Vice President - Edmonton Manufacturing Operations and Site Head

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 fulfill their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description
 

The Vice President, Edmonton Manufacturing Operations and Site Head is accountable for the strategy, culture, performance, and operational execution of Gilead’s Edmonton site. The role leads the cross-functional Site Leadership Team and provides direct or matrixed leadership across Manufacturing, Packaging, Analytical Operations, Quality, Engineering and Maintenance, Supply Chain, Technical Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Information Technology, and Public Affairs. The Vice President ensures safe, compliant, reliable, and cost-effective clinical and commercial supply; translates enterprise and Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing priorities into site strategy; and serves as the primary legal representative and a director of Gilead Alberta ULC (GAULC).

This site-based role is in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and requires periodic international business travel, including travel to the United States. The Vice President is a member of the PDM Manufacturing Leadership Team and partners across the Global Manufacturing network to shape enterprise strategy and deliver shared business outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Edmonton Site Leadership Team and align directly managed and matrixed functions around clear priorities, decision rights, performance expectations, and shared accountability for site outcomes.
• Translate enterprise and Global Manufacturing priorities into medium- and long-term site strategy, annual operating plans, resource requirements, and measurable performance objectives.
• Ensure site operations are executed safely, compliantly, reliably, and efficiently to meet product demand, quality, service, cost, and financial commitments; establish management routines that enable timely decisions and transparent accountability.
• Build and develop a high-performing, inclusive, feedback-rich leadership team; strengthen succession pipelines and critical capabilities; and foster an environment in which employees are included, developed, empowered, and accountable.
• Establish a culture and management system of operational excellence and continuous improvement, using data, digital capabilities, automation, and new technologies to improve safety, quality, reliability, productivity, cost, and speed.
• Sponsor transformational change, simplify and scale processes, and build cross-functional commitment to new capabilities and ways of working.
• Provide strategic oversight for clinical and commercial drug-substance manufacturing, packaging, analytical testing and release, maintenance, engineering, supply chain, technical operations, scale-up, technology transfer, registration, and product launch activities at the Edmonton site.
• Contribute to CMC strategy, governance, and decision-making for the commercial portfolio through active partnership with PDM product teams and functions including Quality, Technical Development, CMC Regulatory, Product Strategy, PDM Strategy and Operations, and Global Supply Chain.
• Ensure inspection readiness and sustain compliance with applicable cGMP, health, safety, environmental, employment, legal, fiscal, and statutory requirements.
• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets, capacity plans, workforce plans, and investment priorities in alignment with site and network requirements.
• Establish proactive business-continuity and risk-management plans that protect employee safety, regulatory compliance, product supply, critical operations, and site service commitments.
• Serve as a senior member of the PDM Manufacturing Leadership Team and as executive sponsor for strategic, operational excellence, and people initiatives that extend beyond the Edmonton site.
• Guide the preparation, review, and approval of CMC sections for regulatory filings and support agency interactions, product-related inspections, and commitments arising from those activities.
• Provide technical and strategic support to internal and external cGMP manufacturing and testing operations.
• Fulfill legal and fiscal responsibilities as a director of GAULC in accordance with Canadian law and company governance requirements.
• Represent Gilead with government officials, regulatory authorities, industry organizations, educational institutions, community partners, suppliers, and other external stakeholders, strengthening the Edmonton site’s reputation and strategic relationships.
• Perform other responsibilities consistent with the scope and accountability of Edmonton Site Head.

Qualifications:

• BA or BSc degree in business, science, engineering, or related discipline and a minimum of 14 years of relevant experience; alternatively, an MSc, MA, MBA, or other advanced degree and a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Senior leadership experience in a complex pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or similarly regulated manufacturing environment, including accountability for clinical or commercial drug-substance manufacturing or related operations.
• Demonstrated success leading direct and matrixed functions, building high-performing senior teams, developing successors, and influencing across a global enterprise.
• Experience developing and executing site or enterprise strategy, operating plans, budgets, capital priorities, workforce plans, and performance-management systems.
• Experience leading operational excellence, transformation, technology adoption, and continuous-improvement initiatives with measurable business outcomes.
• Experience supporting regulatory filings, agency interactions, and product-related inspections, with knowledge of U.S., Canadian, Japanese, and other applicable global regulatory expectations.
• Knowledge of ICH guidelines and cGMP requirements for the development and manufacture of small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients, as well as current industry trends and regulatory expectations.
• Experience working with external manufacturing and testing organizations and managing business continuity, supply, quality, and operational risk.
• Strong financial, scientific, technical, and operational acumen, with the ability to make sound decisions in ambiguity and balance patient, compliance, people, supply, and business considerations.
• Exceptional executive communication, collaboration, judgment, and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to simplify complex issues, explain the rationale for decisions, build trust, and influence without direct authority.
• A leadership approach grounded in integrity, inclusion, accountability, enterprise thinking, disciplined execution, and commitment to Gilead’s values and Leadership Commitments.

Leadership Expectations

• Model Gilead’s values and Leadership Commitments in decisions, actions, and relationships.
• Create an inclusive environment in which diverse perspectives are sought, respected, and translated into stronger decisions.
• Set clear direction, connect teams to purpose, and maintain accountability for results and behaviors.
• Develop talent, invite candid feedback, and strengthen organizational capability and succession.
• Collaborate across boundaries and act with an enterprise mindset in service of patients and shared outcomes.

As an equal opportunity employer, Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to a diverse workforce.

People Leader Accountabilities:

• Create Inclusion: Model inclusive leadership and embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into how the team operates, makes decisions, and develops talent.
• Develop Talent:  Understand employees’ skills, aspirations, and potential; provide coaching, feedback, and opportunities that grow both current performance and future readiness.
• Empower Teams: Align goals to enterprise and R&D priorities, clarify decision rights, remove barriers, and connect the team to the broader Public Affairs and R&D ecosystem.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.