Associate Director, Project & Portfolio Management

We’re here for one reason – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. Join Kite to help shape the future of cancer therapies and medical science.

About the role

The Associate Director, Project & Portfolio Management will provide strategic leadership for project and portfolio management capabilities across Tech Ops. This role focuses on building, reshaping, and advancing a PPM Center of Excellence by defining fit-for-purpose methodology, standards, tools, templates, training, and adoption strategies that enable consistent and practical ways of working across cross-functional teams. The individual will design future-state PPM practices, improve portfolio visibility, and influence a dotted-line network of PPM representatives across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of project and portfolio management methodology, standards, and operating practices across Tech Ops.
• Build and scale a PPM Center of Excellence by creating practical tools, templates, playbooks, training, and guidance that teams can adopt and use effectively.
• Assess current PPM maturity across functions and identify the highest-value improvements to strengthen planning quality, execution discipline, portfolio visibility, and decision-making.
• Design future-state ways of working that create consistency while allowing flexibility for different initiative types, team needs, and business priorities.
• Drive adoption of new PPM practices through stakeholder engagement, change management, training, coaching, and practical implementation support.
• Influence and align a dotted-line network of PPM representatives and cross-functional partners in a matrixed environment, without direct people management authority.
• Partner with leaders and teams to translate complex PPM frameworks into clear, actionable guidance that supports business-relevant execution.
• Define and monitor portfolio metrics that measure process effectiveness, identify risks and trends, and highlight opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Foster a collaborative culture of accountability, learning, continuous improvement, and capability-building across Tech Ops.

Requirements

• PhD / Doctorate with 2+ years of relevant experience OR Master's Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience OR Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years of relevant experience OR High School Diploma/GED with 14+ years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience preferred, with a strong background in project management, portfolio management, PMO, PPM Center of Excellence, or operating model design.
• Biotech or pharma experience preferred, but not required if the candidate has strong PPM capability-building experience.
• Experience building, improving, or maturing PPM capabilities, not only managing project execution, timelines, or reporting.
• Demonstrated experience creating methodology, governance models, standards, frameworks, tools, templates, playbooks, training, and adoption plans.
• Strong ability to assess PPM maturity and identify practical, high-value improvements across teams or functions.
• Experience leading change in a matrixed environment, including driving adoption, managing stakeholder impact, and helping teams adjust to new ways of working.
• Strong influence without authority, with the ability to align cross-functional stakeholders and dotted-line partners around shared PPM practices.
• Ability to translate complex frameworks, processes, and portfolio insights into clear, practical guidance for leaders and teams.
• Experience defining portfolio visibility, metrics, and reporting that show process effectiveness, risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $177,905.00 - $230,230.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives, paid time off, and a benefits package.

Benefits

• Company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

For additional benefits information, visit: Gilead Careers - Compensation, Benefits and Wellbeing.