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 Vice President, Federal Government Affairs serves as the enterprise leader for Gilead’s engagement with the U.S. federal government, responsible for shaping and advancing Gilead’s federal engagement and advocacy strategies and ensuring alignment with corporate priorities across innovation, access and public health.
This leader translates complex legislative and regulatory dynamics into clear strategic direction, informing enterprise decision-making, risk management, and business planning. The VP serves as the company's principal strategist regarding and critical representative to Congress, the Administration, and federal agencies, advancing Gilead's priorities through trusted, bipartisan engagement and ensuring the company maintains credibility and influence across changing political and policy environments.
As a member of the Government Affairs Leadership Team – reporting to the SVP, Global Government Affairs – this role contributes to enterprise-wide strategy, alignment, and execution, and acts as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on federal policy risks, opportunities, and stakeholder engagement.
Key responsibilities include:
Executive Leadership and Strategic Counsel
Advise senior leadership on federal legislative and regulatory risks and opportunities and their implications for enterprise strategy.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, SVP Government Affairs, and executive team on federal policy dynamics and stakeholder engagement.
Contribute to enterprise-level Government Affairs strategy, alignment, and execution.
Prepare briefing materials and guide executive engagement with policymakers, industry trade associations and other stakeholders.
Federal Policy Strategy and Advocacy
Develop and execute an integrated, comprehensive federal government affairs strategy aligned with Gilead’s corporate priorities and values, including innovation, access, affordability, and global health leadership.
Develop and sustain trusted, bipartisan relationships across Congress and the Administration to advance Gilead's policy priorities and strengthen the company's long-term influence and reputation.
Shape and influence policy outcomes through direct engagement with Congress, the Administration, federal agencies, and key policy stakeholders across both political parties.
Build support for Gilead positions by engaging coalitions of aligned organizations.
Position the company as a credible, science-driven partner in policy discussions.
Anticipate and respond to evolving legislative, regulatory, and political dynamics impacting the biopharmaceutical sector.
Advocate for policies that support biomedical innovation, equitable patient access, and strong public health infrastructure, and position Gilead as a trusted thought leader on critical health policy issues.
Enterprise Integration and Business Impact
Translate policy developments into actionable insights for business leaders and cross-functional partners.
Partner cross-functionally to align policy priorities with business objectives and to maximize the impact of our advocacy.
Ensure coordination across federal, state and international Government Affairs strategies.
External Engagement and Industry Leadership
Build and maintain strong bipartisan relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, Administration officials, and federal agency leaders, ensuring Gilead is viewed as a trusted and credible partner regardless of changes in political leadership.
Lead Gilead’s engagement with key industry trade associations, including PhRMA and BIO, to align advocacy strategies, shape industry positions, and amplify impact.
Develop and execute engagement plans for GA team and senior executives.
Team and Operational Leadership
Lead the Federal Government Affairs team, fostering a high-performance and inclusive culture.
Oversee external consultants, lobbyists, and advisors to ensure alignment with company and industry priorities.
Manage the Gilead Political Action Committee.
Ensure compliance with all lobbying, ethics, and political activity requirements.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a forward-looking government affairs leader who combines strategic vision with disciplined execution, anticipating political, legislative, and regulatory developments multiple years ahead and translating them into proactive advocacy strategies that advance business objectives. They bring the credibility, relationships, and political acumen to engage effectively across both parties, Congress, the Administration, and federal agencies, while building long-term champions and coalitions that strengthen Gilead's influence over time. Successful candidates will have demonstrated the ability to maintain trust, relevance, and effectiveness across political transitions and changing governing priorities.
Equally important, this leader is a strong people manager who thrives in a fast-moving environment, effectively prioritizing competing demands, delegating responsibility, and developing high-performing teams. They are action-oriented, agile in navigating shifting political dynamics, and skilled at converting complex challenges into clear direction, timely decisions, and measurable outcomes.
Qualified candidates will bring the following experience and expertise:
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in federal government affairs, public policy, or related fields.
Significant experience in the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare sector strongly preferred.
Proven success shaping federal legislative or regulatory outcomes, with established relationships across Congress, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, and key industry associations.
Deep understanding of U.S. healthcare policy, legislative, regulatory, and appropriations processes.
Demonstrated success building and maintaining bipartisan relationships and advancing policy objectives across multiple administrations and congressional leadership cycles.
Deep ability to translate complex policy environments into clear, actionable guidance for senior leadership.
Strong enterprise mindset with the ability to influence across a highly matrixed organization.
Executive presence and sound judgment, with experience advising senior leaders.
Strong leadership skills with experience managing high-performing teams and managing external partners.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefing and message development.
Passion for advancing scientific innovation and improving patient outcomes and an unwavering commitment to integrity, compliance, and ethical engagement.
In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:
Setting Strategy
The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for the organization, not only for the areas they are directly responsible for, but the enterprise as a whole.
The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the organization's overall strategy.
An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry.
The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of how much change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful.
Executing for Results
The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results.
Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
A risk-taker who seeks data and input from others to foresee possible threats or unintended circumstances from decisions; someone who takes smart risks.
A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking into account what is best for the organization.
Leading Teams
The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
The ability to persevere in the face of challenges, and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.
A leader who is self-reflective and aware of their own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.
Relationships and Influence
Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in their beliefs, and active drive.
Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team.
Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond their own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for the organization as a whole.
Driving Sustainability
Firmly believes that both sustainability and profit are in the organization’s best long-term interest.
Integrates economic, societal, and environmental factors into a purpose-driven strategy, turning sustainability into a competitive advantage.
Understands and incorporates viewpoints from all key stakeholders to drive decision making and share the benefits.
Delivers breakthrough innovations and business models that create value for all stakeholders, continually challenging traditional approaches.
Sets audacious business and sustainability goals, driving concerted action and investments, and stays the course in the face of setbacks or push-back from short-term oriented stakeholders.
People Leader Accountabilities:
Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.
Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose.
Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.
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.
Skills Required
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in federal government affairs, public policy, or related fields
- Proven success shaping federal legislative or regulatory outcomes and advancing policy priorities
- Established relationships across Congress, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, and key industry associations
- Deep understanding of U.S. healthcare policy, legislative, regulatory, and appropriations processes
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain bipartisan relationships across administrations and congressional cycles
- Experience advising senior leaders and translating complex policy into actionable guidance for executives
- Strong leadership experience managing high-performing teams and external partners/consultants
- Exceptional written and verbal communication, including executive-level briefing and message development
- Significant experience in the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare sector
- Commitment to integrity, compliance, and ethical engagement in lobbying and political activities
Gilead Sciences Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Gilead Sciences and has not been reviewed or approved by Gilead Sciences.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive and fair relative to roles, frequently cited as a standout strength. Feedback suggests compensation compares well within biotech and is a notable reason employees feel valued.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock awards and an employee stock purchase program are consistently described as meaningful parts of total compensation. Equity components are seen as accessible and enhance long‑term wealth building.
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Retirement Support — A strong company 401(k) match with immediate vesting is often singled out as a differentiator. This support is perceived to significantly boost long‑term financial security.
Gilead Sciences Insights
What We Do
The way we see it, the impossible is not impossible. It’s simply what hasn’t been achieved yet. For more than 30 years, we’ve pursued it, chased it down, tackled it for answers and surrounded it for a way in. We have worked tirelessly to bring forward medicines for life-threatening diseases. Creating Possible drives everything we do. It’s evident in our mission and core values. This is how we built a culture of excellence that is fueled by a passion for improving lives of people around the world. For us, nothing is impossible – because of the people we work with, the communities we stand with and the partners we push forward with. Our ~12,000 employees band together through science, grit, compassion and courage to prove the impossible wrong. At Gilead, the tangible results of your contributions are evident. Where every individual matters. Where all employees can enhance their skills through ongoing development. And where we start every day with one question: “What’s next?” Social Media Guidelines: https://gilead.inc/3t1m7d5
