Sr Director, Inclusion & Diversity

Gilead Sciences • Foster City, CA

3d

About The Position

The Senior Director, Inclusion & Diversity leads Gilead’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) strategy, ensuring programs, initiatives, and metrics create impact in areas of greatest importance and align with HR and corporate strategy. The role directs the work of an I&D Specialist II and collaborates across ERGs, People & Culture Councils, Human Resources, Public Affairs, Legal, Commercial, and Executive Leadership to advance I&D priorities and communicate Gilead’s I&D journey internally and externally.

This is a senior leadership position requiring autonomy, sound risk anticipation and mitigation, clear communication, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders, build trusted partnerships, lead organizational change, and take complex work from strategy through execution. The role reports to the Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity and is based in Foster City, California. Relocation is not offered.

The role refreshes and executes enterprise ERG strategy; establishes governance and collaboration practices; leads ERG leadership and succession planning; advises Executive Sponsors and contributes to I&D Council meetings; partners on internal and external communications; leads World Inclusion Day strategy and execution and plans the annual ERG Summit; uses quantitative and qualitative data to assess ERG effectiveness; and provides an inclusion perspective on AI-enabled tools and practices, including potential bias and accessibility barriers.

The position requires 15 or more years of experience in inclusion, communications, HR business partnering, or a related field. Pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience is strongly preferred. Basic qualifications are a bachelor’s degree with 14 years of experience, a master’s degree with 12 years of experience, or a PhD with 12 years of experience. The position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives, paid time off, and company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

Requirements

• 15 or more years of experience in inclusion, communications, HR business partnering, or a related field.
• Proven track record of influencing senior leaders and mobilizing cross-functional teams to advance global strategies and outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to use data-informed approaches to develop insights, diagnose opportunities, inform decisions, and communicate a compelling story.
• Demonstrated understanding of strategic and operational drivers of business performance and ability to embed outcomes in business strategy and performance.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI-enabled tools to synthesize insights, improve productivity, and strengthen strategies, programs, and communications.
• Ability to build inclusive relationships and influence stakeholders across a matrixed, global organization.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, adapt to change, and apply lessons learned to improve outcomes.
• Ability to operate autonomously, anticipate business needs, and drive work from strategy through execution.
• Ability to seek diverse perspectives and foster an environment where employees feel valued and empowered.
• Ability to center patient and employee needs, use data and insights to understand organizational challenges, and translate I&D goals into inclusive strategies and practices.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex concepts and produce concise, accurate, decision-ready materials.
• Ability to communicate recommendations clearly and confidently and to seek, act on, and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to apply an inclusion lens to AI adoption, identify potential bias and accessibility barriers, and support equitable employee experiences.
• Bachelor’s degree and 14 years of experience, or a master’s degree and 12 years of experience, or a PhD and 12 years of experience.

Nice To Haves

• Pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Refresh and execute an enterprise ERG strategy aligned with business priorities, capabilities, community insights, and lived experiences.
• Partner with business leaders, Executive Sponsors, and ERG Chairs to develop initiatives that strengthen employee experience, inform business decisions, deepen understanding of patients and communities, and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Establish scalable ERG governance, operating principles, and ways of working that focus resources on high-impact priorities, strengthen accountability, and support collaboration and best-practice sharing.
• Set and facilitate ERG chair meeting agendas and foster collaboration among ERG leaders, members, and Executive Sponsors.
• Lead ERG succession planning in consultation with stakeholder groups and build a pipeline of ERG leaders.
• Recommend I&D initiatives and best practices to Executive Sponsors and advise them on championing I&D priorities.
• Contribute to I&D Council meetings with actionable insights that support engagement and accountability.
• Partner with Public Affairs to develop internal and external communications about ERG impact and Gilead’s commitment to patients and communities.
• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of World Inclusion Day in partnership with teams across the organization.
• Lead planning for the annual ERG Summit and advise on the ERG Year-End Awards process and celebration.
• Use quantitative and qualitative data to assess ERG effectiveness and inform strategy, program design, investment decisions, and business impact.
• Provide an inclusion perspective on AI-enabled tools and practices, identifying potential bias and accessibility barriers in partnership with the Global Head of I&D and key stakeholders.
• Direct the work of an I&D Specialist II.
• Create inclusion, develop talent, and empower teams through people leadership.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus.
• Potential eligibility 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