Director, Corporate Operational Excellence

About this role

We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

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 Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

We are seeking a strategic, enterprise-minded leader to serve as Director, Corporate Operational Excellence.  This role is responsible for proactively identifying, shaping, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and organizational performance.

The Director will partner closely with senior leadership, including the CEO Staff, Corporate Strategy, and Enterprise Planning, to translate strategic priorities into scalable, high-impact programs that strengthen Kite’s core business and accelerate innovation.

This individual will operate at both a strategic and executional level, leading complex, cross-functional initiatives, driving large-scale transformation, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the organization. The role requires a strong ability to anticipate business needs, diagnose root causes, and mobilize the organization around data-driven solutions.

This position is based at Kite’s global headquarters in either Foster City, CA or Santa Monica, CA and reports to the Head of Corporate Operational Excellence.

Kite is transitioning from its current Santa Monica headquarters, with employees expected to relocate to either our El Segundo or Thousand Oaks offices 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.

Key Responsibilities Enterprise Strategy & Operational Excellence • Proactively identify enterprise-wide opportunities to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability, leveraging data, benchmarking, and deep business insight • Translate corporate strategic priorities into actionable, cross-functional programs and initiatives that drive measurable business outcomes • Serve as a thought partner to senior leadership to shape, prioritize, and sequence initiatives aligned to Kite’s strategic roadmap

Leadership of Cross-Functional Corporate Initiatives • Lead and oversee large, complex enterprise initiatives spanning Research, Development, Tech Ops, Commercial, and Corporate functions • Drive alignment across senior stakeholders, ensuring clarity in objectives, roles, governance, and decision-making • Influence without authority to mobilize cross-functional teams and deliver results at scale

Transformation & Continuous Improvement • Establish and embed repeatable frameworks for continuous operational improvement, including identification, prioritization, and execution of initiatives • Diagnose organizational inefficiencies and performance gaps, and design interventions that unlock productivity, reduce cycle time, and enhance quality • Drive change management strategies to enable adoption and sustain impact

Program Leadership & Execution • Lead end-to-end program delivery, from problem framing and analytics through execution and value realization • Ensure rigorous program governance, including KPIs, milestone tracking, and risk management • Drive accountability for outcomes and ensure initiatives deliver measurable and sustained impact

Data, Insights & Decision Support • Leverage data and analytics to identify opportunities, inform decision-making, and track performance • Develop and monitor KPIs and executive dashboards to assess program effectiveness and organizational health • Incorporate external benchmarking and best practices to continuously elevate Kite’s operating model

M&A Integration & Enterprise Programs • Lead or support integration and separation efforts related to mergers and acquisitions, including oversight of transition service agreements • Ensure seamless execution of integration initiatives aligned with enterprise priorities and timelines

Basic Qualifications • PhD with 10+ years of relevant experience • OR • MS/MA with 12+ years of relevant experience • OR • BS/BA with 14+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications • Proven experience leading large-scale, cross-functional corporate initiatives from strategy through execution • Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and drive operational efficiency and effectiveness improvements at an enterprise level • Deep understanding of biopharma operations, including drug development and commercialization • Strong executive presence with experience partnering with senior leadership and influencing decisions • Track record of leading complex programs with measurable business impact • Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and structured thinking capabilities • Strategic, enterprise mindset with the ability to connect long-term vision to near-term execution • Strong ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and drive outcomes in a fast-paced environment • Outstanding stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization • Experience establishing operational excellence frameworks, governance models, and performance systems • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience synth

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