Job Description
Help Us Achieve Our Mission!
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific
innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious
diseases.
We bring together the brightest minds, investing in science and taking smart
risks, we go all in. For the lives we have changed and for those who are still
waiting, we will never stop fighting until we discover cures.
We have research and development sites and commercial offices around the
world, all dedicated to bringing the next transformative treatments to people
with serious diseases. Our headquarters are in Boston and London.
We are now investing and building operations in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(KSA) and have an exciting new opportunity for Country Manager Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia - Senior Director
The successful incumbent will be expected to achieve the operational
objectives for the launch preparation and timely execution of making Vertex
medicines available in KSA, with an initial focus on gene editing therapy for
the treatment of hemoglobinopathies.
The individual will be responsible for controlled management of Vertex local
expenditure to achieve operational objectives in KSA and secure market access
in collaboration with a local distributor partner with respect to
hemoglobinopathies as well as potential future therapeutic areas in KSA.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
* Overall responsibility for local operational planning, cross-functional leadership, and direct management of functions tasked with enabling availability of Vertex medicines in KSA (including market access)
* Work with Regional/Local Market functions including the Regulatory, Quality and Supply Chain International Leads to ensure infrastructure is in place to successfully make Vertex medicines available within KSA
* Overall responsibility for maintaining Vertex KSA operational infrastructure as needed to support uninterrupted supply and high service delivery standards required to meet demand for Vertex medicines in KSA
* Put in place and maintain systems and processes to ensure accurate and timely provision of technical information and assistance regarding Vertex products to the KSA distributor and to relevant third parties (including healthcare organisations, healthcare professionals and patients)
* Put in place and maintain systems and processes to ensure technical, supply and service delivery issues are avoided and the timely and effective resolution should any such issues arise
* Conduct local market analysis and technical product related research and provide reports of the same to Vertex Global and International headquarters
* Overall responsibility for the preparation and submission to the KSA Ministry of Investment of the annual summary of TSO activity
* Within the Technical and Scientific Office (TSO) lead with a strong vision, nurture a high-performance customer-focused, collaborative culture and hold people at all levels accountable for delivery of local operational objectives
* Drive operational and technical planning for hemoglobinopathies (including product launch activities) and be responsible for budgetary oversight and controlled management of Vertex expenditure to achieve operational objectives in KSA
* Work with Regional/Local Market Access Leads and International Health Economics group to develop local reimbursement strategy and secure access in KSA to Vertex's medicines in line with company expectations
* Create and maintain trust-based relationships with Key Thought Leaders (KTLs), policymakers, payors, patient advocacy groups, and regulators at senior levels to advance scientific priorities
* Lead the development and implementation of the Country Government Affairs plan in partnership with Regional/Local Government Affairs Lead; this individual will be the direct point of contact with key local policy makers
* Provide Vertex International/Global teams with local insight and market knowledge to facilitate International/Global management of the Vertex KSA partner distributor relationship (such partner distributor being responsible for commercial promotional and sales activities)
* Contribute to the organization's overall strategy and provide timely input to senior management on opportunities, challenges, and risks in the policy environment, and adjust country operational plans as needed
* Partner with and provide timely input and local market feedback to International/Global teams to ensure commercialization strategies take into account and support local needs and KSA market infrastructure (in collaboration with local distributor)
* Lead and manage solid line direct reports in market access, as well as dotted line reports in other functions such as Medical, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Quality for example
* Ensure appropriate leadership and development of the team: define clear objectives, allocate resources, monitor activities, allocate fair rewards, and provide developmental opportunities
* Role model the Vertex Values and ethical behavior with a constant concern to meet legal, ethical and social responsibility standards required by local laws and organizational culture
* Ensure that all activities are in line with the legal, ethical, and regulatory standards, as well as company policies and procedures
* Establish and maintain positive attitude, constructive communication and transparency within team and various internal stakeholders
* Identify and remove barriers to ensure corporate success
* Inform management on the state of the TSO and the status of the operations within the remit of the TSO
* Build and develop a high performing, fit for purpose cross-functional team to deliver the Vertex local operational requirements
* As a people manager within the organization, may have financial accountabilities and human resource responsibilities for assigned staff.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
* Experience in a formal country leadership position executing at a similar level in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries
* Experience with building and maintaining strong relationships with government stakeholders, payors, policymakers, agencies and patient associations, i.e. complex reimbursement processes and discussions
* Experience in setting up local KSA operations, working within a TSO and collaborating with a distributor partner
* Experience in leading and growing successful cross-functional teams in a global, matrix organization
* Experience with successful specialty medicine commercial launches in KSA (experience in Gene Therapy would be preferred)
* Have a deep understanding of the reimbursement mechanisms in KSA
* Ability to partner both internally and externally, working towards shared goals
* Fluency in written and oral English and Arabic is a requirement
* Experience working with global/regional teams in different functions, showcasing a track record of breadth in exposure and perspective
* Typically requires ‎12 years of experience in similar roles with at least ‎5 years of supervisory/management experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience
Education and motivation:
* Achievement oriented - motivated by driving towards achieving the impossible; not seeing it as an obstacle but 'a good place to start'
* Energized by revolutionizing care of a disease to build company infrastructure, service delivery and reputation to a high standard
* Personally engaging, desire to build and grow Vertex operations in KSA as an owner and the team as a talent developer
* Motivated by the opportunity to make an impact on patients; demonstrating persistence and an ability to manage breadth to move the local operations forward, ensure Vertex operations deliver to a high service standard and achieve patient access to Vertex medicines
* Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline
* Ability to travel approximately ‎40% both nationally and internationally

LI-DP1

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.
Please note that Vertex requires COVID-‎19 vaccination for all employees
working in the U.S. as a condition of employment at Vertex, subject to
medical, religious or other accommodations or exemptions required by law. We
believe this requirement is vital to keeping everyone at Vertex and in our
communities safe. This requirement applies to both existing and new employees
who may at any time work on-site at a Vertex facility or visit another
location on behalf of Vertex (e.g., conferences, customer visits, etc.),
including all remote employees. 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
[email protected].