Public Affairs Director, COVID-19 Communications Lead

Foster City, CA, USA
Posted on  

Job Description


This role will lead global communications for Gilead’s COVID-19 antiviral, with a particular focus on coordination outside of the U.S. While COVID-19 vaccines are helping to bring much needed relief to communities around the world, effective therapeutics will continue to be a critical tool for healthcare providers to address ongoing infections. Reporting to the Executive Director of Public Affairs, Virology, this newly created position will be responsible for proactively shaping understanding of Gilead’s COVID-19 antiviral and Gilead’s commitment to therapeutics development for emerging viruses.

This role will play a pivotal part in driving understanding of the value of our antiviral in helping hospitalized patients recover more quickly from COVID-19 in this rapidly evolving disease area. Given the highly visible nature of the pandemic and the continued focus across Gilead and across the media, this role will engage a broad range of external stakeholders and internal teams to support communication of our comprehensive efforts to tackle the pandemic. In this fast-paced environment, this individual will drive best-practice sharing between countries and support cross-functional partners to drive excellence in communications strategy and tactical implementation.

Responsibilities Include:

  • Drive global alignment across communications with brand strategy and messaging, through coordination and partnership of in-country Public Affairs teams.
  • Provide communications counsel and engage with colleagues in Commercial, Medical Affairs, Clinical and Pre-clinical research, Government Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and Legal as part of key cross-functional workstreams to drive strategy and tactical plans that shape understanding of the value of antiviral treatment and Gilead’s comprehensive efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Lead proactive data communications for Veklury at key ex-U.S. infectious disease congresses, and support data communications from numerous collaborators around the world.
  • In partnership with the Global Commercial Product Strategy Team, coordinate cross-functional efforts to horizon scan and proactively address emerging issues.
  • Inform priorities and collaborate with regional Public Affairs leads including in Europe and Intercontinental regions, the U.S. COVID-19 communications lead, and other Public Affairs centers of expertise, including corporate communications, community engagement and corporate giving.
  • Develop materials to support external communications, including key messages, Q&A documents, press releases, presentations, videos, social media content, etc.
  • Provide rapid response to inquiries and maintain relationships with key top-tier international, trade and wire reporters to shape reporting on Veklury across a broad range of markets.
  • Manage global PR agency partners, providing agency teams with appropriate information and oversight to effectively implement programs in compliance with Gilead’s business conduct policies.
  • Manage budgets to target, ensuring appropriate investment in priority work and identifying ways to optimize resources.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

  • BA Degree in Communications, Liberal Arts, Business or science-oriented field and 12+ years of relevant experience in healthcare communications or Master’s Degree with 10 years of relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated experience driving communications plans that support business priorities.
  • Expertise in media relations and issues management.
  • Ability to interact with senior internal leaders, academic experts and patient advocates appropriately.
  • Ability to influence others and drive alignment across diverse teams.
  • A passion for engaging in public health and policy issues with an understanding of the European and Asian regulatory environments. Understanding of market access across key countries in Europe and Asia is preferred.
  • Adept at understanding scientific data. Prior experience in infectious disease communications is preferred.
  • Ability to deliver formal presentations to external and internal audiences of a variety of sizes.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of regulations governing communications for a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company.


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Following extensive monitoring, research, consideration of business implications and advice from internal and external experts, Gilead has made the decision to require all U.S. employees and contractors to receive the COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment. “Full vaccination” is defined as two weeks after both doses of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks since a single-dose vaccine has been administered. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or disability that prevents them from being vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

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