Director, HR Operational Excellence

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

As a Director, HR Operational Excellence at Gilead, you will...

Position Overview

The Director, HR Operational Excellence is responsible for leading HR's global operational transformation agenda. This leader partners across HR Shared Services, Centers of Excellence (COEs), HR Business Partners, and business stakeholders to redesign how HR work is delivered, scaled, optimized, and sustained.

Leading a team of Operational Excellence professionals, the Director will identify and execute high-impact opportunities that improve service delivery and employee experience, simplify processes and strengthen operating models. The role serves as a key advisor to HR leaders on service design, operational readiness, automation, and continuous improvement.

This leader combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution, bringing a strong process improvement mindset, exceptional change leadership skills, and a passion for driving measurable business outcomes through operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Lead HR Operational Transformation

• Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap to improve HR service delivery capabilities globally.
• Identify, lead and partner on strategic initiatives that simplify, standardize, and transform how HR services are delivered.
• Partner with senior HR leaders to address complex operational challenges and improve business outcomes.
• Serve as a thought partner on operating model design, service delivery strategy, and organizational effectiveness.

Drive Process Redesign and Optimization

• Lead end-to-end process redesign initiatives across the employee lifecycle and HR service ecosystem.
• Identify opportunities to reduce complexity, eliminate inefficiencies, and improve employee and manager experiences.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies to deliver measurable improvements.
• Establish best practices and standards for process documentation, governance, and sustainment.

Enable Digital HR and Automation

• Partner with HR Technology, Digital Experience, AI, and Shared Services teams to identify and prioritize opportunities for workflow automation, AI-enabled capabilities, digital self-service, and process digitization to modernize HR service delivery.
• Support adoption and scaling of new tools and capabilities across HR.

Improve Delivery Across the HR Operating Model

• Partner with COEs, HR Business Partners, Shared Services, and other HR teams to improve the delivery and operationalization of programs and services.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, workflows, handoffs, and decision rights across teams.
• Design scalable operating models that improve service quality, consistency, accountability, and execution.
• Develop governance routines, performance measures, and operational disciplines that enable sustainable results.

Lead Complex Work Transitions and Service Readiness

• Oversee intake, evaluation, prioritization, and execution of complex work transfers into HR service delivery organizations.
• Lead readiness assessments, transition planning, stabilization activities, and operational handoffs.
• Ensure new or changing work is successfully embedded into ongoing operations with clear ownership and performance measures.
• Mitigate operational risk during organizational, program, process, and service transitions.

Build HR Continuous Improvement Capability

• Create a culture of continuous improvement across HR.
• Coach HR leaders and teams on operational excellence principles and methodologies.
• Develop repeatable tools, frameworks, and approaches that strengthen problem-solving and improvement capabilities.
• Promote data-driven decision making and performance management practices.

Lead and Develop the HR Operational Excellence Team

• Lead and develop a team of Operational Excellence professionals responsible for global transformation initiatives.

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