Senior Director, Patient Solutions – Public Affairs

Gilead Sciences

Senior Director of Public Affairs improving patient outcomes through strategies for Gilead Patient Solutions. Leading external communications and stakeholder engagement across diverse global regions.

Posted 7/18/2026full-timeFoster City • California, District of Columbia, New Jersey • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $243,100 - $314,600 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in public affairs, corporate communications, and stakeholder engagement within the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong focus on developing and executing strategies that align with public health priorities. Proven ability to influence decision-making and drive action across diverse teams and stakeholders in complex environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Public Affairs Strategy DevelopmentStakeholder EngagementCorporate CommunicationsReputation ManagementGlobal Health Advocacy

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Public AffairsCorporate CommunicationsStakeholder CommunicationsIssues ManagementExecutive CommunicationPartnership DevelopmentAdvocacy StrategyRegulatory ComplianceCrisis CommunicationMarket Analysis

Soft Skills

Influencing SkillsExecutive PresenceDiplomacyJudgmentAdaptability

Industry Keywords

Pharmaceutical IndustryBiotechnologyPublic HealthNGO EngagementPatient AdvocacyGlobal MarketsHealthcare ComplianceMatrixed EnvironmentsReputation BuildingCross-Functional Collaboration

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as the public affairs partner to GPS leadership, leading strategies that support patient-centered access to innovation, advance public health priorities, and align communications, advocacy, NGO engagement, and stakeholder outreach for GPS.
Identify connections and emerging themes across markets, functions, stakeholders and external environments, translating insights into coordinated public affairs strategies and practical action.
Serve as a senior counselor to the Executive Director, ICR and Regional Cross Functional Leadership teams, providing clear recommendations, direct feedback, and practical communications guidance on complex internal and external matters.
Partner closely with colleagues across Public Affairs, Patient Advocacy, Government Affairs, Value & Access, Corporate Communications, Commercial, Medical and other functions to align strategies and stakeholder engagement approaches.
Bring a global, enterprise-level lens to public affairs planning across nearly 140 countries, ensuring strategies are locally relevant, culturally informed, and aligned with broader corporate priorities.
Lead external communications strategy for Gilead Patient Solutions reinforcing Gilead’s role as a trusted partner in global health, while ensuring message discipline across and alignment across the enterprise, regions and markets.
Create clear, credible, and compliant communications that explain Gilead’s commitments, partnerships, access initiatives, and public health impact to external audiences.
Build proactive storytelling opportunities including executive visibility, thought leadership, milestones, partnerships, and reputation-building initiatives.
Prepare senior leaders for external engagements, media interviews, conferences, panels, NGO meetings, and stakeholder forums.
Partner with cross-functional teams on engagement strategies with global NGOs, patient organizations, advocacy coalitions, and other external stakeholders.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree and at least 14 years’ experience or Master’s degree and at least 12 years of relevant experience; or PhD and at least 12 years of relevant experience.
Significant in-house public affairs, corporate communications, or external affairs experience within a global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other highly regulated healthcare organization.
Deep experience leading reputation, communications, stakeholder engagement, and issues management strategies in complex, matrixed environments.
Demonstrated ability to build alignment, influence decision-making, and drive action across functions, regions, and diverse stakeholder groups without direct authority.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with proven ability to develop high-quality executive, internal, and external communications materials, including statements, Q&As, briefing documents, leadership messages, and stakeholder communications.
Experience working across global, regional, and local markets, including low- and lower-middle-income countries and/or complex access and public health environments.
Experience engaging with global NGOs, patient organizations, advocacy groups, multilateral stakeholders, or public health coalitions, with a track record of developing partnerships and advocacy strategies that support public health and patient-focused objectives.
Demonstrated ability to anticipate challenges, navigate ambiguity, evaluate competing priorities, and provide sound judgement and clear recommendations in dynamic environments.
Strong executive presence and influencing skills, with the ability to advise senior leaders, constructively challenge assumptions, and manage sensitive issues with diplomacy and credibility.
Ability to operate with composure and effectiveness under pressure, including during time-sensitive, high-profile, or evolving situations.
Strong understanding of the legal, regulatory, compliance, and reputational considerations associated with communications and stakeholder engagement in the pharmaceutical industry.
Experience supporting geographically dispersed teams and managing priorities across multiple time zones.
Ability to travel approximately 30 –40%, based on business needs.

Benefits

Comp & perks

discretionary annual bonus
discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role)
paid time off
company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans