Director, Business Strategy and Operations

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.

The Director, Business Strategy & Operations reports to the Vice President and General Manager, US Commercial, and serves as a strategic and operational partner focused on improving organizational effectiveness and business impact. The role leads business strategy, planning, operating cadence, executive decision support, and organizational effectiveness, partnering across US Commercial to translate priorities into coordinated action and measurable outcomes. This role is based at Kite’s Santa Monica, California, headquarters. Kite is transitioning from its current Santa Monica headquarters, with employees expected to relocate to our El Segundo, CA or Thousand Oaks, CA office beginning in January 2027. While this role will be based in Santa Monica through 2026, applicants should take this planned relocation into consideration. Kite supports a flexible working policy, offering a balanced approach with two days of remote working and three days working onsite. This position can be based out of El Segundo, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA or Foster City, CA.

Serve as a trusted advisor to the General Manager (GM), synthesizing complex information into executive-ready insights, recommendations, decision materials, and Board-level communications. Translate strategy into priorities, roadmaps, performance measures, operating rhythms, and actionable plans, driving strategic initiatives from development through execution. Lead annual strategic, financial, resource, and headcount planning, including coordination of the consolidated Plan of Action. Design and manage leadership governance, planning cycles, quarterly business reviews, and accountability mechanisms that enable timely decisions and disciplined execution. Coordinate enterprise and functional initiatives across US Commercial, aligning ownership, resources, dependencies, risks, sequencing, and measures of success. Represent US Commercial in enterprise and global planning forums, shaping broader decisions and translating enterprise direction into clear commitments for the US business. Track business performance and commitments, identify barriers, and drive mitigation, course correction, productivity, and process improvements. Lead planning and execution for major GM-sponsored meetings, including National and Midyear Meetings. Partner with commercial leadership to coordinate cross-functional readiness for anticipated US product launches. Advance organizational and leadership effectiveness by improving how the organization operates, collaborates, communicates, and makes decisions. Develop high-impact communications for leadership meetings, business reviews, all-hands presentations, and internal and external audiences. Serve on the Kite Commercial BS&O Forum, ensuring alignment between Commercial Strategy & Operations priorities and US Commercial planning and execution.

Advanced scientific degree (i.e., MD, PharmD, PhD) and 8+ years of experience OR Master’s Degree and 10+ years of experience OR Bachelor’s Degree and 12+ years of experience Preferred Qualifications Significant pharmaceutical or