Vice President, Global Research, Development & Therapeutic Area Public Affairs
Gilead Sciences
August 25, 2026
Remote friendly (San Francisco Bay Area)
United States
Corporate Functions
Job Description
As the primary Public Affairs liaison to the R&D organization, the Vice President develops and executes an integrated internal and external communications strategy that advances enterprise priorities and enables business readiness for key pipeline and regulatory events.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as accountable executive owner for global R&D public affairs/communications strategy; provide governance and escalation.
- Counsel R&D leaders on reputation, transparency, disclosure readiness, and external dynamics.
- Establish annual objectives, measurable KPIs, and performance management rhythm.
- Lead communications for product development and regulatory milestones (trial initiations, interim analyses, end-of-phase, regulatory submissions/approvals, clinical holds, safety updates, program changes).
- Ensure communications are scientifically accurate, compliant, sequenced, and coordinated with Regulatory, Medical, Legal, Compliance, Investor Relations, and Commercial.
- Lead scenario planning and executive preparation (talking points, Q&A, holding statements, backgrounders).
- Shape the enterprise R&D scientific/platform/pipeline narrative; translate complex science into audience-specific storytelling.
- Lead R&D internal communications and change leadership; align internal/external narratives.
- Own issues management and lead crisis preparedness/rapid response.
- Partner on science- and regulation-adjacent advocacy; integrate health equity/patient access.
- Use analytics/insights to inform strategy; track comms KPIs (readiness, reach, sentiment, pull-through, impact).
- Lead team capability building; manage agencies/vendors and budgets.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 16+ years progressive communications/public affairs experience (scientific academic background preferred; Master’s/PhD a plus).
- Demonstrated leadership of R&D/clinical development/regulatory milestone communications (pharma/biotech).
- Strong knowledge of global regulatory/disclosure environments; ability to translate complex science into credible messaging.
- Proven ability to advise senior leaders and influence without authority.
- Deep issues management and crisis communications experience.
- Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead teams; manage agencies and resources.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience across multiple therapeutic areas/modalities.
- Strong healthcare/science media, digital, and social strategy knowledge.
- Familiarity with advocacy, patient engagement, and health equity in R&D.
Application Instructions
- For current Gilead employees and contractors: apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.
As the primary Public Affairs liaison to the R&D organization, the Vice President develops and executes an integrated internal and external communications strategy that advances enterprise priorities and enables business readiness for key pipeline and regulatory events.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as accountable executive owner for global R&D public affairs/communications strategy; provide governance and escalation.
- Counsel R&D leaders on reputation, transparency, disclosure readiness, and external dynamics.
- Establish annual objectives, measurable KPIs, and performance management rhythm.
- Lead communications for product development and regulatory milestones (trial initiations, interim analyses, end-of-phase, regulatory submissions/approvals, clinical holds, safety updates, program changes).
- Ensure communications are scientifically accurate, compliant, sequenced, and coordinated with Regulatory, Medical, Legal, Compliance, Investor Relations, and Commercial.
- Lead scenario planning and executive preparation (talking points, Q&A, holding statements, backgrounders).
- Shape the enterprise R&D scientific/platform/pipeline narrative; translate complex science into audience-specific storytelling.
- Lead R&D internal communications and change leadership; align internal/external narratives.
- Own issues management and lead crisis preparedness/rapid response.
- Partner on science- and regulation-adjacent advocacy; integrate health equity/patient access.
- Use analytics/insights to inform strategy; track comms KPIs (readiness, reach, sentiment, pull-through, impact).
- Lead team capability building; manage agencies/vendors and budgets.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 16+ years progressive communications/public affairs experience (scientific academic background preferred; Master’s/PhD a plus).
- Demonstrated leadership of R&D/clinical development/regulatory milestone communications (pharma/biotech).
- Strong knowledge of global regulatory/disclosure environments; ability to translate complex science into credible messaging.
- Proven ability to advise senior leaders and influence without authority.
- Deep issues management and crisis communications experience.
- Proven ability to recruit, develop, and lead teams; manage agencies and resources.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience across multiple therapeutic areas/modalities.
- Strong healthcare/science media, digital, and social strategy knowledge.
- Familiarity with advocacy, patient engagement, and health equity in R&D.
Application Instructions
- For current Gilead employees and contractors: apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.