Senior Director, AI Acceleration (AIx)

The Senior Director of AIx (AI Accelerator) is a critical leadership role based in Foster City, CA within Team ARC (AI Research Center), part of the Clinical Data Science (CDS) organization in the Drug Development division led by the Chief Medical Officer. This position is responsible for driving innovation and delivering scalable, production-ready AI solutions to accelerate drug development, improve operational workflows, and create measurable business value. 

The Senior Director will oversee the AIx team, focusing on building cutting-edge capabilities, evaluating and integrating emerging technologies, and ensuring seamless collaboration with ARC’s other teams such as Product Management & Experiences (PMx), Business Delivery Excellence (BDx) and Enterprise AI & Governance Excellence (EAGx) as well as key stakeholders across Gilead. This role requires deep technical expertise, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to align AI initiatives with organizational goals. 

As the Senior Director of AIx, you will: 

• Define and execute the strategic vision and roadmap for AIx, ensuring alignment with ARC’s mission and Gilead’s enterprise objectives. 

• Lead the development, deployment, and scaling of AI capabilities tailored to clinical, operational, and enterprise needs. 

• Oversee technology assessments and the introduction of new tools and platforms to maintain Gilead’s competitive edge in AI. 

• Collaborate closely with PMx and BDx to ensure AIx capabilities are integrated into operational workflows and aligned with stakeholder needs. 

• Build and mentor a high-performing team of data scientists, engineers, and technical experts, fostering innovation and accountability. 

• Engage with cross-functional leaders to ensure AIx delivers measurable value, particularly in therapeutic areas, clinical studies, regulatory processes, and operational efficiency. 

Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership 

• Develop and communicate a cohesive strategy for AIx that aligns with Gilead’s priorities and industry trends. 

• Provide thought leadership on emerging AI/ML technologies and their potential impact on drug development and enterprise operations. 

• Define success metrics and monitor the impact of AIx initiatives on organizational goals. 

Capability Building and Innovation 

• Oversee the design, development, and deployment of AI models and platforms for clinical trials, safety, regulatory workflows, real-world evidence, and biomarkers. 

• Drive the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI), Large Language Models (LLMs), and advanced analytics to address complex business challenges. 

• Ensure scalability, reliability, and compliance of AI solutions through best practices in MLOps, CI/CD pipelines, and model monitoring. 

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement 

• Partner with IT, Privacy, and Drug Development Systems to integrate AI capabilities into enterprise workflows. 

• Work with therapeutic area leaders, regulatory teams, and operational stakeholders to align AI initiatives with their specific needs. 

• Collaborate with PMx to deliver user-centric AI products and solutions that enhance decision-making and operational performance. 

Team Leadership and Development 

• Lead a multidisciplinary team, ensuring alignment with AIx’s strategic objectives and fostering a collaborative culture. 

• Develop and mentor team members to build technical and leadership capabilities, ensuring a strong talent pipeline. 

• Allocate resources effectively to support the delivery of high-impact AI initiatives. 

Required Qualifications 

• Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree with 14+ years of experience, Master’s degree with 13+ years, or Ph.D. with 12+ years in Data Science, Computer Science, AI/ML, or related fields. 

• Proven track record of leading AI/ML strategies, teams, and large-scale projects in complex environments. 

• Technical Expertise: 

• Strong knowledge of AI/ML technologies, including Generative AI, LLMs, and advanced analytics. 

• Extensive experience with MLOps, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-based AI infrastructure (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure). 

• Hands-on experience in deploying AI models and tools in regulated environments, ensuring compliance and scalability. 

• Leadership and Business Acumen: 

• Demonstrated success in managing multidisciplinary teams and mentoring technical leaders. 

• Proven ability to align technical strategies with business goals and communicate complex concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders. 

• Strong track record of driving organizational change and delivering measurable outcomes through AI initiatives. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare industry, with knowledge of clinical trial processes and regulatory compliance. 

• Successful collaboration with academia, startups, or industry thought leaders to advance AI innovation. 

• Contributions to open-source AI/ML tools or peer-reviewed publications. 

• Expertise in integrating AI into operational workflows across therapeutic areas, regulatory functions, and enterprise systems. 

Key Skills for Success 

• Strategic Vision: Ability to define and execute a long-term strategy for AI adoption and innovation. 

• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of AI/ML technologies and their practical applications in drug development and enterprise operations. 

• Collaboration: Exceptional ability to foster alignment across technical and business domains, engaging diverse stakeholders. 

• Execution Excellence: Proven ability to manage complex projects, deliver high-impact solutions, and scale AI innovations effectively. 

• Communication: Outstanding ability to articulate technical strategies and influence senior leaders.