Associate Director, Trade Operations – Middle East & Russia

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

Role Purpose

The Associate Director, Trade Operations is responsible for leading the regional trade operations strategy across the Middle East and Russia, ensuring uninterrupted patient access through robust demand planning, supply chain governance, tender excellence, and strategic supply network management.

The role serves as the critical link between regional commercial teams and global supply chain functions, driving end-to-end planning, mitigating supply risks, optimizing inventory and distribution models, and enabling successful execution of government, institutional, and commercial procurement opportunities.

The incumbent will champion a series of supply chain transformation initiatives, strengthen operational resilience, and deliver sustainable business growth through cross-functional leadership, data-driven decision making, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Supply Planning & Demand Management

Lead the regional demand planning process across multiple markets, ensuring accurate, data-driven forecasts aligned with commercial objectives and market dynamics.

Drive integration of demand, supply, inventory, and financial considerations to optimize service levels, working capital, and product availability.

Oversee Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes, providing visibility of supply risks, constraints, and mitigation strategies.

Partner with global planning teams to ensure forecast alignment, supply continuity, and execution readiness.

Develop and maintain supply continuity and contingency plans to proactively manage market volatility, regulatory changes, and geopolitical risks.

Product Lifecycle Management & Launch Excellence

Lead operational readiness for new product launches, line extensions, market expansions, and product discontinuations.

Ensure effective coordination between commercial, regulatory, quality, supply chain, and market access teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Drive launch planning activities, including supply allocation, inventory strategies, market-specific requirements, and implementation timelines.

Support successful commercialization through seamless cross-functional execution and governance.

Global Supply Coordination & Supply Risk Management

Serve as the regional escalation lead for supply-related issues requiring global coordination and executive visibility.

Drive resolution of complex supply challenges by engaging planning, manufacturing, logistics, quality, and regulatory stakeholders.

Establish structured governance forums to monitor supply performance, identify emerging risks, and drive mitigation actions.

Lead decision-making processes during supply constraints, balancing patient needs, business priorities, and regulatory requirements.

Ensure effective communication of supply risks and mitigation plans to regional leadership and global partners.

Tender, Contracting & Market Access Operations

Lead end-to-end tender and RFQ management across Middle East and Russia markets.

Oversee opportunity assessment, demand validation, supply confirmation, bid coordination, contract execution, and performance monitoring.

Partner with Commercial, Market Access, Finance, and Pricing teams to ensure alignment between commercial strategy, supply commitments, and financial objectives.

Support business case development and strategic assessments for tender participation and institutional procurement opportunities.

Ensure compliance with internal governance standards and external procurement requirements.

Supply Chain Transformation & Strategic Initiatives

Lead strategic supply chain projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, market responsiveness, and customer service excellence.

Drive implementation of regional Trade Operations and Transformation projects, including implementing third-party logistics (3PL), secondary packaging operations, distribution optimization, and localization programs.

Lead deployment and adoption of global supply chain platforms and digital tools, including SAP implementation across the region.

Support network optimization, supplier engagement, and logistics transformation programs to improve scalability and operational resilience.

Provide strategic insights and recommendations to support long-term supply chain capability development.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Governance

Act as a trusted business partner across Commercial, Finance, Market Access, Regulatory, Quality, Legal, and Global Supply Chain functions.

Facilitate alignment between regional and global stakeholders on supply priorities, business objectives, and operational strategies.

Establish and maintain governance frameworks that ensure compliance, transparency, and accountability in planning and supply management processes.

Operational Excellence, Analytics & Continuous Improvement

Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on forecasting accuracy, inventory management, service levels, and operational efficiency.

Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess supply chain performance and identify improvement opportunities.

Champion the adoption of advanced analytics, reporting tools, and dashboards to support proactive decision making.

Ensure data integrity and consistency across planning, procurement, inventory, and supply management systems.

Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and operational excellence across the organization.

Key Stakeholders

Internal

Global Supply Chain & Manufacturing

Global Demand and Supply Planning

Commercial Leadership and Country Teams

Market Access & Government Affairs

Finance & Pricing

Regulatory Affairs

Quality Assurance

Legal & Compliance

Global Commercial Operations

External

Distributors and Strategic Partners

Government and Institutional Procurement Authorities

Third-Party Logistics Providers (3PLs)

Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs)

Packaging and Supply Chain Vendors

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Pharmacy, Life Sciences, or related field.

Advanced degree (MBA or Master's degree) preferred.

Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in supply chain, trade operations, demand planning, commercial operations, or related disciplines.

Experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or highly regulated industries.

Proven track record managing complex cross-functional and multi-country operations.

Strong experience in tender management, institutional procurement, supply planning, and inventory management.

Experience working within global matrix organizations.

Core Competencies

Leadership & Business Acumen

Strategic Thinking

Business Partnership

Decision Making Under Uncertainty

Change Leadership

Functional Expertise

Demand Forecasting & Supply Planning

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)

Supply Risk Management

Tender & Contract Management

Product Launch Excellence

Distribution & Logistics Operations, especially 3PL

Collaboration & Execution

Stakeholder Management

Cross-Functional Leadership

Negotiation & Influence

Problem Solving & Escalation Management

Project & Program Management

Analytics & Digital Capabilities

Data Analytics & Performance Management

Scenario Planning & Risk Assessment

ERP & Planning Systems (SAP preferred)

Business Intelligence & Dashboard Reporting

Preferred Qualifications

Experience managing operations across Middle East, or other emerging markets.

Hands-on experience with supply chain transformation – especially 3PL, supply network design, or localization initiatives.

Knowledge of pharmaceutical tendering and government procurement environments.

Experience leading SAP or other major ERP implementations.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.