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About the Role

The Country Medical Director (CMD) UK & Ireland provides strategic, scientific, and operational leadership for the Medical Affairs organization across the UK and Ireland. As a member of the UK & Ireland Leadership Team, the CMD is accountable for developing and executing the Medical Affairs strategy, ensuring alignment with regional and global priorities while addressing the unique needs of the UK and Irish healthcare environments. The CMD serves as the senior medical and scientific leader for the affiliate, ensuring excellence in patient-centered medical activities, evidence generation, scientific exchange, grants governance, healthcare system engagement, and community partnerships. The CMD is accountable for maintaining the highest standards of medical integrity, compliance, and governance across all Medical Affairs activities.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop the UK & Ireland Medical Affairs organisation, including Therapeutic Area Medical Leads, Medical Managers, Medical Scientists and other Medical Affairs personnel.
Develop and execute a UK & Ireland Medical Affairs strategy aligned with global and regional therapeutic area priorities.
Serve as a key member of the UK & Ireland Leadership Team, contributing to affiliate business strategy and enterprise objectives.
Ensure Medical Affairs activities support optimal patient outcomes and healthcare system value across the UK and Ireland.
Provide strategic scientific leadership across all therapeutic areas.
Ensure high-quality, compliant scientific exchange with healthcare professionals, healthcare organisations and other stakeholders.
Oversee execution of local Medical Plans of Action and evidence-generation strategies.
Ensure delivery of timely, balanced and scientifically rigorous medical communications.
Lead affiliate participation in scientific congresses, advisory boards, educational programmes and expert engagements.
Establish and maintain relationships with national and regional key opinion leaders, scientific societies, clinical networks and healthcare institutions.
Provide executive oversight of all medical grants, sponsorships and educational funding activities.
Ensure robust governance, transparency and compliance for investigator-sponsored research, medical education grants and healthcare organisation funding.
Chair or oversee affiliate grants review processes and governance forums.
Ensure all grant decisions are based on documented medical and scientific need and comply with Gilead policies, ABPI Code requirements and applicable local regulations.
Monitor grant outcomes and ensure appropriate stewardship of Medical Affairs resources.
Lead Medical Affairs engagement with patient organisations, community-based organisations and advocacy groups.
Ensure meaningful incorporation of patient and community insights into medical strategy development.
Support partnerships that improve health equity, patient outcomes and access to innovation.
Establish trusted relationships with national and local community stakeholders, particularly within therapeutic areas where patient engagement is critical.
Ensure all community engagement activities are conducted in accordance with applicable governance and transparency requirements.
Maintain deep understanding of the NHS, HSE, devolved healthcare systems, integrated care systems (ICSs), NICE and other HTA bodies.
Provide medical leadership to support evidence generation and value demonstration relevant to UK and Irish healthcare decision-makers.
Ensure the Medical Affairs organisation contributes effectively to national healthcare priorities and system transformation initiatives.
Support scientific engagement with NHS leaders, healthcare decision-makers and clinical networks.
Ensure all Medical Affairs activities comply with Gilead policies, ABPI Code of Practice, IPHA Code, MHRA requirements, GMC guidance, UK Data Protection legislation and relevant local regulations.
Act as the senior medical governance leader for the affiliate.
Ensure effective management of audit, inspection and compliance readiness activities.
Promote a culture of integrity, transparency and ethical scientific engagement.
Support development and execution of local evidence generation plans.
Oversee investigator-sponsored research and collaborative research activities.
Ensure generation of clinically meaningful evidence that addresses national healthcare needs and informs patient care.
Collaborate with Clinical Development, Outcomes Research and Global Medical Affairs teams.
Recruit, develop and retain high-performing Medical Affairs talent.
Establish clear objectives, development plans and succession strategies.
Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-accountability culture.
Conduct performance management and talent development activities in alignment with Gilead expectations.
Partner effectively with Market Access, Commercial, Public Affairs, Government Affairs, Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Legal and Compliance.
Ensure Medical Affairs remains an independent scientific voice while contributing strategically to affiliate objectives.
Support launch excellence and lifecycle management initiatives through medical leadership.

Requirements

Medical degree (MBChB, MBBS or MD) and current or prior medical registration with an acknowledged medical regulatory authority.
Significant leadership experience within Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs.
Direct people leadership and organisational development experience.
Scientific engagement with external healthcare stakeholders.
Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
Demonstrated understanding of the UK and Ireland healthcare environments.
Experience operating within ABPI and/or IPHA regulatory frameworks.
Specialist clinical training and substantial clinical practice experience.
Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
Prior experience as a Country Medical Director, Therapeutic Area Head or comparable senior roles.
Experience leading grants governance, patient advocacy engagement and community partnership programmes.
Experience supporting launches and lifecycle management in highly specialised therapeutic areas.

Skills

Strategic Leadership
Medical and Scientific Leadership
Grants and Independent Medical Education Governance
Community and Patient Engagement
UK and Ireland Healthcare System Leadership
Compliance, Governance and Risk Management
Evidence Generation and Research
People Leadership
Cross-Functional Collaboration

Location

UK
London

Work Type

Hybrid
Onsite
Remote

Experience Level

Leadership
Senior

Education Level

Medical degree (MBChB, MBBS or MD)
Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine or equivalent postgraduate qualification

About the Company

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.

Equal Opportunity

It is the policy of Gilead Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively "Gilead" or the "Company") to recruit select and employ the most qualified persons available for positions throughout the Company. Except if otherwise provided by applicable law, all employment actions relating to issues such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, returns from layoffs, company-sponsored training, education assistance, social and recreational programs are administered on a non-discriminatory basis (i.e. without regard to protected characteristics or prohibited grounds, which may include an individual’s gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, veteran status, and age, unless such protection is prohibited by federal, state, municipal, provincial, local or other applicable laws). Gilead also prohibits discrimination based on any other characteristics protected by applicable laws.