnerships, or business development transactions.
Ability to thrive in a dynamic and evolving environment, manage competing priorities, and work with minimal direction.

Responsibilities

Lead clinical development strategy for one or more oncology programs, providing scientific and medical leadership from IND-enabling activities through proof-of-concept and early development milestones.
Provide clinical oversight and medical monitoring across clinical studies to ensure participant safety, data integrity, and high-quality execution.
Lead cross-functional teams in designing, implementing, and executing clinical development plans and studies.
Author and review protocols, investigator brochures, clinical study reports, regulatory documents, and other clinical development deliverables.
Provide strategic leadership for regulatory interactions and submissions, including INDs, health authority meetings, and regulatory responses, as applicable.
Collaborate with Research, Translational Sciences, Clinical Operations, Safety, Regulatory Affairs, and CMC teams to advance programs and achieve milestones.
Build and maintain relationships with investigators, key opinion leaders, scientific advisors, and other external stakeholders.
Present clinical data and development strategies to governance committees, health authorities, scientific conferences, and investigator meetings.
Lead or contribute to scientific publications and presentations.
Mentor junior physicians and contribute to portfolio strategy, business development evaluations, and external innovation assessments, as applicable.
Create inclusion and embed the value of diversity in team management.
Develop talent by coaching employees on performance and potential and ensuring they receive feedback and guidance.
Empower teams by aligning goals with organizational objectives, holding teams accountable, removing barriers, and connecting them to the broader organization.