Director / Associate Director, Medical Scientist

Job description

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 The Director / Associate Director, Medical Scientist is a senior field medical leader within Kite Japan Medical Affairs, responsible for leading the Medical Scientist function and driving field medical excellence across Japan. This role provides strategic leadership for scientific engagement, external expert partnerships, field medical execution, and insight generation within the rapidly evolving Cell Therapy and Hematology-Oncology landscape. Reporting to the Head of Medical Affairs, the individual will lead a team of Medical Scientists and ensure the effective execution of field medical activities while fostering strong scientific relationships with key external stakeholders. The role serves as a trusted scientific partner across the organization and contributes field-based perspectives to support business and medical decision-making. Field Medical Leadership Lead and develop the Medical Scientist organization across Japan. Establish clear objectives, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with Medical Affairs goals. Coach, mentor, and develop team members to strengthen scientific expertise, strategic thinking, and stakeholder engagement capabilities. Drive a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Support workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and talent development activities. Field Medical Strategy & Execution Develop and implement field medical strategies aligned with Japan Medical Affairs priorities. Ensure consistent, high-quality execution of field medical activities across all regions. Optimize field resource allocation and engagement planning to maximize scientific impact. Monitor field activity effectiveness and identify opportunities to improve execution excellence. Ensure all field medical activities are conducted in accordance with applicable regulations, company policies, and compliance standards. Scientific Engagement & External Partnerships Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), healthcare professionals, academic institutions, and professional societies. Lead scientific exchange focused on disease areas, clinical evidence, treatment paradigms, and unmet patient needs. Identify emerging scientific trends and evolving stakeholder needs relevant to Kite’s therapeutic areas. Represent Kite Medical Affairs at scientific congresses, advisory boards, educational programs, and external stakeholder engagements. Guide the Medical Scientist team in developing and executing high-impact stakeholder engagement plans. Medical Insights Generation Establish a systematic approach to gathering, analyzing, and communicating medical insights from the field. Ensure external stakeholder perspectives are effectively translated into actionable recommendations. Provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolving treatment landscape, customer needs, and healthcare system dynamics. Share key insights with Medical Affairs leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to support informed decision-making. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Medical Affairs colleagues and other internal functions, including Marketing, Commercial Operation, Quality Assurance (Site Qualification). Market Access, Governmental Affairs, Clinical Development, Clinical Operation, and Patient Safety. Serve as the primary field medical representative in cross-functional discussions related to scientific engagement and customer needs. Facilitate alignment between field activities and broader organizational objectives while maintaining appropriate compliance boundaries. Contribute field perspectives and customer insights to support strategic planning and operational execution. Medical Excellence & Operational Oversight Ensure effective planning, documentation, and reporting of Medical Scientist activities. Drive adoption of Medical Excellence standards, best practices, and capability-building initiatives. Monitor field medical performance metrics and operational effectiveness. Manage field medical budgets and resources responsibly. Maintain the highest standards of ethics, integrity, patient focus, and compliance. Qualifications Education Advanced scientific degree preferred (PhD, MSc, or equivalent). Experience Significant experience in Medical Affairs within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, oncology, hematology, or cell therapy industry. Previous experience as a Medical Science Liaison / Medical Scientist. Demonstrated people leadership and team development experience. Strong track record of scientific stakeholder engagement and field medical leadership. Experience working successfully within a complex matrix organization. Competencies Strategic leadership and execution capability. Strong coaching and talent development skills. Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management abilities. Ability to build trusted internal and external partnerships. Strong scientific credibility and customer focus. Fluent in Japanese and business-level English. Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic and evolving environment. For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors: Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.