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Associate Director, Public Affairs, US HIV Prevention Communications

United States - California - Foster CityPublic Affairs/CommunicationsRegular

Job Description

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 1987. Together we deliver life-saving therapies to patients in need. With the commitment and drive you bring to the workplace every day, you will be part of a team that is changing the world and helping millions of people live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our worldwide staff is a close community where you can see the tangible results of your contributions, where every individual matters, and everyone has a chance to enhance their skills through ongoing development. Our scientific focus has resulted in marketed products that are benefiting millions of people, a pipeline of late-stage drug candidates, and unmatched patient access programs to ensure medications are available to those who could otherwise not afford them. By joining Gilead, you will further our mission to address unmet medical needs and improve life by advancing the care of patients with life-threatening diseases.

Associate Director, Public Affairs, US HIV Prevention Communications

Reporting to the Director, US HIV Communications, this role will support the development and implementation of US-specific executions relating to Gilead’s research and development prevention efforts, partnerships and programs in the area of HIV prevention.


The role is responsible for helping to demonstrate Gilead’s leadership in HIV prevention by articulating Gilead’s vision across external and internal audiences, raising awareness of unmet medical, systemic, and social needs that our science and programs seek to address, and communicating progress against these goals.

This role works closely with cross-functional colleagues in the US Commercial Organization, marketing, Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, Government Affairs, Community Engagement and Advocacy and engages colleagues across Public Affairs’ global centers of expertise and global therapeutic area communications to help inform cross-functional priorities.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Responsible for the strategy, planning, and end-to-end execution of targeted HIV prevention communications campaigns and initiatives in the US.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional partners to develop and maintain a therapeutic area narrative that serves as a framework to organize storytelling and messaging.
  • Develop tactics that strategically assert Gilead’s point of view and demonstrate Gilead’s leadership on issues relevant to HIV prevention. Ensure all materials are accurate and comply with business conduct and regulatory requirements.
  • Manage the development of materials, campaigns, social media content, events, and activations to support Public Affairs and cross-functional partners objectives.
  • Manage the submission, review, and approval of all materials through Gilead’s review committee process.
  • Write press releases and coordinates internal/external communications to support initiative and program announcements.
  • Represents the US HIV communications team at cross-functional workgroups.
  • Monitor environment and media to anticipate and advise on key issues relating to the company’s products and programs in the HIV therapeutic area. Disseminate relevant coverage to key internal teams.
  • Maintain an up-to-date understanding of issues relevant to Gilead’s HIV prevention business ensuring that talking points and key message documents are updated and disseminated among internal and external audiences in a timely, proactive manner.
  • Collaborate on programs related to HIV in other Public Affairs and Government Affairs teams and centers of excellence, including corporate communications, community engagement & advocacy, corporate giving, and government affairs. Programs may include corporate advertising, corporate website and intranet content development, advocacy group engagement, and co-creation funding announcements, among others.
  • Triage and respond to media inquiries.
  • Serve as daily point of contact with agency partners, providing agency teams with appropriate information and oversight to effectively implement programs in compliance with Gilead’s business conduct policies.
  • Support budget management including monthly reconciliation and tracking to help ensure efficient, timely and accurate budget management.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

  • BA degree in communications, public health, business or science-oriented field and minimum 10 years of relevant experience, which includes 6-8 years of healthcare communications experience or master’s degree in communications or public health with 8 years of relevant experience.
  • Strong verbal, written and interpersonal skills.
  • Exceptional organizational skills and diligence.
  • Proven ability to multi-task and balance multiple competing priorities.
  • Experience working in a matrixed organization with a business orientation.
  • Ability to manage through influence and drive alignment across diverse teams.
  • Strong desire to work well with diverse employees and partners in a cooperative and collaborative manner.
  • Ability to interact with more senior colleagues as well as external partners and patient advocates appropriately, with confidence and ease.
  • A passion for engaging in public health and policy issues.
  • Prior experience in HIV communications, advocacy, government affairs, marketing or medical affairs is highly desired.
  • Previous experience working on a new product launch is also desirable.
  • Advanced knowledge and experience using software applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Visio, etc.