US Medical Senior Director, Medical Affairs Evidence Generation

Role Summary

The US Medical Senior Director, MA Evidence Generation at Kite Pharma, a Gilead Company, provides scientific and strategic leadership for the design, execution, and interpretation of medical evidence generation activities supporting Kite's portfolio of innovative cell therapies. This role shapes Kite’s evidence ecosystem, drives innovation, and aligns priorities within the Integrated Evidence Generation Plan balancing regional and global medical strategies.

Location

Santa Monica, CA (preferred) or Foster City, CA

Responsibilities

• Strategic Evidence Planning
• Serve as a senior member of the Evidence Generation leadership team, co-driving the evolution of Kite’s US evidence generation strategy and value proposition
• Support the development and execution of the Integrated Evidence Plan (IEP) for Kite assets in collaboration with the entire Evidence Generation Function, Global Medical Affairs Strategy and Product Teams
• Provide leadership to support the identification of critical evidence gaps and define the most appropriate research approaches (e.g., retrospective, prospective, interventional, RWE) to address the unmet needs
• Study Oversight and Execution
• Provide scientific and medical oversight for all Medical Affairs / Kite Sponsored Studies including interventional trials, non-interventional studies, and US Strategic Alliances
• Lead the development of clinical study concepts, protocols in collaboration with Medical and Clinical development teams
• Oversee the US Investigator-Sponsored Research (ISR) and Collaborative Research (CR) program within the evidence generation strategy, ensuring scientific merit, alignment with strategic priorities, and compliance
• Serve as the Medical Monitor for assigned evidence generation studies, ensuring timely execution, data quality, and compliance with all relevant regulations (GCP, internal SOPs)
• Provide strategic oversight and clinical guidance to operational teams to ensure timely and impactful execution
• Data Interpretation and Dissemination
• Lead the medical review, interpretation, and communication of study results, including drafting publications, abstracts, posters, and internal/external presentations
• Serve as a medical expert for study data, engaging with internal and external stakeholders and external Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs)
• Collaborate with Global Medical Strategy to ensure accurate and compliant dissemination of generated evidence
• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Compliance
• Partner across Kite Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Translational Medicine, Regulatory Affairs, and Product Teams to build integrated cross-functional capabilities
• Mentor and provide guidance to team members and cross-functional partners on evidence generation best practices, methodologies, and compliance requirements
• Ensure all evidence generation activities are conducted in strict adherence to Kite/Gilead policies, local regulations, and the highest ethical standard and where necessary lead the development of the appropriate processes and systems
• Design and implement strategies to accelerate evidence generation through external platforms, technologies, and data-driven insights
• Represent the Evidence Generation function at core Kite governance bodies, advising on external opportunities and informing and making strategic decisions
• Scientific Engagement
• Champion medical innovation by integrating emerging scientific trends and technologies into US evidence generation strategies
• Lead external engagement efforts to enhance scientific credibility and foster meaningful partnerships with healthcare professionals and institutions
• Serve as a member of the central External Research Program screening/review committee and manage joint steering committees for strategic collaborations

Qualifications

• MD or equivalent medical degree
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with at least 5 years in medical affairs, clinical development, or evidence generation roles
• Proven leadership in designing and managing clinical trials, including Phase IV and investigator-sponsored studies
• Understanding of the cell therapy landscape, including regulatory and post-approval evidence needs

• Experience in CAR-T or related advanced modalities (e.g., gene therapy, immuno-oncology)
• Demonstrated success in leading teams and cross-functional teams and external partnerships
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
• Familiarity with digital platforms and real-world data methodologies

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel domestically up to 20–30%
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills