New · posted Oct 27
Gilead Sciences · Biotechnology
Director, Quality Risk Management
- 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 Director, Quality Risk Management (QRM) is an enterprise Quality leader responsible for defining, governing, and advancing the global strategy for Quality Risk Management across the organization. This role actively supports the Executive Director of Risk and Proactive Quality and has direct leadership accountability for the Quality Risk Management process across PDM.
This leader provides strategic direction and oversight to ensure that QRM principles, risk‑based thinking and proactive quality approaches are deeply embedded across the Pharmaceutical Quality System (PQS) and operations. The role is accountable for designing, implementing, and sustaining compliant, scalable, and efficient global processes that enable early risk identification, effective risk mitigation, and continuous improvement aligned with cGMP, ICH, and evolving global regulatory expectations.
As a member of the Extended Central Quality leadership team, the Director drives cultural transformation toward a systemic, proactive, and learning‑oriented quality organization, enabling robust decision‑making, operational excellence, and sustained regulatory compliance across a complex, multinational environment.
Leadership, Influence, and Stakeholder Engagement
• Develop and lead a global network of Risk Leads, Risk Facilitators, Subject Matter Experts, and risk practitioners through direct, matrix, and influence‑based leadership.
• Serve as a senior Quality representative in global governance forums, inspections, and regulatory interactions related to Quality Risk Management.
• Actively monitor internal and external signals, including audit outcomes, inspection findings, deviations, complaints, and emerging regulatory trends, to inform strategy and priorities.
• Sponsor and lead transformational initiatives that leverage QRM and Lean principles, digital enablement, and innovative practices to improve process effectiveness and efficiency.
Global Remit
• Enterprise‑wide accountability with responsibility spanning all global markets and operating regions
• Regular engagement across multiple countries and cultures
What you need
Essential
• BS/BA degree with 12+ years or MS/MA/PhD with 10+ years experience in pharmaceutical quality, manufacturing, or a related scientific discipline
• Deep subject matter expertise in Quality Risk Management, with demonstrated success implementing global risk programs
• Extensive experience working across multiple areas of Quality within a regulated pharmaceutical environment
• Proven ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels globally and lead through influence across complex, matrixed, multinational organizations
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder engagement capabilities
Desirable
• Experience leading large‑scale Quality or Operations transformation initiatives
• Expertise in Business Process Management, Lean, Six Sigma, or comparable continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience overseeing GxP IT systems and digital enablement of Quality processes
• Strong business acumen with the ability to analyze trends, assess risk, and build compelling business cases
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*.
What you'll do
Global Business Process Responsibilities and Governance
• Define and execute the global Quality Risk Management framework, with enterprise accountability for strategy, standards, performance, and continuous improvement, enabling early risk identification, mitigation, and prevention across operations and the supply chain.
• Design, own, and approve global standards, policies, procedures and training ensuring alignment with cGMP, ICH, and applicable regulatory expectations across all markets.
• Drive the evolution of organizational risk maturity, capability, and culture, embedding proactive approach to risk and risk‑based thinking into decision‑making at all levels and across GxP processes.
• Drive, implement and monitor QRM Master Plans and living Risk Assessment Portfolios across PDM.
• Ensure effective integration and alignment of Risk and Change Management processes across the PQS and related business processes.
• Ensure effective integration of Proactive HOP process and human‑centric risk mitigation approaches into quality and operational processes.
• Collaborate with the Medical Device and Combination Product (MDCP) team to support alignment and harmonization of the QRM and MDCP risk management frameworks, where applicable.
• Oversee the enterprise Quality Risk Register and development of the Operations Quality risk profile for senior leadership and management review forums.
• Ensure strong linkage and clear requirements between Quality Risk Management and broader enterprise and operational risk management frameworks.
• Serve as the Module Business Process Lead for the electronic QRM system (e.g., GVault Risk Module), with accountability for maintaining and enhancing its use across QRM activities.
• Ensure strong cross‑functional collaboration with Technical, Regulatory, Safety, and Operations partners to manage product, process, vendor and systems risks within GxP.
• Lead and actively contribute to QRM-related projects and initiatives, including process and system enhancements and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Define, implement and monitor metrics, KPIs and dashboards to assess the health and effectiveness of the QRM process.
• Partner with executive leadership, site heads and functional leaders to align QRM priorities with business objectives
Typical People Management Responsibility
• Senior leader of expert teams
• Direct and indirect management of global, cross‑functional teams
• Matrix leadership across sites, regions, and functions
Pay
$210,375 – $272,250 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 · October 28, 2026
Salary intelligence
How the pay compares
This role's midpoint is 15% above the US median for Quality Assurance roles at this level.
This roleEmployer provided
Director roles in California31 roles publishing pay
Director roles in the US107 roles publishing pay
| Annual base pay | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| This role | $210,375 | — | $272,250 |
| California (middle half) | $208,250 | $219,500 | $241,000 |
| All US (middle half) | $186,000 | $209,000 | $240,000 |
This role: Gilead Sciences's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Quality Assurance roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, October 28, 2026. Nothing is estimated.
Career trajectory
Where this role sits in Quality Assurance
The general path across 961 open Quality Assurance roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not Gilead's own promotion track.
Career resources on Quality Assurance
Skills DNA
What this role leans on
How many of the posting's 40 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.
- Collaboration and leadership22
- Quality systems and risk11
- GMP and compliance8
- Lab testing and methods1
- Documentation and SOPs1
- Investigations and CAPA1
Regulatory intelligence
The rules behind this role
Frameworks and standards this posting's work falls under, matched from its own words, each linked to the official source.
Company hiring pulse
Gilead on Regulatory Jobs
- 48
- Open roles
- 44
- Distinct roles
- 7
- Locations
By discipline
- Quality36 75%
- Regulatory12 25%
By level
- Director22 46%
- Manager11 23%
- Senior & Principal11 23%
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Director, Quality Risk Management at Gilead
Open until filled. $210K–$272K a year, employer provided.