Job Description
General Summary
The Senior Director or Director, GCS Early Pipeline and Business Development will serve as the global commercial lead for two priority pre-clinical diseases in the Vertex Sandbox. These diseases have been prioritized for potential advancement through internal research and external innovation. The role will build the deep commercial understanding required to guide research choices, evaluate future assets, and enable rapid, informed development decisions when a program is ready to enter the clinic.
This leader will represent Commercial on the early Disease Strategy Teams (eDSTs) for the assigned diseases and own the commercial opportunity assessment and disease strategy. The role will develop a detailed view of the market today and how it may evolve, translate the opportunity into market value by geography and patient segment, and build revenue forecasts for both the future asset and broader market. The goal is to establish a clear commercial north star and target product profile before asset-specific development decisions are made.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
•Serve as the global commercial lead and eDST Commercial representative for two assigned pre-clinical Sandbox diseases, owning the commercial assessment, disease strategy, and recommendations for advancement.
•Build a comprehensive understanding of each disease, including etiology and pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, patient heterogeneity, disease burden, unmet need, clinical practice, treatment guidelines, patient journey, and intervention points.
•Develop a rigorous view of the current and future market, including diagnosed and addressable populations, treatment rates, market evolution, future standards of care, competitive entry, pricing and access assumptions, and commercialization potential by geography and patient segment.
•Own market sizing, valuation, and forecasting for the assigned diseases, creating transparent bottom-up models that quantify the market today and in the future by geography and patient segment, translate the opportunity into market value, and forecast revenue for both the future asset and broader market.
•Lead primary market research with healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, payers, and other stakeholders, including qualitative and quantitative research, advisory boards, and expert engagement.
•Integrate insights from analytics, claims and other real-world data, competitive intelligence, epidemiology, market access, HEOR, scientific literature, and external experts into a fact-based commercial perspective.
•Define the commercial requirements for a successful product, including target populations, desired positioning, meaningful clinical outcomes, differentiation thresholds, evidence needs, formulation and administration considerations, and access requirements.
•Develop and maintain disease-level and asset-relevant target product profiles that provide a clear north star for Research and Development and can be rapidly applied when an internal or external asset is ready to advance.
•Actively engage in the eDSTs and partner with Research, External Innovation, Development, Medical, Regulatory, Value & Access, BI&A, Finance, and regional Commercial teams to shape disease priorities, research choices, translational plans, and development strategies.
•Provide the commercial perspective for Sandbox and early disease governance, clearly articulating market attractiveness, strategic fit, differentiation potential, risks, evidence gaps, and recommendations.
•Support evaluation of internal programs and external innovation opportunities within the assigned diseases, including commercial due diligence, scenario development, opportunity sizing, and investment implications.
•Establish and manage integrated learning agendas and workplans for each disease, sequencing the research and analysis needed to resolve the most important uncertainties before key decisions.
•Monitor changes in disease science, clinical practice, competitive pipelines, policy, access, and market dynamics and update the commercial assessment and TPP as the external environment evolves.
•Translate complex scientific, clinical, market, and financial information into clear executive recommendations and decision-ready materials.
•Manage external research and consulting partners while maintaining strong internal ownership of the strategic questions, assumptions, synthesis, and recommendations.
Knowledge and Skills
•Demonstrated experience developing commercial opportunity assessments for pre-clinical or early-development diseases or assets and translating findings into clear development or investment recommendations.
•Strong experience integrating primary market research, epidemiology, analytics, competitive intelligence, market access, and forecasting into a coherent view of market attractiveness and product requirements.
•Demonstrated ability to build detailed current and future market models, including patient-based forecasts, market evolution scenarios, pricing and access assumptions, and sensitivity analyses.
•Experience developing target product profiles and defining the clinical and evidence thresholds required for meaningful differentiation and commercial success.
•Ability to operate effectively before an asset or development plan is fully defined, creating structure from ambiguity and identifying the critical questions that must be resolved.
•Experience partnering with Research, External Innovation, Development, Medical, Regulatory, Value & Access, Finance, and insights and analytics teams in a global matrix.
•Demonstrated ability to operate at the intersection of science and commercial strategy, critically assess novel biology, mechanisms, translational evidence, and emerging treatment paradigms, and translate potential implications, opportunities, and risks into a clear commercial perspective.
•Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical rigor, business judgment, synthesis, executive communication, and ability to distinguish evidence, assumptions, and unresolved uncertainties.
•Proven ability to represent Commercial on early cross-functional disease teams, lead complex work across two disease assessments, influence without authority, and deliver high-quality recommendations under evolving priorities.
Education and Experience:
•M.D. or Ph.D. in a relevant scientific or medical discipline preferred.
•Formal commercial or business training, including an MBA, is valued but does not substitute for the required scientific or medical doctorate.
•Significant biopharmaceutical commercial experience in early pipeline strategy, new product planning, commercial assessment, portfolio strategy, business development, market research, forecasting, or related roles, combined with advanced scientific or medical training.
At Vertex, we embrace continuous learning and encourage employees to stay informed on advances in AI, technology, automation, and industry trends. We seek talent who bring an external perspective, demonstrate curiosity and sound judgment, and thoughtfully adopt new capabilities that improve decision-making, drive innovation, increase efficiency, and help deliver better outcomes for patients.
Pay Range:
$240,000 - $360,000
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