Gilead Sciences, Inc. Posted September 9, 2026

Director, Medical Affairs Research

Foster City, United States Full time
Medical Affairs Director
Notify me about similar jobs

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

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 Director, Medical Affairs Research – Oncology, you will serve as a senior research lead within Oncology Medical Affairs, responsible for defining and executing medical affairs led evidence generation across the oncology portfolio. This role will be used to hire multiple Directors with complementary methodological expertise.

Directors in this role must bring deep expertise in one or more of the following methodological areas: interventional (Phase 4 and collaborative) research, observational / real‑world evidence research, and implementation science. While each Director is expected to anchor in at least one primary area of expertise, all will collaborate closely to deliver integrated, fit‑for‑purpose evidence aligned to Integrated Evidence Plans (IEPs).

Essential Duties & Job Functions

Lead Oncology Medical Affairs Research strategy aligned to Integrated Evidence Plans across assets and disease areas

Provide scientific leadership for late‑phase oncology research, selecting and applying appropriate methodologies based on evidence gaps

Serve as Medical Affairs Study Lead (MASL) for Gilead‑sponsored and collaborative research studies

Define research questions and guide protocol development for interventional, observational, and/or implementation science studies

Oversee a portfolio of Oncology MAR studies, ensuring scientific rigor, operational feasibility, governance, and compliance

Influence cross‑functional partners across Development, HEOR, Commercial, Safety, and external stakeholders

Build and sustain external scientific partnerships including academic investigators, cooperative groups, data partners, and health systems

Translate study findings into scientific communications such as abstracts, manuscripts, and presentations

Provide mentorship and scientific leadership within Oncology Medical Affairs to strengthen research capability

Ensure adherence to regulatory, legal, and business conduct standards governing Medical Affairs research

Key Capabilities & Methodological Expertise

Candidates must demonstrate deep expertise in one or more of the following areas. Expertise in multiple areas is strongly preferred.

Interventional Research: Expertise in Phase 4 interventional trial design and conduct, including protocol development, feasibility assessment, execution oversight, and collaboration with academic and cooperative research groups.

Observational / Real‑World Evidence Research: Expertise in observational study design and analysis, including use of real‑world data sources such as claims, EHRs, registries, and linked datasets, with strong understanding of epidemiologic and methodological rigor.

Implementation Science Research: Expertise in implementation science frameworks and mixed‑methods research, focused on translating evidence into real‑world oncology practice, addressing care gaps, and driving adoption and sustainability.

Knowledge & Skills

Demonstrated scientific credibility and thought leadership in oncology research

Experience serving as major contributing author on manuscripts, abstracts, or scientific congress submissions.

Strong strategic thinking with ability to translate complex evidence gaps into actionable research plans

Proven ability to influence and collaborate across complex, matrixed organizations

Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills

Ability to operate effectively in a global environment

High standards of integrity, accountability, and commitment to compliant scientific exchange

Education & Experience

Advanced scientific or medical degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD, MD, MPH) required.

Demonstrated history of scientific publications and/or authorship in peer‑reviewed journals within the candidate’s primary area of methodological expertise (interventional clinical research, observational / real‑world evidence, and/or implementation science).

Typically, 10+ years of experience in oncology research, medical affairs, or related pharmaceutical or academic settings.

Significant experience leading late‑phase research, including Phase 4, collaborative, and Medical Affairs‑led studies.

Strong understanding of regulatory, ethical, and compliance requirements governing Medical Affairs research activities.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and Twelve Years’ Experience

OR

Masters' Degree and Ten Years’ Experience

OR

PhD, PharmD, MD, MPH and Eight Years’ Experience

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.  

The salary range for this position is: $243,100.00 - $314,600.00. 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 ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com  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.

Job details

Seniority
Director
Function
Medical Affairs
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Foster City, United States
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Medical Affairs role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 227 comparable Director Medical Affairs roles across 50 biopharma companies.

227Comparable roles tracked
221Currently active
50Companies hiring similar roles
16Countries represented

Salary context

111 of 227 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject $243,100/yr – $314,600/yr
Lowest disclosed · Principal Strategic Medical Writer · AbbVie $109,500/yr – $208,500/yr
Highest disclosed · Sr Medical Director (Heme Oncology) (Boston, US) · Servier $298/hr – $350/hr (≈ $619,840–$728,000/yr)
Peer group range $159,000 – $673,920 (median $264,000)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 227 comparable roles

United States177
United Kingdom15
China's Mainland7
Japan5
Spain3
Canada3

+ 10 more countries

Seniority mix

227 of 227 peers have a known seniority level

Director202
Senior Director19
Principal6

Therapeutic area mix

105 of 227 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Oncology40
Immunology14
Neuroscience12
Cardiovascular / CVRM9
Vaccines & Infectious Disease8
Respiratory7
Dermatology & Aesthetics6
Rare Disease6
Gastroenterology2
Ophthalmology1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

60%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie Director
Same function Same seniority Same country

Open in 3 locations

Mettawa, United StatesFlorham Park, United StatesSan Francisco, United States
60%similar
AbbVie Director
Same function Same seniority Same country

Open in 3 locations

Mettawa, United StatesSan Francisco, United StatesFlorham Park, United States
60%similar
AbbVie Mettawa, IL Director
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie Director
Same function Same seniority Same country

Open in 2 locations

Los Angeles, United StatesChicago, United States

Notify me about similar jobs

Get an email when we spot other openings like this one – same job function, comparable seniority, roles you'd actually want to see.

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

60%
Associate Medical Director (Physician Development Program - Hematology)
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Scientific Director / Senior Medical Director, Multiple Myeloma (International Medical Affairs)
AbbVie · San Francisco, CA · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Scientific Director / Senior Medical Director, Medical Affairs - Global Oncology Pipeline (Prostate Cancer)
AbbVie · Florham Park, NJ · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Director, Medical Science Liaison Plastics & Regenerative Medicine
AbbVie · Chicago, IL · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.