Executive Director, Public Affairs: Strategic Partnerships, Sustainability and Impact

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
 

The Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships, Sustainability and Impact is a senior leader responsible for advancing Gilead’s environmental, social and governance priorities while building and managing high impact external partnerships that strengthen the company’s presence and trust in key communities. This role drives the implementation of Gilead’s ESG strategy, oversees strategic direction of co-created community investments and sponsorships, and cultivates relationships with nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, civic partners, and other external stakeholders. Working closely with senior cross functional internal partners, the Executive Director also ensures that ESG objectives and partnership activities are aligned, measurable, and integrated into Gilead’s broader business and reputation goals. impact  

 
This role reports to the Senior-Vice President, Public Affairs. The Senior Director (ESG), Director (ESG), and Director (Operations) report to this role.

Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement 

• Build, strengthen, and manage relationships with community-based organizations, advocacy groups, civic partners, and other external stakeholders who influence health equity and community wellbeing. based organizations, advocacy groups, civic partners, and other external stakeholders who influence health equity and community wellbeing.  
• Serve as a liaison for community level public affairs initiatives, ensuring Gilead’s commitments, positions, and priorities are clearly articulated and aligned with broader enterprise strategies. level public affairs initiatives, ensuring Gilead’s commitments, positions, and priorities are clearly articulated and aligned with broader enterprise strategies.  
• Collaborate with Government Affairs and Policy teams to ensure community engagement and public affairs activities complement policy and access goals.  
• Monitor community level policy and social trends; brief leaders on issues with potential impact on Gilead’s community engagement or ESG commitments. level policy and social trends; brief leaders on issues with potential impact on Gilead’s community engagement or ESG commitments.  
• Identify, evaluate, and manage strategic partnerships with nonprofits, NGOs, coalitions, and mission aligned organizations to advance Gilead’s impact and visibility. aligned organizations to advance Gilead’s impact and visibility.  
• Proactively lead Gilead’s community sponsorship strategy, including criteria, decision making, measurement, governance, and alignment with corporate priorities. making, measurement, governance, and alignment with corporate priorities.  
• Partner with Corporate Communications and site leaders to activate community programs, sponsorships, and employee engagement initiatives that reinforce Gilead’s values and strengthen local relationships.  
• Coordinate messaging and public facing communications for community programs, partnership announcements, events, and sponsorship activations to enhance reputation and visibility. 

 

ESG Leadership 

• Support the development and execution of Gilead’s ESG strategy in alignment with corporate priorities and long term goals; translate strategy into actionable plans, KPIs, and reporting frameworks.  
• Partner with cross functional teams to embed ESG considerations into governance, operations, risk management, and communications, ensuring consistent implementation across the organization. functional teams to embed ESG considerations into governance, operations, risk management, and communications, ensuring consistent implementation across the organization.  
• Provide analysis and insights to senior leaders and the Corporate Responsibility Committee on emerging ESG trends, regulatory developments, stakeholder expectations, and potential risks or opportunities.  
• Lead change enablement activities to reinforce a sustainability focused culture, working closely with HR, Legal, Corporate Communications, and business leaders. enablement activities to reinforce a sustainability focused culture, working closely with HR, Legal, Corporate Communications, and business leaders.  
• Contribute to the development, refinement, and monitoring of ESG goals and KPIs to provide investors and stakeholders with clear, decision useful information on performance. useful information on performance.  
• Build and manage external relationships with NGOs, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders to support ESG priorities and elevate Gilead’s presence in sustainability related dialogues. 

 

Community Sponsorships  

• Manage and evolve Gilead’s financial sponsorship strategy to ensure measurable impact, alignment with community needs, and support of broader enterprise priorities. 
• Work closely with the US and Global advocacy teams to ensure programs support therapeutic and broader enterprise goals. 
• Evaluate strategic partnership opportunities, assess risks, ensure compliance across diverse regions, and provide guidance to senior leaders on strategic decisions. 
• Apply philanthropic and compliance best practices to strengthen Gilead’s processes and governance. 
• Lead efforts to streamline internal systems, policies, and processes to improve efficiency, transparency, and the external partner experience. 
• Cultivate strategic collaborations that expand Gilead’s impact. 
• Partner with Corporate Communications and external partners to highlight program outcomes, community stories, and learnings from global efforts. 

 

Required Qualifications: 

• 16+ years of experience in ESG, corporate citizenship, public affairs, community partnerships, or related fields within healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotech, or similarly regulated industries.  
• Demonstrated experience contributing to or managing components of ESG, sustainability, or corporate responsibility strategies, with an ability to translate high level direction into actionable plans.  
• Strong understanding of how the policy, social, and community landscape influences corporate reputation, public health priorities, and ESG objectives; genuine commitment to health equity and responsible corporate citizenship.  
• Proven ability to manage complex, cross functional projects, navigate ambiguity, and influence stakeholders at multiple levels without direct authority. functional projects, navigate ambiguity, and influence stakeholders at multiple levels without direct authority.  
• Experience supporting change management initiatives, including developing implementation plans, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing reinforcement. management initiatives, including developing implementation plans, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing reinforcement.  
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deliver clear, concise messaging to senior leaders and external partners.  
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining strong relationships with nonprofits, advocacy groups, civic leaders, and internal business partners.  
• Strong analytical capability to synthesize qualitative insights and quantitative data to inform recommendations and decision-making.
• Experience leading, developing, or mentoring team members or indirect teams in a matrixed environment. 

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Prior experience working in or closely with public affairs, community engagement, strategic partnerships, or corporate philanthropy.  
• Experience supporting or helping drive ESG or CSR programs at a regional or global scale.  
• Knowledge of healthcare access or therapeutic areas relevant to Gilead (e.g., HIV or Oncology) is a plus.  
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.  
• Strong presentation skills and executive level presence in both internal and external settings.

 

The salary range for this position is: $281,010.00 - $363,660.00. 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.

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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.
 

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For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.