Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications

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Job Description
 

We have the following exciting opportunity in our Foster City, CA location.

Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications

Reporting to the Executive Director, U.S. Prevention Public Affairs, the Director, Public Affairs, U.S. HIV Prevention Launch Communications will lead the U.S. public affairs strategy and execution for the planned launch of once-weekly oral PrEP medication. This is a high-impact, director-level position responsible for shaping the external narrative around a potential new HIV prevention option and ensuring communications support awareness, access, and equitable uptake.

The Director will serve as a core member of the cross-functional launch team, partnering across Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Market Access, Government Affairs, Legal and Regulatory to deliver an integrated, compliant and community-informed launch approach. This role will emphasize prevention-focused storytelling, public health impact, and engagement with community and advocacy stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

 

Strategy & Positioning

• Lead development of a comprehensive U.S. public affairs strategy for the once-weekly oral medication for the PrEP launch, aligned with enterprise priorities and cross-functional launch plans.
• Shape prevention-first messaging and positioning, grounded in science, public health need, and health equity considerations.
• Partner with Medical Affairs and Clinical Development to ensure accurate, credible, and compliant translation of clinical data for external audiences.
• Anticipate and address policy, access, and societal dynamics (e.g., stigma, disparities, prevention uptake) that may impact launch success.
• Establish frameworks, narratives and best practices that can be scaled across future prevention and launch communication efforts.

Launch Planning & Execution

• Own and direct the end-to-end launch communications strategy and execution, leveraging internal and external partners.
• Oversee spokesperson strategy and readiness, including executive and third-party voices.
• Drive integrated channel activation across earned, owned, paid, and social media.
• Partner closely with Market Access and Government Affairs to ensure communications support access, coverage, and prevention uptake.

Community & Advocacy Integration

• Ensure community and advocacy perspectives are embedded throughout launch planning and execution.
• Partner with advocacy and community engagement leads to amplify prevention awareness and education efforts in a credible, non-promotional manner.
• Support development of community-informed narratives that reflect real-world needs, barriers, and opportunities in HIV prevention.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a strategic connector across functions, ensuring alignment across Public Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Market Access, Legal, Regulatory, and Government Affairs.
• Provide communications counsel to senior leaders and influence decision-making on high-profile, complex issues.
• Ensure all communications are fully compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Shape and influence enterprise-level narrative and decision making related to HIV prevention, including access, policy and launch strategy considerations.
• Represent Public Affairs in cross-functional leadership forums, ensuring alignment of communications strategy with broader business objectives.

Issues Management & Reputation

• Anticipate and manage potential issues and sensitivities (e.g., access, pricing, prevention equity, comparisons to existing PrEP options).
• Develop and execute issues management and crisis preparedness plans tied to the launch.
• Protect and enhance corporate reputation in the context of HIV prevention leadership.

Measurement & Insights

• Accountable for monitoring, analyzing and driving performance in media coverage, stakeholder sentiment, and engagement metrics.
• Accountable for delivering measurable impact across media, stakeholder engagement and reputation, aligned to defined launch success metrics.
• Translate insights into real-time optimization of launch strategy.
• Report impact and performance against defined KPIs, in coordination with Corporate Communications and Reputation teams.

Knowledge, Experience, and Skills

• 12+ years of relevant experience in public affairs, communications, or related roles within the biopharmaceutical or healthcare sector with a bachelor's degree or 10+ years of relevant experience with a master's degree.
• Proven experience leading communications strategy and execution for a major product launch, ideally in HIV, infectious disease or prevention/public health.
• Strong understanding of the HIV prevention landscape, including PrEP, access dynamics and health equity considerations.
• Deep experience working in highly matrixed environments, with demonstrated ability to influence across cross-functional teams (including Legal and Regulatory).
• Experience engaging with external stakeholders, including advocacy organizations, public health leaders and third-party experts.
• Strong expertise in issues management, media relations and corporate reputation.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex clinical and policy topics into clear, credible communications.
• Strategic thinker with strong executional discipline and attention to detail.
• Recognized subject matter expert in public affairs strategy, particularly within HIV prevention or public health contexts.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including experience advising senior leaders.
• Strong project management capabilities, with ability to manage multiple priorities and external partners.
• Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements governing biopharmaceutical communications.
• Passion for public health, HIV prevention, and advancing equitable access to care and prevention tools.

 

The salary range for this position is: $210,375.00 - $272,250.00. Gilead 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.

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