Sr Director, IT Head of Security Operations
Gilead Sciences
- Location
- United States - California - Foster City
- Work model
- On-Site
- Level
- Staff
- H-1B history
- 75 approvals (FY2023)
- Posted
- Sep 9, 2026
About this role
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.
Job Description
Job Description Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 1987. Together we deliver life-saving therapies to patients in need. With the commitment and drive you bring to the workplace every day, you will be part of a team that is changing the world and helping millions of people live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our worldwide staff is a close community where you can see the tangible results of your contributions, where every individual matters, and everyone has a chance to enhance their skills through ongoing development. Our scientific focus has resulted in marketed products that are benefiting hundreds of thousands of people, a pipeline of late-stage drug candidates, and unmatched patient access programs to ensure medications are available to those who could otherwise not afford them. By joining Gilead, you will further our mission to address unmet medical needs and improve life by advancing the care of patients with life-threatening diseases. Specific Responsibilities & Skills The Senior Director, Head of Security Operations is a mission-critical leader responsible for safeguarding the integrity of Gilead’s scientific data, digital assets, and operational environments. Reporting to the CISO, this role will direct the teams that provide operational excellence for enterprise security capabilities that protect employees, patients, and the research that fuels Gilead’s innovation. Partnering closely with Gilead’s Managed Service Providers (MSPs), this role will lead the team to provide measurable operational results to support Gilead business outcomes. As a senior member of the cross-functional Security Risk and Compliance organization, this leader will partner closely across Security Architecture, Engineering, Project delivery, Risk, Data Privacy, QA, Infrastructure, Network, and Business IT to translate complex and often ambiguous security requirements into clear guidance, ensuring the organization can innovate confidently while maintaining a strong security posture. This is a site-based role in Foster City, CA at our global headquarters. Remote work is not available for this position. We do offer optional work from home days on Monday and Friday with core collaboration days in the office. This position sits at the forefront of Gilead’s digital and AI-driven transformation and is uniquely positioned to support and secure the next generation of research platforms and data environments that accelerate the development and delivery of lifesaving therapies. The Head of Security Operations combines deep expertise in security policy, regulatory compliance, technology strategy, and MSP management practices with the ability to navigate ambiguity and influence senior stakeholders. This leader