Director of US New Product Planning and Early Market Development

Job Description General Summary: We are seeking a Director, US New Product Planning, Early Market Development to partner closely with the Senior Director Director, US New Product Planning in preparing early pipeline assets for future US success. This role is ideal for a commercially minded, externally oriented leader who is energized by shaping markets well ahead of launch. The successful candidate will focus on early market development and engagement with emerging thought leaders, including both healthcare professional (HCP) stakeholders and patient advocacy / community leaders. This individual will help build the foundational understanding, relationships, and market readiness required to support future launch success in the US. This role also offers a unique opportunity to help build out a new Business Unit for the organization. By shaping the external landscape early, identifying key stakeholders, and informing how the organization engages the market over time, this individual will play an important role in establishing the building blocks of a future US business. Key Responsibilities Partner with the Senior Director, US New Product Planning to support US planning for early pipeline assetsHelp develop and execute early market shaping strategies for assets well in advance of launchIdentify, prioritize, and map key external stakeholders, including:emerging and established HCP thought leaderstreatment center influencersadvocacy leaderspatient community stakeholdersother disease-area opinion leaders relevant to market developmentSupport the design of thoughtful and compliant approaches to external engagement in partnership with medical, patient advocacy, and cross-functional teamsSynthesize external insights to inform:disease area opportunity assessmentpatient journey understandingbarriers to diagnosis and treatmenttreatment ecosystem dynamicsunmet need and market readiness considerationsHelp define early hypotheses around:market development needsstakeholder education opportunitiespatient finding challengesadvocacy landscape dynamicsfuture launch risks and enablersPartner with internal teams to ensure external insights are translated into implications for US asset strategy and launch planningSupport the development of planning materials, strategic recommendations, and leadership updatesContribute to cross-functional planning with medical, advocacy, market access, analytics, and global commercial colleaguesHelp maintain a structured view of stakeholder engagement opportunities, key learnings, and emerging market signals over timeContribute to the external and market-facing foundations of a new Business Unit Required Experience Experience in biotech or pharmaceutical commercial, new product planning, marketing, market development, field strategy, medical-commercial interface, or related rolesExperience supporting pipeline, pre-launch, or early commercial strategyDemonstrated interest or experience in early market development and external stakeholder engagementExperience working cross-functionally in a matrixed environmentStrong understanding of how external insights can inform strategy, planning, and launch preparationExperience in neurology, rare disease, or other complex specialty marketsStrong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize insights into clear recommendations Preferred Experience Experience engaging with or supporting strategy involving:HCP thought leadersadvocacy organizationspatient communitiesExperience in US commercial planning or new product planningExperience in specialty or rare disease categories with high unmet need and complex patient journeysExposure to global teams or cross-regional collaborationExperience helping shape stakeholder mapping, insight generation, or early market development plans Critical Capabilities Strategic curiosity — asks the right questions and looks around cornersExternal orientation — strong interest in understanding HCP, advocacy, and patient community perspectivesInsight generation — able to synthesize diverse inputs into actionable implicationsCross-functional collaboration — works effectively across commercial, medical, advocacy, and analytics teamsMarket development mindset — understands how markets are shaped well before launchExecution focus — able to turn ideas into concrete workplans and next stepsStrong judgment and professionalism — especially in navigating stakeholder interactions thoughtfully and compliantly Why This Role Stands Out This role offers the chance to work at the front end of pipeline strategy—where markets are still forming, assumptions are still being tested, and external insights can meaningfully influence future success. You Will Have The Opportunity To help shape how the organization prepares the US market for future launcheswork closely with senior commercial leadershipbuild broad exposure across strategy, external engagement, and cross-functional planningplay an important role in understanding the HCP and advocacy landscape earlycontribute to the build-out of a new Business Unit by helping establish the external relationships, market understanding, and strategic groundwork needed for long-term successgrow into a larger new product planning or launch strategy leadership role over time or follow the launch into the US BU Success in This Role Looks Like The organization has a sharper understanding of the early US market landscapeKey HCP and advocacy stakeholders are identified and appropriately understood earlyExternal insights are translated into practical recommendations for asset strategy and market developmentCross-functional teams are better informed about future launch risks, opportunities, and engagement prioritiesEarly market shaping efforts are more focused, proactive, and aligned to future US launch needsThe role contributes meaningfully to the early external build-out of a new Business Unit Pay Range $196,000 - $294,000 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: Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select 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.com