Country Medical Director, UK and Ireland

Country Medical Director, UK and Ireland

Gilead

London, United Kingdom

Job Description

The Country Medical Director (CMD) UK & Ireland provides strategic, scientific and operational leadership for the Medical Affairs organisation across the UK and Ireland. As a member of the UK & Ireland Leadership Team, the CMD is accountable for the development and execution of the Medical Affairs strategy, ensuring alignment with regional and global priorities while addressing the unique needs of the UK and Irish healthcare environments.

The CMD serves as the senior medical and scientific leader for the affiliate, ensuring excellence in patient-centred medical activities, evidence generation, scientific exchange, grants governance, healthcare system engagement and community partnerships.

The CMD is accountable for maintaining the highest standards of medical integrity, compliance and governance across all Medical Affairs activities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead and develop the UK & Ireland Medical Affairs organisation, including Therapeutic Area Medical Leads, Medical Managers, Medical Scientists and other Medical Affairs personnel.
• Develop and execute a UK & Ireland Medical Affairs strategy aligned with global and regional therapeutic area priorities.
• Serve as a key member of the UK & Ireland Leadership Team, contributing to affiliate business strategy and enterprise objectives.
• Ensure Medical Affairs activities support optimal patient outcomes and healthcare system value across the UK and Ireland.

Medical and Scientific Leadership

• Provide strategic scientific leadership across all therapeutic areas.
• Ensure high-quality, compliant scientific exchange with healthcare professionals, healthcare organisations and other stakeholders.
• Oversee execution of local Medical Plans of Action and evidence-generation strategies.
• Ensure delivery of timely, balanced and scientifically rigorous medical communications.
• Lead affiliate participation in scientific congresses, advisory boards, educational programmes and expert engagements.
• Establish and maintain relationships with national and regional key opinion leaders, scientific societies, clinical networks and healthcare institutions.

Grants and Independent Medical Education Governance

• Provide executive oversight of all medical grants, sponsorships and educational funding activities.
• Ensure robust governance, transparency and compliance for investigator-sponsored research, medical education grants and healthcare organisation funding.
• Chair or oversee affiliate grants review processes and governance forums.
• Ensure all grant decisions are based on documented medical and scientific need and comply with Gilead policies, ABPI Code requirements and applicable local regulations.
• Monitor grant outcomes and ensure appropriate stewardship of Medical Affairs resources.

Community and Patient Engagement

• Lead Medical Affairs engagement with patient organisations, community-based organisations and advocacy groups.
• Ensure meaningful incorporation of patient and community insights into medical strategy development.
  • Support partnerships that improve health equity, patient outcomes and access to innovation.
  • Establish trusted relationships with national and local community stakeholders, particularly within therapeutic areas where patient engagement is critical.
  • Ensure all community engagement activities are conducted in accordance with applicable governance and transparency requirements.

UK and Ireland Healthcare System Leadership

• Maintain deep understanding of the NHS, HSE, devolved healthcare systems, integrated care systems (ICSs), NICE and other HTA bodies.
• Provide medical leadership to support evidence generation and value demonstration relevant to UK and Irish healthcare decision-makers.
• Ensure the Medical Affairs organisation contributes effectively to national healthcare priorities and system transformation initiatives
• Support scientific engagement with NHS leaders, healthcare decision-makers and clinical networks.

Compliance, Governance and Risk Management

• Ensure all Medical Affairs activities comply with Gilead policies, ABPI Code of Practice, IPHA Code, MHRA requirements, GMC guidance, UK Data Protection legislation and relevant local regulations.
  • Act as the senior medical governance leader for the affiliate.
  • Ensure effective management of audit, inspection and compliance readiness activities.
  • Promote a culture of integrity, transparency and ethical scientific engagement.

Evidence Generation and Research

• Support development and execution of local evidence generation plans.
• Oversee investigator-sponsored research and collaborative research activities.
• Ensure generation of clinically meaningful evidence that addresses national healthcare needs and informs patient care.
• Collaborate with Clinical Development, Outcomes Research and Global Medical Affairs teams.
• People Leadership, Recruit, develop and retain high-performing Medical Affairs talent
• Establish clear objectives, development plans and succession strategies.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-accountability culture.
• Conduct performance management and talent development activities in alignment with Gilead expectations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner effectively with Market Access, Commercial, Public Affairs, Government Affairs, Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Legal and Compliance.
• Ensure Medical Affairs remains an independent scientific voice while contributing strategically to affiliate objectives.
• Support launch excellence and lifecycle management initiatives through medical leadership.

Education and Experience

Required

• Medical degree (MBChB, MBBS or MD) and current or prior medical registration with an acknowledged medical regulatory authority.
• Relevant professional experience, including:
• Significant leadership experience within Pharmaceutical Medical Affairs.
• Direct people leadership and organisational development experience.
• Scientific engagement with external healthcare stakeholders.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated understanding of the UK and Ireland healthcare environments.
• Experience operating within ABPland/or IPHA regulatory frameworks.

Preferred

• Specialist clinical training and substantial clinical practice experience.
• Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
• Prior experience as a Country Medical Director, Therapeutic Area Head or comparable senior roles
• Experience leading grants governance, patient advocacy engagement and community partnership programmes.
• Experience supporting launches and lifecycle management in highly specialised therapeutic areas.

Success Measures

• Delivery of affiliate Medical Affairs strategy and POA objectives.
• Excellence in medical governance and compliance.
• Effective grants oversight and transparent funding governance.
• Meaningful patient and community engagement outcomes.
• Development and retention of high-performing Medical Affairs teams.
• Strong scientific reputation with external stakeholders across the UK and Ireland.
• Successful integration of Medical Affairs within affiliate and global strategic priorities.