New · posted Nov 10
Gilead Sciences · Biotechnology
Associate Director, Quality Control
- Foster City, CA
- On-site
- Full-time
- Director
The 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
The Associate Director, Quality Control - Biologics QC Lead provides strategic Quality Control leadership for assigned biologics programs across the product lifecycle. The role serves as the primary QC representative and partners with internal and external stakeholders such as Analytical Development, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs.
The Associate Director establishes phase-appropriate QC and analytical strategies that enable clinical development, technology transfer, process validation, regulatory submission, commercialization, and lifecycle management while ensuring scientifically sound, compliant, and executable control strategies.
What you need
Basic Requirements
- Ph.D. with 2+ years experience OR M.S. with 8+ years experience OR B.S. with 10+ years industrial experience
- An advanced science degree such as MS, MD, PharmD, or PhD is desirable
Preferred Qualificationsnice to have
- Extensive progressive experience in biopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical Quality Control, analytical development, manufacturing sciences, or a related technical quality function, with substantial experience supporting biologics.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing analytical control strategies, specifications, method qualification/validation, method transfer, stability, comparability, reference-standard, and analytical lifecycle strategies.
- Experience supporting complex early- and late-stage clinical programs, including late-stage development, process validation/PPQ, regulatory submissions, launch readiness, and product lifecycle management.
- Experience providing technical and quality oversight of CMOs, CDMOs, CROs, and contract testing laboratories, including investigation and issue-resolution activities.
- Demonstrated success leading people and matrix teams, managing multiple priorities, influencing senior stakeholders, and driving decisions in a complex cross-functional environment.
- Experience authoring or reviewing CMC regulatory content and supporting health-authority questions, inspections, or regulatory-readiness activities.Pre
- In-depth working knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices, pharmaceutical quality systems, data integrity principles, and applicable global regulatory expectations for clinical and commercial biologics.
Knowledge, Skills & Competencies
- Strong scientific knowledge of biologics characterization and testing, including physicochemical, biochemical, biological, microbiological, and safety-related methods relevant to drug substance and drug product.
- Strong understanding of phase-appropriate analytical development and QC expectations, control strategy, specifications, comparability, stability, method validation and transfer, and analytical lifecycle management.
- Excellent scientific problem-solving and risk-assessment skills, with the ability to distinguish regulatory or GMP requirements from internal practices and to develop pragmatic, scientifically justified solutions.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking, sound independent judgment, and the ability to connect individual analytical issues to broader product, filing, supply, and lifecycle risks.
- Effective executive and technical communication skills, including the ability to present complex issues, options, risks, and recommendations clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional governance teams.
- Strong collaboration, negotiation, and influencing skills, including the ability to lead without direct authority and establish effective relationships with internal functions and external partners.
- Demonstrated commitment to people development, inclusion, accountability, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and a strong quality culture.
The salary range for this position is: $182,070.00 - $235,620.00. 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*.
What you'll do
- Serve as the QC Lead and primary Quality Control point of contact for assigned biologics programs; represent QC on product teams and governance forums and provide clear, risk-based recommendations to support program decisions.
- Develop and maintain phase-appropriate, end-to-end QC strategies for biologic drug substance, drug product, intermediates, and relevant materials, integrating specifications, analytical methods, sampling, release, stability, reference standards, and critical reagents.
- Own or provide senior oversight of specifications and analytical methods.
- Provide QC oversight for testing performed at internal laboratories, CMOs/CDMOs, and contract testing laboratories; establish governance, expectations, metrics, escalation pathways, and sustainable testing-network strategies.
- Provide scientific and quality guidance for significant deviations, OOS/OOT or atypical results, method-performance issues, stability trends, comparability questions, and laboratory investigations.
- Provide QC subject-matter expertise for CMC regulatory content, health-authority questions and interactions, inspections, and readiness activities related to analytical methods, specifications, validation, stability, and QC operations.
- Lead cross-program initiatives that strengthen QC governance, specification and control-strategy practices, analytical lifecycle management, procedures, templates, standard work, and appropriate harmonization across modalities.
- Lead, coach, and develop QC professionals and matrix teams.
- Support departmental strategy, portfolio and resource prioritization, operating plans, budget management, and selection and oversight of external laboratories, consultants, and technical service providers.
- This position is based in Foster City, California. Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as needed, to support internal sites, external partners, program activities, and regulatory or inspection-readiness needs.
- Ability to work effectively across global teams and time zones and to manage multiple programs, priorities, and critical milestones.
Pay
$182,070 – $235,620 a year
Employer providedFor additional benefits information, visit:
* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.
Where you'll work
Foster City, CAOn-siteOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
More jobs in Foster City, CAWorking conditions
For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors
Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.
Equal opportunity, accessibility and legal noticesGilead Sciences's statements, word for word
For jobs in the United States
Gilead Sciences Inc. 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 [email protected] for assistance.
For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.
NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Gilead Sciences 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.
Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.
Job intelligence
The context around this role
Live data · November 10, 2026
Salary intelligence
How the pay compares
This role's midpoint is 5% above the US median for Quality Control roles at this level.
This roleEmployer provided
Director roles in California7 roles publishing pay
Director roles in the US20 roles publishing pay
| Annual base pay | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| This role | $182,070 | — | $235,620 |
| California (middle half) | $200,000 | $219,500 | $247,250 |
| All US (middle half) | $187,250 | $198,500 | $242,625 |
This role: Gilead Sciences's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Quality Control roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, November 10, 2026. Nothing is estimated.
Career trajectory
Where this role sits in Quality Control
The general path across 256 open Quality Control roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not Gilead's own promotion track.
Skills DNA
What this role leans on
How many of the posting's 34 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.
- Lab testing and methods15
- Collaboration and leadership13
- GMP and compliance5
- Validation and qualification5
- Investigations and CAPA2
- Regulatory submissions2
- Quality systems and risk2
- Clinical trial conduct2
- Documentation and SOPs1
- Data and digital systems1
Regulatory intelligence
The rules, regulations and standards behind this role
The regulations, guidance and standards that govern Quality Control work in biotechnology, led by the five this posting names, each linked to the agency or standards body that publishes it.
- FDA21 CFR Parts 210 and 211(official source, opens in a new tab)FDA current good manufacturing practice for finished pharmaceuticalsNamed in the posting
- FDAFDA OOS guidance(official source, opens in a new tab)Investigating Out-of-Specification (OOS) Test Results for Pharmaceutical ProductionNamed in the posting
- FDAFDA data integrity guidance(official source, opens in a new tab)Data Integrity and Compliance With Drug CGMP: Questions and AnswersNamed in the posting
- FDAFDA process validation guidance(official source, opens in a new tab)Process Validation: General Principles and PracticesNamed in the posting
- ICHICH Q10(official source, opens in a new tab)The pharmaceutical quality system across the product lifecycleNamed in the posting
- USPUSP–NF(official source, opens in a new tab)US Pharmacopeia general chapters and monographs, such as <61> bioburden, <85> endotoxin, <1225> validation
- ICHICH Q2(R2) and Q14(official source, opens in a new tab)Validation and development of analytical procedures
- FDAFDA analytical procedures guidance(official source, opens in a new tab)Analytical Procedures and Methods Validation for Drugs and Biologics
- ICHICH Q1 stability testing(official source, opens in a new tab)Stability testing of drug substances and drug products
- FDA21 CFR Parts 600 to 680(official source, opens in a new tab)FDA standards for biological products, from licensing to lot release
- ICHICH Q7(official source, opens in a new tab)Good manufacturing practice for active pharmaceutical ingredients
- FDA21 CFR Part 11(official source, opens in a new tab)FDA rules for electronic records and electronic signatures
- EDQMEuropean Pharmacopoeia(official source, opens in a new tab)The Ph. Eur. quality standards for medicines in Europe, published by the EDQM
- ICHICH Q3 impurities(official source, opens in a new tab)Impurities in drug substances and products, residual solvents and elemental impurities
- FDAFDA aseptic processing guidance(official source, opens in a new tab)Sterile Drug Products Produced by Aseptic Processing: Current Good Manufacturing Practice
- ISOISO 14644-1(official source, opens in a new tab)Cleanroom air cleanliness classification by particle concentration
Company hiring pulse
Gilead on Regulatory Jobs
- 91
- Open roles
- 91
- Distinct roles
- 8
- Locations
By discipline
- Quality53 53%
- Clinical30 30%
- Regulatory17 17%
By level
- Director56 56%
- Manager18 18%
- Senior & Principal14 14%
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Associate Director, Quality Control at Gilead
Applications close December 31. $182K–$236K a year, employer provided.