About this role
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
At Gilead, our pursuit of a healthier world has led to a cure for hepatitis C, transformative advances in HIV treatment and prevention, and progress in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers.
We pursue bold ambitions against the world’s most devastating diseases, united by a commitment to address major public health challenges and improve patients’ lives for generations.
This Senior Director, Clinical Development (MD)position requires regular on-site work in Foster City, California, and is not eligible for remote or hybrid arrangements. Candidates must live locally or relocate before their start date; local applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Senior Director, Clinical Development (MD), Inflammation and Immunology, is a highly visible physician-leadership role responsible for shaping and advancing clinical development strategies across inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) programs. As Clinical Development Lead and Physician Responsible, you will define the clinical vision for assigned molecules and products, guiding decisions from early strategy through regulatory engagement and lifecycle execution. You will collaborate with global cross-functional leaders to accelerate innovative therapies, generate compelling clinical evidence, and advance programs that address significant unmet needs among patients with IBD.
Strategic Clinical Leadership
- Define clinical development strategies and plans for assigned IBD assets.
- Provide physician leadership across programs, ensuring scientific rigor and patient-centered decisions.
- Represent clinical development in governance, steering, and portfolio-review forums.
- Shape development priorities, risk assessments, and investment decisions.
Clinical Development Execution
- Lead protocol design, study conduct, medical monitoring, data interpretation, and reporting.
- Oversee trial execution to ensure quality, compliance, patient safety, and operational excellence including sites engagements.
- Provide clinical expertise on eligibility criteria, safety assessments, toxicity management, and benefit-risk evaluation.
- Guide development teams in achieving key milestones, deliverables and reporting of clinical results.
Regulatory and Scientific Leadership
- Lead clinical strategy discussions with global health authorities.
- Direct the clinical development content of regulatory submissions, investigator brochures, and related documents.
- Advance scientific communications, publications, congress presentations, and investigator meetings.
- Ensure development activities meet regulatory expectations and Good Clinical Practice standards.
Cross-Functional and External Influence
- Lead and influence global, cross-functional development teams.
- Build strong relationships with key opinion leaders, investigators, and external scientific experts.
- Provide clinical input on business development opportunities, as appropriate.
- Communicate program strategy and progress to senior leaders and executive stakeholders.
Operational Excellence
- Ensure compliance with Gilead SOPs, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
- Support effective resource planning and responsible stewardship of development investments.
- May lead and develop direct reports while fostering a high-performance culture.
Basic Qualifications:
MD, 10+ years of relevant clinical, scientific, and/or drug-development experience in industry, academia, or a combination of both, including substantial experience in clinical development and demonstrated leadership in establishing and executing Phase 2 clinical development programs, with experience contributing to or leading Phase 3 development.
Preferred Qualifications
- Clinical training, board certification, or substantial drug-development expertise in dermatology, allergy/immunology, rheumatology, pulmonary medicine, or a related specialty.
- Significant clinical development experience across inflammatory and immunologic diseases, with experience in atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, IBD, asthma, COPD, or related immune-mediated diseases preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing Phase 2 clinical strategy and protocols, initiating and executing interventional trials, interpreting proof-of-concept and dose-finding data, and translating Phase 2 findings into clear Phase 3 development strategies.
- Experience leading global Phase 3 development programs, including clinical strategy, trial design, protocol development, study initiation and execution, medical monitoring, data interpretation, reporting, and benefit-risk assessment.
- Strong knowledge of clinical trial design, endpoints, statistics, safety assessment, dose selection, and drug-development principles, with the ability to critically evaluate emerging biological and clinical data and translate findings into clear development decisions.
- Experience providing clinical and scientific leadership across investigator and site selection, study initiation, trial execution, and ongoing medical oversight.
- Experience engaging with global regulatory authorities and contributing to regulatory strategies, interactions, and submissions supporting late-stage development.
- Experience developing small molecules, biologics, and/or novel targeted modalities for immune-mediated diseases.
- Experience developing and applying pharmacodynamic, translational, patient-selection, and/or disease biomarkers to support clinical development decisions.
- Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional drug-development programs in a global, matrixed environment and influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.
- People-leadership experience, including experience managing organizational resources and significant program budgets.
- Experience presenting clinical development strategies, data, and recommendations to executive leadership and governance committees.
- Extensive experience authoring, reviewing, or overseeing clinical publications and scientific presentations.
- Established relationships with investigators, key opinion leaders, and external scientific experts in dermatology, immunology, inflammation, or related disease areas.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific and clinical information into clear recommendations for senior leaders, cross-functional partners, and non-specialist audiences.
People Leader Accountabilities
- Create Inclusion — Recognize the business value of diverse teams, model inclusive behavior, and embed diversity in day-to-day people leadership.
- Develop Talent — Understand employees’ skills, experience, aspirations, and potential; coach performance and growth; and provide the feedback needed to help each person develop and fulfill their purpose.
- Empower Teams — Connect the team to the broader organization by aligning goals, purpose, and business objectives; reinforce accountability; remove barriers; and provide access to the wider ecosystem.
The salary range for this position is: $302,005.00 - $390,830.00. Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. 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.
For jobs in the United States:
Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex , age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact [email protected] for assistance.
For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.
NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Gilead Sciences will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.
Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.
Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.
For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:
Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.