Commercial Strategy Director, Gulf Countries

at  Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Job Description
The Commercial Strategy Director is accountable for developing and implementing the commercial strategy and tactics for respective therapeutic area for the Gulf markets.
The incumbent is accountable for understanding the market landscape and Vertex’s position within the Gulf markets, leading the Commercial team and all business activities aligned with performance goals of the portfolio and tracking performance against those goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maximizes the commercial potential of Vertex assets, driving strong financial performance.
• Develops and implements the Gulf commercial strategy / operational plans in collaboration and alignment with the Vertex cross-functional team.
• Understands the overall business including business trends and Vertex corporate strategy and value drivers, leads the business and identifies profitable commercial opportunities to grow revenue and market share.
• Strong knowledge of the Gulf markets economic and industry trends and uses appropriate information to maximize opportunities and minimize risk exposure.
• Maintains an awareness of external factors (including competitors, government business initiatives, current and proposed legislation in relation to commercial activities).
• Establishes strong, effective and optimal working relationships with external bodies (incL. Thought leaders, ATCs, Payers, Government Audience, Patient Associations), to ensure that their needs are being met and that their business is retained.
• Takes responsibility and accountability to deliver against agreed commercial and strategic objectives. Ensures that all commercial activities meet or improve on budget, revenue, cost, volume, and efficiency targets (Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)) in line with business objectives.
• Reviews and assesses the potential to develop strategic partnerships with key stakeholders (local payers, hematology centers, HCPs, etc)
• Contributes to accurate budgeting and forecasting.
• Generates and consolidates relevant market insights across HCPs and patient stakeholders to inform brand planning and ensure Vertex addresses external customer needs.
• Collaborates with internal cross-functional stakeholders to drive execution and operational excellence. Ensures that customer needs are met and that customer requirements are fully communicated throughout the business.
• Represents the company externally e.g., at networking events, conferences, and exhibitions to enhance and strengthen the company’s profile and optimize all business development opportunities.
• Tracks compliance of commercial activities to the Vertex code of conduct, SOPs and all applicable laws and regulations

Required Education Level

• Bachelor’s degree plus
• Business School degree/ MBA

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years in Biotech/ Pharma experience with 5 years of commercial leadership.
• 5 years of specialty or rare disease in both sales and marketing capabilities.

Required Knowledge/Skills:

• Strong leadership skills and significant experience in pharma industry dealing with specialty and/or rare diseases.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement commercial strategy, makes strategic recommendations, and monitor performance.
• Broad and in-depth understanding of Gulf markets opportunities and challenges relative to the pharma/biotechnology industry.
• Good understanding of hematology clinical landscape and the business of CGT across Gulf markets.
• Results driven, customer focused, flexible mindset with willingness to accept stretch targets. Takes personal accountability and is passionate for achieving high levels of excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to act as change catalyst and demonstrated ability to deliver results that meet high quality requirements with tight timelines.
• Demonstrated track record of success in launching and commercializing highly visible strategic product(s) with high integrity.
• Deep expertise in implementing impactful plans and projects.
• Develops a systematic approach to monitor, measure and track business performance.
• Ability to coordinate and lead cross-functional members and work in a highly dynamic and fast-growing organization with demonstrated capability to be at ease in a matrix structure with ability to influence.
• Ability to build strong external relationships to enhance and strengthen the company’s profile.
• Ability to oversee generation of insights and apply those insights to business problems/opportunities and make strategic recommendations.
• Strong learning agility & expert negotiating and influencing skills.
• Numerate with strong financial, analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Excellent project management and presentation skills.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) at all levels and ability to influence at a senior level, both internally and externally.
• Ability to prioritize, demonstrating first class organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to work accurately in a busy and demanding environment.
• High level of accountability to drive actions, manage ambiguity and find consensus in a fast-paced environment
• Solid understanding of the compliance framework and rules and regulations across Gulf markets.
• Excellent command of oral and written English and Arabic.

Other Requirements

• Extensive travel in the region would be required
• Position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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.
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.co

• Maximizes the commercial potential of Vertex assets, driving strong financial performance.
• Develops and implements the Gulf commercial strategy / operational plans in collaboration and alignment with the Vertex cross-functional team.
• Understands the overall business including business trends and Vertex corporate strategy and value drivers, leads the business and identifies profitable commercial opportunities to grow revenue and market share.
• Strong knowledge of the Gulf markets economic and industry trends and uses appropriate information to maximize opportunities and minimize risk exposure.
• Maintains an awareness of external factors (including competitors, government business initiatives, current and proposed legislation in relation to commercial activities).
• Establishes strong, effective and optimal working relationships with external bodies (incL. Thought leaders, ATCs, Payers, Government Audience, Patient Associations), to ensure that their needs are being met and that their business is retained.
• Takes responsibility and accountability to deliver against agreed commercial and strategic objectives. Ensures that all commercial activities meet or improve on budget, revenue, cost, volume, and efficiency targets (Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)) in line with business objectives.
• Reviews and assesses the potential to develop strategic partnerships with key stakeholders (local payers, hematology centers, HCPs, etc)
• Contributes to accurate budgeting and forecasting.
• Generates and consolidates relevant market insights across HCPs and patient stakeholders to inform brand planning and ensure Vertex addresses external customer needs.
• Collaborates with internal cross-functional stakeholders to drive execution and operational excellence. Ensures that customer needs are met and that customer requirements are fully communicated throughout the business.
• Represents the company externally e.g., at networking events, conferences, and exhibitions to enhance and strengthen the company’s profile and optimize all business development opportunities.
• Tracks compliance of commercial activities to the Vertex code of conduct, SOPs and all applicable laws and regulation