We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet. Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next. 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 Kite and help create more tomorrows. **Job Description** At Gilead our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world’s most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come. Kite, a Gilead Company, is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies. The company focuses on chimeric antigen receptor and T cell receptor engineered cell therapies. Everyone at Kite has been grounded by one common goal – curing cancer. Every day, we aim to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work. As our portfolio expands into **solid tumors, in vivo modalities, and autoimmune diseases** , we continue advancing innovative science that addresses some of the world’s greatest health challenges, in cancer and beyond. We are creating Kite together, with the recognition that the best teams are built by the best people. We maintain an attitude of curiosity, and creativity with each challenge as we develop a new market for cancer therapies. We appreciate and respect one another, and most importantly, we don’t take success for granted. While we’ve come a long way to make what others viewed as impossible, possible, we know one thing is certain. Today is just the beginning. The **Sr. Director, Franchise & Pipeline Planning & Operations** plays a critical leadership role at the intersection of strategy, operations, and early‑stage commercial insight. This position leads operational excellence, long‑range strategic planning, cross‑functional coordination and execution, and commercial input for Kite’s early‑stage pipeline across Solid Tumor, In Vivo, and Autoimmune opportunities—ensuring future assets are well‑positioned for eventual global commercialization. Reporting to the **VP, Global Commercial Strategy** , this role is based in Santa Monica, CA and leads a team of marketers overseeing operational excellence in Kite’s OL, Congress and Launch preparation activities and the development of commercial strategy to support pipeline planning activities; balancing early commercial strategy development and marketing execution excellence. **Key Responsibilities** **Franchise Planning & Operations** + Build, develop, and mentor a high performing franchise and pipeline team, fostering a culture of strategic rigor and operational excellence. + Drive operational rigor across strategic franchise priorities by managing planning calendars, identifying critical deliverables, and ensuring cross‑functional alignment to enhance the effectiveness of the Global Commercial Strategy team. + Lead operational processes such as annual budget planning, resource tracking, strategic initiative management, and status reporting. + Anticipate organizational needs and proactively address planning and execution gaps to enhance overall productivity and delivery excellence. + Ensure operational excellence across key franchise activities, including OL & Congress strategy and Launch Excellence. + Ensure executive‑ready communication through presentations, insights summaries, strategic narrative development, and leadership preparation for internal and external engagements. **Pipeline Strategy & Commercial Input** + Provide commercial leadership on early asset planning and strategic framing for the **Solid Tumor, In Vivo, and Autoimmune** (e.g., Rheumatology & Neurology) pipeline to ensure commercial viability and alignment with the broader therapeutic area vision. + Establish and lead cross‑functional commercial working teams to support integrated global strategies as pipeline assets mature toward registration, approval, and launch, including market shaping strategies and activities in support of adoption drivers and barriers in novel modalities and/or therapeutic areas. + Partner with Candidate Teams, Product Teams and cross‑functional colleagues to provide commercial input to shape early clinical development, lifecycle opportunities, global value & access considerations and global evidence strategies. + Lead global commercial strategy input for business development opportunities, including landscape analysis, value assessment, and strategic fit for emerging technologies and assets, particularly in areas where disease area expertise has not been established. **Basic Qualifications** + Bachelor’s Degree and Fourteen Years’ Experience **OR** + Master’s Degree and Twelve Years’ Experience **OR** + PhD and Ten Years’ Experience **Preferred Qualifications** + 14+ years of biotech/pharmaceutical experience across strategic marketing, pipeline strategy, global commercialization, or business operations. + Oncology experience strongly preferred; experience in solid tumors, immunology/autoimmunity, or emerging modalities (e.g., in vivo, genetic medicines) is highly valued. + Proven ability to contribute early commercial input into clinical design, evidence planning, and TPP development. + Strong operational leadership experience, including leading complex cross‑functional initiatives, managing executive‑level communications, and maintaining organizational rhythm. + Exceptional analytical capabilities, including competitive landscape evaluation, forecasting, and synthesis of complex data into strategic recommendations. + Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and successfully navigate across technical, scientific, and commercial teams. + Inspiring leadership style with strong communication skills and experience motivating teams toward shared objectives. **People Leader Accountabilities** •Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams. •Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose. •Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem. The salary range for this position is: $221,000.00 - $286,000.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*. For additional benefits information, visit: https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing * Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com . Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma . **For jobs in the United States:** Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance. For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' (https://www.eeoc.gov/employers/eeo-law-poster) poster. NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT (http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/posters/eppac.pdf) YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law. Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team. Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion. **For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:** Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday. **Change The World With Us** Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal – curing cancer. Every day, we aim to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work. We are creating Kite together, with the recognition that the best teams are built by the best people. We maintain an attitude of curiosity, and creativity with each challenge as we develop a new market for cancer therapies. We appreciate and respect one another, and most importantly, we don’t take success for granted. While we’ve come a long way to make what others viewed as impossible, possible, we know one thing is certain. Today is just the beginning.