Medical Affairs Lead

About the Role

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is seeking a Medical Affairs Lead for Kite Middle East, based in Riyadh. This full-time position involves building and overseeing strategies and tactics for Cell Therapy within the Kite Middle East Medical Affairs Department. The role provides strategic leadership for all Medical Affairs activities and focuses on developing and executing strategic initiatives in the Middle East. The Medical Affairs Lead will report to the Kite International Region Head of Medical Affairs.

Company Context

Kite operates at the forefront of immunotherapy and engineered T-cell therapy, with a primary goal of curing cancer. The company's approach involves reengineering a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer. This is a pivotal time for Kite, with multiple planned launches and evolving competitive dynamics globally, requiring adaptation within a fast-moving and innovative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide local medical expertise input into global product development for Kite.
• Represent the company to expert groups, medical professional groups, societies, and regulatory bodies at international and national scientific meetings.
• Develop and lead plans with national/Middle East region cooperative groups to identify gaps and specific national requirements/needs.
• Support the development of local complex clinical data through clinical trials and investigator studies.
• Support the development of Health Economic Outcome Research programs for the country.
• Contribute to the development of the Market Access strategy in coordination with Market Access, Regulatory Affairs, and the Business Unit Director, delivering the medical component of the plan.
• Manage the Middle East Medical Affairs function and oversee the Medical budget within a +/-5% variance.
• Develop and execute Medical pre-launch and post-launch plans.
• Provide Medical strategic direction and vision, collaborating with the Business Unit Director and Market Access Director.
• Participate in the International Region Medical Affairs Leadership Team and contribute to overall regional strategy.
• Engage in regular communication with the external medical community to stay informed on field issues and provide medical support.
• Foster scientific relationships with Thought Leaders (TLs), disease experts, and other healthcare providers (HCPs).
• Provide clinical/scientific presentations to internal and external groups and compliantly provide internal teams with feedback from HCP interactions.
• Support professional meetings, including staffing exhibits, reporting on scientific sessions, and facilitating meetings with TLs and HCPs.
• Adhere to corporate and healthcare compliance guidance in all activities.
• Maintain clinical, scientific, and technical expertise in hematology/oncology and the company’s therapeutic areas.
• Perform medical review at Promotional Review Committees and manage projects to completion.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience required: 5-10 years in a relevant field.
• Ability to engage in peer-to-peer scientific exchange of complex clinical and scientific information.
• Capability to establish and maintain long-term collaborative relationships with HCPs.
• Proficiency in responding to and documenting unsolicited requests for scientific information.
• Ability to provide clinical input and training to internal functions as requested.
• Experience in supporting content development and delivery of clinical presentations at Advisory Boards.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within the Medical Affairs team for Kite Middle East. The role involves working closely with other field-based employees and headquarters-based staff to address inquiries and support clinical trial sites.

Application Information

Salary for this position is not disclosed. Candidates meeting the qualifications are encouraged to apply.