Director, Business Strategy & Operations reports to the Vice President and General Manager, US Commercial, and serves as a strategic and operational partner focused on improving organizational effectiveness and business impact. The role leads business strategy, planning, operating cadence, executive decision support, and organizational effectiveness, partnering across US Commercial to translate priorities into coordinated action and measurable outcomes. This role is based at Kite’s Santa Monica, California, headquarters.
Kite is transitioning from its current Santa Monica headquarters, with employees expected to relocate to our
El Segundo, CA or Thousand Oaks, CA office beginning in January 2027. While this role will be based in Santa Monica through 2026, applicants should take this planned relocation into consideration. Kite supports a flexible working policy, offering a balanced approach with two days of remote working and three days working onsite.
This position can be based out of El Segundo, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA or Foster City, CA.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the General Manager (GM), synthesizing complex information into executive-ready insights, recommendations, decision materials, and Board-level communications.
- Translate strategy into priorities, roadmaps, performance measures, operating rhythms, and actionable plans, driving strategic initiatives from development through execution.
- Lead annual strategic, financial, resource, and headcount planning, including coordination of the consolidated Plan of Action.
- Design and manage leadership governance, planning cycles, quarterly business reviews, and accountability mechanisms that enable timely decisions and disciplined execution.
- Coordinate enterprise and functional initiatives across US Commercial, aligning ownership, resources, dependencies, risks, sequencing, and measures of success.
- Represent US Commercial in enterprise and global planning forums, shaping broader decisions and translating enterprise direction into clear commitments for the US business.
- Track business performance and commitments, identify barriers, and drive mitigation, course correction, productivity, and process improvements.
- Lead planning and execution for major GM-sponsored meetings, including National and Midyear Meetings.
- Partner with commercial leadership to coordinate cross-functional readiness for anticipated US product launches.
- Advance organizational and leadership effectiveness by improving how the organization operates, collaborates, communicates, and makes decisions.
- Develop high-impact communications for leadership meetings, business reviews, all-hands presentations, and internal and external audiences.
- Serve on the Kite Commercial BS&O Forum, ensuring alignment between Commercial Strategy & Operations priorities and US Commercial planning and execution.
Basic Qualifications
Advanced scientific degree (i.e., MD, PharmD, PhD) and 8+ years of experience
OR
Master’s Degree and 10+ years of experience
OR
Bachelor’s Degree and 12+ years of experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Significant pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical experience leading complex strategic and operational initiatives; experience in commercial, finance, or consulting is preferred.
- Ability to translate enterprise strategy into practical plans and deliver results with rigor, accountability, and attention to detail.
- Strong executive presence, judgment, communication, and stakeholder-influence skills, including the ability to lead without direct authority.
- Demonstrated enterprise mindset and ability to navigate ambiguity, connect cross-functional priorities, and manage competing trade-offs.
- Experience with business planning, financial and resource analysis, project management, and product profit-and-loss considerations.
- Proactive, adaptable, and resourceful, with strong emotional intelligence, curiosity, and a continuous-improvement mindset.
- Demonstrated experience driving organizational transformation and operating model effectiveness, including leading change management and adoption across complex, matrixed environments.
People Leader Accountabilities:
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 receivingthe 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: $205,615.00 - $266,090.00. Kite 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.
