Director, SAP Role Security & Compliance

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 fulfill their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

Director, SAP Role Security & Compliance

Job Description

The Director, SAP Role Security & Compliance leads the SAP-specific capabilities required to deliver and operate secure, compliant, and well-tested ERP solutions. Reporting within the SAP organization, this role owns execution across SAP security, testing, and compliance while partnering with enterprise control functions on policies, standards, and oversight.

This role is an onsite position located at our Foster City, CA headquarters or at our Raleigh, NC office. We do offer a hybrid environment with 3 days in the office and 2 days optional work from home (Monday & Friday).

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Business Partnership

• Own the strategy for SAP role security, testing, and compliance capabilities across the SAP ERP landscape.
• Establish the multi-year roadmap and investment priorities needed to strengthen SAP security, testing, compliance, and operational readiness.
• Partner across architecture, business, and delivery functions to align SAP security, testing, and compliance priorities with business objectives.
• Translate enterprise security, risk, and compliance requirements into SAP-specific standards, delivery practices, and operational controls.
• Define and track measures that demonstrate improved risk management, compliance, operational performance, and business value.

Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Ensure SAP role security, testing, and compliance commitments are met across projects, releases, and sustainment operations.
• Lead SAP role security operations, access governance, segregation-of-duties management, testing, and compliance execution across projects, releases, and sustainment operations.
• Oversee cross-functional teams and delivery partners to manage dependencies, resolve issues, and coordinate execution from design through production support.
• Oversee role security reviews, testing strategy, release readiness, audit support, remediation, and continuous improvement, coordinating with the validation function to meet applicable requirements.
• Ensure controls, documentation, evidence management, and operational metrics support regulatory requirements, corporate policies, and audit expectations.
• Drive standardization, automation, and process improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance, and operational maturity.

Leadership

• Lead the SAP Role Security & Compliance organization across project delivery and sustainment operations.
• Establish clear ownership, priorities, performance expectations, and execution discipline across internal teams and external partners.
• Build and develop accountable, customer-focused teams with expertise in SAP role security, SAP GRC collaboration, testing, compliance/validation, and audit support.

• Hold managed service providers, system integrators, and other delivery partners accountable for performance and outcomes.

• Influence senior business and IT leaders on roadmap priorities, investments, risk mitigation strategies, operating model decisions, and capability maturity.

• Provide senior leaders and governance forums with clear visibility into priorities, material risks, compliance status, operational performance, and required decisions.

Key Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive experience leading SAP security, testing, compliance, or related ERP capabilities in complex enterprise environments.

• Deep experience with SAP security, authorization concepts, access governance, privileged access management, segregation of duties, and SAP GRC solutions.

• Demonstrated experience leading SAP testing and release readiness in regulated environments and partnering with the validation function to meet applicable requirements.

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