Associate Director, Data Management, MDM Governance & AI Enablement

Overview

At Gilead, our pursuit of a healthier world for all people has yielded a cure for hepatitis C, revolutionary improvements in HIV treatment and prevention, as well as advancements in therapies for viral and inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. We set and achieve bold ambitions in our fight against the world's most devastating diseases, united in our commitment to confronting the largest public health challenges of our day and improving the lives of patients for generations to come.

As an Associate Director, Data Management, MDM Governance & AI Enablement at Gilead, you will join the US Commercial Data Strategy and Governance team in a unique opportunity for an experienced data management professional who combines strong business ownership of Master Data Management (MDM), data governance, and operational excellence with hands-on experience implementing or enabling AI-driven solutions within business environments. While expertise in data management, governance, and MDM is important, our priority is identifying a candidate who has successfully participated in, led, or supported AI initiatives and can bring practical AI knowledge into our organization. We are looking for someone who can help accelerate our AI journey and introduce innovative approaches to commercial data management and business operations.

Key Responsibilities

MDM Business Ownership

• Serve as the primary business owner for Master Data Management (MDM) capabilities and processes.
• Manage and prioritize the MDM backlog, roadmap, enhancements, and business requirements.
• Partner closely with IT, vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure successful delivery and adoption of MDM solutions.
• Drive data quality improvements, issue resolution, and continuous process optimization.
• Establish and maintain governance frameworks that support scalable and sustainable data management practices.

Data Management Leadership

• Lead business-facing data management activities across commercial data domains for one BU.
• Ensure data integrity, consistency, accessibility, and usability across key business processes.
• Support operational inquiries, issue management, and stakeholder engagement related to data management activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve data standards, processes, and controls.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders on data-related decisions and best practices.

Data Governance & Operational Excellence

• Develop and maintain data governance processes, policies, standards, and operating procedures.
• Facilitate governance forums, stakeholder reviews, and decision-making processes.
• Define and monitor KPIs, service metrics, and operational performance indicators.
• Drive process standardization, documentation, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and data stewardship across the organization.

AI Enablement & Digital Transformation

• Identify opportunities to leverage AI, machine learning, generative AI, automation, and advanced analytics within commercial data and business workflows.
• Partner with business, digital, analytics, and technology teams to evaluate, pilot, and scale AI-driven solutions.
• Translate business challenges into AI-enabled opportunities that improve efficiency, decision-making, and user experience.
• Assess emerging AI technologies and recommend practical applications aligned with business priorities.
• Serve as an internal advocate and subject matter resource for AI adoption and innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in data management, master data management, data governance, commercial operations, or related business functions.
• Demonstrated experience working on AI, machine learning, generative AI, intelligent automation, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience partnering with business and technology teams to implement AI-enabled solutions or process improvements.
• Strong understanding of data governance principles, data quality management, and business process ownership.
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and vendors.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across functions.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and Ten Years’ Experience OR Masters' Degree and Eight Years’ Experience OR PhD and Two Years’ Experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or life sciences industry experience.
• Experience serving as a business owner or product owner for MDM platforms or enterprise data initiatives.
• Exposure to AI use cases involving commercial operations, customer data, analytics, workflow automation, knowledge management, or decision support.
• Experience evaluating AI vendors, platforms, or proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Familiarity with data governance frameworks, data stewardship models, and enterprise data management practices.
• Experience working in Agile environments and managing business roadmaps and priorities.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is someone who has already been involved in meaningful AI implementation efforts—not simply someone who understands AI conceptually. We are looking for an individual who can bring practical experience from previous roles or organizations where they have helped identify, implement, pilot, or operationalize AI solutions that delivered measurable business value. At the same time, the successful candidate should possess a strong foundation in data management, governance, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership. While MDM and governance expertise are important, we view AI experience as the critical differentiator for this role.