Executive Director, R&D Program Finance - Foster City, CA

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.

The Executive Director, R&D Program Finance, serves as the senior finance leader responsible for shaping and driving financial strategy across Gilead’s oncology and inflammation portfolio. This leader acts as the strategic business partner to the R&D organization, ensuring that financial insights, rigorous business case evaluations, and value focused decision frameworks meaningfully influence pipeline investment, portfolio optimization, and long range planning.  This role leads and develops a high performing Program Finance organization that partners directly with senior executives and their teams across Development, Commercial, PDM, and Finance. Office Location: Foster City, CA   As a   Executive Director, R&D Program Finance , at Gilead you will ...

Strategic Leadership & Vision Establish and deliver on vision to position the Program Finance team as a critical strategic partner enabling high‑quality, value‑based decisions across the development portfolio. Lead the evolution from study‑level cost support to end‑to‑end business case leadership with a focus on value creation. Stakeholder Influence & Executive Engagement Build trusted partnerships with SVP/VP stakeholders across Development, Commercial, PDM, and Finance. Ensure Finance is recognized as a critical and required voice in PC materials, BD materials, and strategic reviews.

Leadership & Capability Building Build and develop a diverse, high‑impact team capable of influencing senior R&D leaders and challenging assumptions with data‑driven insights. Set a high bar for People Leader accountabilities—fostering inclusion, proactive coaching, and rigorous talent development for all leaders in the Program Finance LT. Assess team capabilities regularly and address gaps related to financial modeling, strategic thinking, communication, and cross‑functional influence. Operational & Process Excellence Oversee high‑quality financial assessments for PC decisions, BD evaluations, Portfolio Review, and Long Range Planning —ensuring financial insights are material, timely, and influence outcomes. Embed standardized methodologies (e.g., NPV, risk‑adjusted frameworks, scenario modeling) across all program teams. Drive continuous simplification and automation of financial processes, enabling faster and more reliable insights (e.g., IPE simplification, rolling forecast enablement). Ensure robust financial governance, policy adherence, and audit‑ready processes (e.g., SOX, EY compliance).

Bachelor's Degree and Sixteen Years' Experience   OR   Masters' Degree and Fourteen Years' Experience   OR   PhD and Fourteen Years' Experience   Preferred Qualifications: 15+ years in R&D Finance or related strategic finance roles in biopharma. Strategic,