Associate Director, Public Affairs

Associate Director, Public Affairs – Canada 

Role Summary 

Reporting to the Head of Public Affairs Canada, this role is accountable for shaping and delivering Gilead’s public affairs strategy across Canada. 

The Associate Director leads integrated communications and stakeholder engagement —particularly in oncology—ensuring Gilead’s external engagement is credible, aligned and grounded in the needs of patients and the healthcare system. 

This role operates at the centre of cross-functional teams in Canada and collaborates closely with regional and global colleagues to drive impact, support access to innovation and strengthen Gilead’s reputation. 

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities 

Strategic Communications & Campaign Leadership 

• Leads the development and delivery of integrated public affairs and communications programs across priority therapy areas, with a focus on oncology and cell therapy 

• Designs and implements creative, patient-centric disease awareness and communication campaigns 

• Supports product launch communications (regulatory and reimbursement), ensuring alignment with brand and enterprise strategy 

• Translates complex scientific, clinical and policy topics into clear, credible and impactful narratives across channels 

Stakeholder & Patient Engagement 

• Builds and maintains strategic relationships with patient organisations, advocacy groups and key healthcare stakeholders 

• Leads patient advocacy initiatives and co-created, multi-channel engagement programmes 

• Represents Public Affairs within cross-functional brand teams and governance forums 

Media Relations & Issues Management 

• Leads proactive and reactive media engagement, building strong relationships with healthcare and national media 

• Oversees development of high-quality communications materials (e.g. press releases, leadership content, presentations) 

• Manages media enquiries and coordinates interviews with Gilead and external spokespeople 

• Leads issues management planning and response for complex or sensitive topics 

Policy & External Environment 

• Supports engagement with federal and provincial stakeholders to help shape the healthcare and access environment 

• Ensures external activities are aligned to broader policy priorities and grounded in patient need 

Cross-functional Leadership & Execution 

• Drives alignment across Medical, Market Access, Commercial and Government Affairs to ensure consistent messaging and coordinated delivery 

• Partners with regional and global teams to ensure alignment with corporate strategy and guidance 

• Leads agency engagement, providing strategic direction and ensuring high-quality execution 

• Manages multiple programmes, timelines and budgets to deliver against agreed objectives 

Governance, Compliance & Operational Excellence 

• Ensures all activities comply with Canadian regulations, internal policies and external codes 

• Applies strong understanding of communications requirements within a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company 

• Ensures consistency and quality across all external communications and engagement activities 

Knowledge, Experience & Capabilities 

Experience & Technical Expertise 

• 8+ years experience in public affairs, communications or government relations ideally  within pharma or healthcare 

• Experience in oncology or strong understanding of the oncology landscape in Canada 

• Strong experience in media relations and issues management, including knowledge of Canadian healthcare media environment 

• Experience developing and executing integrated, multi-channel communications and social media campaigns 

• Experience supporting product launches, including regulatory and reimbursement phases 

• Strong understanding of the Canadian healthcare, policy and access environment 

Skills & Capabilities 

• Ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling communications 

• Strong stakeholder engagement capability, particularly with patient organisations and advocacy groups 

• Strong project management skills, including managing multiple priorities, budgets and timelines 

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills 

• Confidence engaging senior leaders, external experts and high-profile stakeholders 

Leadership & Ways of Working 

• Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability for delivery 

• Collaborates effectively across functions and geographies to achieve shared outcomes 

• Exercises sound judgement in a complex and evolving external environment 

• Maintains strong external focus, understanding what matters for patients and the healthcare system 

• Delivers with pace, clarity and consistency 

Why this role 

This role offers the opportunity to play a leading role in shaping Gilead’s external engagement in Canada—particularly in oncology, where the environment is evolving rapidly. 

The Associate Director will contribute not only to effective communications, but to meaningful engagement that supports patients, strengthens the healthcare system and advances access to innovation.