Senior Director, Biostatistics

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

Reporting to the Kite Head of Biometrics, the Senior Director of Biostatistics will play a leading role in contributing to short- and long-term Biostatistics strategies, product development plans, global submission plans, and infrastructure development that cut across all Development functions and workstreams. May be responsible for a team supporting multiple disease areas, a whole therapeutic area, or another significant area within Biometrics. Routinely consults with executives to help envision future direction and prioritize investment and other key strategic business decisions.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of functional leadership, strategic situational judgment in using both innovative and pragmatic statistical methods, as well as demonstrated motivation for and excellence in people management and development.

This position can be remote or may be office-based in Foster City, CA, El Segundo, CA, Thousand Oaks, CA, or Parsippany, NJ.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage, influence, and align stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Applies in-depth knowledge of the drug development process, with strong commitment to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), ICH guidelines, and regulatory requirements.
• Uses a strong understanding of regulatory requirements and statistical principles to ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and to support the achievement of scientific and business objectives.
• Exhibits strong leadership, critical thinking, and strategic acumen, translating complex scientific and business challenges into clear direction and actionable plans.
• Directs complex, multi-functional programs and initiatives, driving the integration, interpretation, and strategic use of data from diverse internal and external sources.
• Serves as a trusted advisor and key contributor to senior leadership, providing strategic input on departmental and enterprise-level initiatives.
• Develops deep subject-matter expertise within a therapeutic area, indication, or technical discipline, and is recognized as an enterprise-wide resource in that domain.
• Communicates scientific and statistical concepts with clarity and impact, leveraging a range of platforms to effectively influence both internal and external audiences.
• Collaborates extensively across Development and other functions to drive cross-functional alignment, decision-making, and execution.
• Influences outcomes by effectively engaging peers, cross-functional partners, and leadership, driving consensus and advancing strategic priorities.
• Oversees and directs a large, complex portfolio of programs and projects, potentially spanning multiple disease areas.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience with an MS/PhD or 14+ years with a BA/BS in biostatistics or a related field.

Qualifications

• 15+ years (MS) or 12+ years (PhD) of progressive industry experience in biostatistics, with a proven record of advancing the statistical analysis of biomedical data in complex development environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading Biostatistics strategy for product development in hematologic malignancies (including multiple myeloma) and solid tumors; in particular, for cellular and/or gene therapies.
• Demonstrated leadership relating to Regulatory submission strategy, including advisory committees or oral explanations.
• Expert-level knowledge of the Biostatistics field and its evolving landscape, including a track record of publications.
• Proven ability to define and operationalize short- and long-term Biostatistics strategies, driving impactful decisions across therapeutic areas and enterprise initiatives.

People Leader Accountabilities

• Create Inclusion: Know the business value of diverse teams, model inclusion, and embed the value of diversity in management practices.
• Develop Talent: Understand the skills, experience, aspirations, and potential of employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. Ensure employees receive the feedback and insight needed to grow and develop.
• Empower Teams: Connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and hold them accountable. Provide support to remove barriers and connect the team to the broader ecosystem.

Pay

The salary range for this position is:

• Bay Area: $261,375.00 - $338,250.00
• Other US Locations: $237,575.00 - $307,450.00

Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary.

Benefits

• This position may be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus and discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role).
• Paid time off.
• Company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

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