Sr Director, Global Media Relations

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
 

We are seeking an exceptional, experienced and strategic senior media relations expert to help shape and execute Gilead’s global media strategy, with a focus on our long-standing leadership in HIV and emergence as a leader in oncology (including CAR T cell therapies). This individual will serve as a key advisor and collaborator across product communications, advocacy, and policy teams, serving as the key media advisor for data and regulatory milestones, product launches, disease awareness campaigns, and product lifecycle management. This role will lead and support earned and paid media activations that elevate Gilead’s corporate reputation and amplify our global health and corporate responsibility initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring deep media expertise, trusted relationships with top-tier outlets, and bold storytelling instincts, along with the ability to simplify complex science and policy topics. The successful candidate should possess exceptional strategic writing skills with an ability to draft external communications materials, messaging, statements and other communications rapidly in response to inquiries and issues. This role will work cross-functionally to identify opportunities for executive visibility and external engagement, and will report to the Executive Director, Media Relations. This role is based in Foster City, California or in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of proactive global media relations strategies that support Gilead’s Phase 3 pipeline and marketed treatments, with a focus on disease awareness, advocacy and scientific innovation.

• Drive media engagement strategies around medical congresses, such as ASCO, IAS, ESMO, and ASH.

• Partner with Product Communications to identify compelling storylines and insights that support ongoing media outreach that elevates Gilead’s therapeutic leadership.

• Serves as a primary point of contact for top-tier media inquiries related to Gilead medicines, ensuring timely, consistent and accurate responses aligned with key business partners.

• Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with top-tier media, trade publications, and consumer outlets to advance awareness of Gilead’s pipeline, portfolio and corporate narrative.

• Lead earned and paid media activations that reinforce Gilead’s corporate reputation and brand positioning, including media sponsorships. Collaborate across Public Affairs to ensure strategic alignment and amplification.

• Provide strategic counsel on external engagements such as conferences, panels, and sponsorships, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and identifying media opportunities to amplify key messages.

• Partner with Corporate Responsibility to amplify Gilead’s impact through media storytelling, including initiatives tied to global health, community support, and the annual Business Impact Report.

• Support crisis communications planning and response, helping mitigate reputational risks and manage sensitive issues in collaboration with senior leaders and legal/regulatory partners.

• Leverage data-driven insights and external benchmarking to assess and refine media strategies, optimizing for reach, engagement, and reputational impact.

• Develop and refine media-facing materials such as press releases, key messages and talking points, to ensure clarity, accessibility and alignment with audience needs.  

• Exhibit exceptional strategic writing skills in crafting corporate messages, standby statements, executive talking points and briefing materials, with the ability to independ