Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications

About this role

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 have the following exciting opportunity in our Foster City, CA location.

Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications

Reporting to the Executive Director, U.S. Prevention Public Affairs, the Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications will lead the U.S. public affairs strategy and execution for the planned launch of once-weekly oral PrEP medication. This is a high-impact, director-level position responsible for shaping the external narrative around a potential new HIV prevention option and ensuring communications support awareness, access, and equitable uptake.

The Director will serve as a core member of the cross-functional launch team, partnering across Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Market Access, Government Affairs, Legal and Regulatory to deliver an integrated, compliant and community-informed launch approach. This role will emphasize prevention-focused storytelling, public health impact, and engagement with community and advocacy stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities   Strategy & Positioning

• Lead development of a comprehensive U.S. public affairs strategy for the once-weekly oral medication for the PrEP launch, aligned with enterprise priorities and cross-functional launch plans. • Shape prevention-first messaging and positioning, grounded in science, public health need, and health equity considerations. • Partner with Medical Affairs and Clinical Development to ensure accurate, credible, and compliant translation of clinical data for external audiences. • Anticipate and address policy, access, and societal dynamics (e.g., stigma, disparities, prevention uptake) that may impact launch success. • Establish frameworks, narratives and best practices that can be scaled across future prevention and launch communication efforts.

Launch Planning & Execution

• Own and direct the end-to-end launch communications strategy and execution, leveraging internal and external partners. • Oversee spokesperson strategy and readiness, including executive and third-party voices. • Drive integrated channel activation across earned, owned, paid, and social media. • Partner closely with Market Access and Government Affairs to ensure communications support access, coverage, and prevention uptake.

Community & Advocacy Integration

• Ensure community and advocacy perspectives are embedded throughout launch planning and execution. • Partner with advocacy and community engagement leads to amplify prevention awareness and education efforts in a credible, non-promotional manner. • Support development of community-informed narratives that reflect real-world needs, barriers, and opportunities in HIV prevention.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a strategic connector across functions, ensuring alignment across Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Market Access, Legal, Regulatory, and Government Affairs. • Provide communications counsel to senior leaders and influence decision-making on high-profile, complex issues. • Ensure all communications are fully compliant with legal and regulatory requirements. • Shape and influence enterprise-level narrative and decision making related to HIV prevention, including access, policy and launch strategy considerations. • Represent Public Affairs in cross-functional leadership forums, ensuring alignment of communications strategy with broader business objectives.

Issues Management & Reputation

• Anticipate and manage potential issues and sensitivities (e.g., access, pricing, prevention equity, comparisons to existing PrEP options). • Develop and execute issues management and crisis preparedness plans tied to the launch. • Protect and enhance corporate reputation in the context of HIV prevention leadership.

Measurement & Insights

• Accountable for monitoring, analyzing and driving performance in media coverage, stakeholder sentiment, and engagement metrics. • Accountable for delivering measurable impact across media, stakeholder engagement and reputation, aligned to defined launch success metrics. • Translate insights into real-time optimization of launch strategy. • Report impact and performance against defined KPIs, in coordination with Corporate Communications and Reputation teams.

Knowledge, Experience, and Skills

• 12+ years of relevant experience in public affairs, communications, or related roles within the biopharmaceutical or healthcare sector with a bachelor's degree or 10+ years of relevant experience with a master's degree. • Proven experience leading communications strategy and execution for a major product launch, ideally in HIV, infectious disease or prevention/public health. • Strong understanding of the HIV prevention landscape, including PrEP, access dynamics and health equity considerations. • Deep experience working in highly

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