Sr Director, IT (Manufacturing and Operational Technology Digital Leader)

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference. Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact. We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together. Job Description Sr Director: Foster City Manufacturing IT & Operational Technology, Digital Leader Gilead Sciences is seeking an exceptional leader who is highly motivated, passionate, experienced, and adaptable to lead the Foster City Manufacturing IT, OT and Data and Digital team. Reporting to Head of PDM IT, with dotted line reporting to the Head of Foster City Manufacturing, you will collaborate with key local and global partners to design and implement a world class IT, process automation, MES, and overall end-to-end digital manufacturing technology strategy for Foster City Manufacturing that advances Gilead’s overall digital ambitions. The scope of this role will include the existing API and OSD GMP manufacturing facilities as well as take a leading role in designing a new state of the art Single-Use DS Biologics Manufacturing facility in Foster City. This is a site based role in Foster City, CA at our Global Headquarters.

Requirements

15+ years relevant experience in IT Leadership, including at least 5 years in OT or manufacturing technology environments within the Biotech or Pharma industry.
Demonstrated success in leading large-scale IT/OT integration and digital transformation programs.
Proven track record of deploying AI/ML solutions in operational contexts (e.g. predictive maintenance, process optimization).
Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD) in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Analytics, or related field preferred.
Proven experience in IT/OT convergence, industrial automation, and IIoT platforms.
IT Application Run & Build Management with FTEs & external partners as part of end to end Service ownership for Manufacturing.
Deep knowledge of IT infrastructure, manufacturing systems including SCADA, PLCs, DCS, MES, LIMS, ERP, data lakes, and AI/advanced analytics tools
Working knowledge of ISA S88 Batch Control and ISA S95 Integration Industry standards
Strong understanding of cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), IoT architectures, and edge computing.
Acts as a key technical advisor to business stakeholders relevant to assigned business areas
Proficiency in AI/ML frameworks, data analytics, and visualization tools.
Familiarity with cybersecurity standards for OT (ISA/IEC 62443) and IT environments.
Strong experience and understanding of GxP, data integrity, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance in a manufacturing context.
Knowledge of ethical AI principles and governance frameworks.
Exceptional ability to influence senior stakeholders and achieve cross-functional alignment.
Strong business and financial acumen for budgeting, ROI analysis, and cost optimization and applies this to strategically evaluate business, economic and technical trade-offs of possible solutions and options for both the short- and longer-range.
Proven executive leadership in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with deep expertise in IT, MES, automation, and digital transformation.
Skilled in organizational change management and innovation leadership.
Proven track record of attracting, engaging, and developing top talent.
Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams and complex technology programs.
Independently determines how to structure and manage increasingly complex work and projects, that typically span multiple projects or workstreams, to ensure deliverables are completed on-time, within-budget and to the quality expected.
Exemplify the Gilead Leadership Commitments as a visible senior leader: I AM BOLD in aspiration and AGILE in execution. I CARE and make time for people. I LISTEN, speak openly and explain the "why." I TRUST others and myself to make sound decisions. I OWN the impact of my words and actions.
Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business language.
Strong presentation and negotiation skills for executive-level engagement.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and strategic planning skills.
Consistently communicates a clear and elevating vision that effectively aligns and mobilizes the team, as evidenced by consistently on- or above-target results.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge Emerson DeltaV, Ignition SCADA, Werum PAS/X MES, Apprentice.IO, SAP ERP, OSI PI Data Historian is a plus.
General understanding of key Level 4 Enterprise platforms in support of Manufacturing including QMS (ex: Veeva ), ERP ( SAP), Maintenance Management (ex: Maximo ) , PLM ( ex: Oracle/SAP ), Enterprise Data Lake ( ex: AWS )

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership IT /OT Technology business Partner and standing member of Foster City Site Manufacturing Leadership Team
Leadership role in designing a new state of the art Single-Use DS Biologics Manufacturing facility in Foster City.
Develop and execute the digital strategy for Foster City Manufacturing, aligned with Gilead’s global manufacturing and IT vision and standards.
Champion AI-driven innovation across manufacturing, leveraging ML models for predictive maintenance and process optimization.
Serve as a trusted advisor on AI trends, emerging technologies, and their impact on operations.
Engage in site leadership decisions to shape the culture, priorities, and business processes at the site.
Shape the MES strategy, including platform selection, implementation, lifecycle management, and integration with other enterprise systems.
Understand and represent the needs of Foster City Manufacturing operations to the broader IT organization.
Implement AI-powered analytics and decision-support tools to optimize production and quality.
Drive adoption of AI-based predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and automated workflows.
Integrate AI with IoT platforms and digital twins for real-time insights and operational efficiency.
Establish secure frameworks for IT/OT connectivity and AI-driven data flows.
Standardize architecture for LIMS, MES, PCS, Historian, e-Validation, GMP and non-GMP reporting, and AI-enabled digital systems.
Ensure compliance with cybersecurity and regulatory standards in AI and digital environments.
Develop governance models for AI and digital projects, balancing innovation with operational stability.
Ensure adherence to GMP, data integrity, and ethical AI principles across IT, OT, and digital platforms.
Collaborate and coordinate with key partner groups to Foster City Manufacturing, including Global Manufacturing business stakeholders and Corporate Operations with an enterprise mindset to develop and align on a sustainable and effective support model and distribution of responsibilities to best achieve Gilead’s overall goals.
Represent Foster City Manufacturing IT/OT and Digital during Quality Investigations, Health Authority Inspections, Audits, and in Regulatory Dossiers.
Understand and represent the needs of Foster City Manufacturing operations to the broader IT organization.
Foster a culture of continuous learning and AI fluency across operations.
As a member of the Foster City Manufacturing Site Leadership Team, lead and sponsor cross-functional initiatives beyond IT which are impactful to the entire site and manufacturing network.
Use AI-driven tools to minimize downtime, increase facility flexibility, reduce new product introduction timelines, improve OEE, and enable predictive insights.
Drive cost efficiency while scaling AI and digital capabilities globally.
Champion innovation and foster a culture of digital excellence across the site.
Drive digital initiatives to improve operational efficiency, data integrity, and compliance.

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.
For additional benefits information, visit: https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing
Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

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