Senior Director, US New Product Planning

Job Description

General Summary:

We are seeking a Senior Director, US New Product Planning, to help shape the future of our pipeline and build the foundation for successful US launches. This is a highly visible leadership role for a strategic, commercially minded, and pragmatic leader who thrives at the intersection of asset strategy, US market planning, and enterprise capability building.

This role is ideal for someone who has worked in both the US business and on global teams, and who understands what it takes to succeed in the US market across functions, not just within a single discipline. The individual will represent the US perspective for early pipeline assets, including assets approximately 3 to 4 years from launch, and help ensure that strategic decisions made today translate into successful launches tomorrow.

Importantly, this role offers the opportunity to help build a new Business Unit for the organization. As the pipeline advances, this leader will help define the commercial foundation, capability needs, operating model, and resourcing approach required to establish a successful future US business.

Key Responsibilities

Represent the US commercial perspective on global asset teams for early pipeline assets, especially those approximately 3 to 4 years from launch

Lead development of US commercial strategy in partnership with global commercial, medical, market access, HEOR, analytics, operations, and finance

Translate asset strategy into a clear US launch blueprint, including: market development priorities

launch scenarios and key assumptions

capability requirements

organization design implications

field force and non-personal promotion considerations

budget and investment needs

Identify and frame key strategic choices related to: positioning

patient finding and market development

access and reimbursement readiness

evidence generation priorities

customer engagement model

patient services and support strategy

Develop milestone-based and scenario-based plans that prepare the organization for launch well before traditional pre-launch planning begins

Partner with cross-functional leaders to define the capabilities, talent, processes, and infrastructure needed for launch success

Assess organizational readiness and recommend how to build, buy, or borrow required capabilities

Provide strategic input on US commercialization models, including implications for specialty, institution-based, and buy-and-bill markets

Support governance and executive decision-making with clear recommendations, tradeoffs, and risk assessments

Help ensure a smooth transition from early planning into launch readiness and in-market execution

Help define the strategic and organizational foundations of a new Business Unit

Required Experience

Significant experience in biotech or pharmaceutical commercial strategy, new product planning, marketing, launch strategy, or related roles

Meaningful experience in both: US commercial/business roles

global or enterprise asset/team roles

Demonstrated success in new product planning, pre-launch strategy, or launch planning

Deep experience in neurology and/or rare disease

Strong understanding of US commercialization in complex specialty markets, including buy-and-bill dynamics and related access, site-of-care, and reimbursement considerations

Experience building or shaping resourcing plans, operating models, and capability roadmaps

Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead through a matrixed environment

Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration across commercial, medical, market access, analytics, operations, finance, and patient services

Preferred Experience

Experience in US commercial planning, brand leadership, or business leadership

Experience serving on a global asset team or in a global commercial strategy role

Experience in specialty markets and complex launch environments

Experience supporting assets from development through launch readiness

Experience with provider-administered therapies and commercialization models involving buy-and-bill

Critical Capabilities

Enterprise thinking, sees beyond function and understands the full set of enablers required for US launch success

US market insight, understands customer, access, evidence, reimbursement, and operational realities in the US

Cross-functional integration, connects perspectives across teams to create practical, aligned plans

Launch planning excellence, translates strategic choices into launch milestones, readiness plans, and execution requirements

Organizational and capability planning, defines what talent, structure, and capabilities will be needed over time

Executive communication, distills complexity into clear, compelling recommendations

Pragmatic decision-making, operates effectively under uncertainty and turns ambiguity into action

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a unique opportunity to influence some of the most important decisions in the pipeline, before launch planning is fully formed and while strategic choices can still shape outcomes.

You will have the chance to:

shape the future of the US business

influence asset strategy at an early stage

work across US and global leadership

define how the organization prepares for future launches

help build the foundation of a new Business Unit, including strategic priorities, capabilities, and organizational readiness

bring both strategic rigor and practical judgment to high-impact decisions

Success in This Role Looks Like

The US perspective is incorporated early and meaningfully into asset strategy

Strategic choices are translated into actionable US launch and capability plans

Leadership has clear visibility into risks, tradeoffs, and investment needs

The organization is better prepared for launch, earlier, more thoughtfully, and with greater alignment

Cross-functional teams are aligned around a practical path to US success

The role contributes meaningfully to the build-out of a new Business Unit

Pay Range:

$228,000 - $342,000

Disclosure Statement:

The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations.  From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

Flex Designation:

Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as:

1.    Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select

2.    On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

#LI-Hybrid

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com