Job Description

Director, Diagnostic Lead, AMKD

Vertex is seeking a strategic leader to join our US Kidney Business Unit to lead the execution of US commercial diagnostic initiatives to ensure rapid diagnosis, effective treatment, and improved patient outcomes for our APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) program.

This role leads the US diagnostic team for the AMKD program, which is preparing for potential commercialization of an investigational therapeutic being studied for the treatment of AMKD. This role will recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing diagnostics marketing team as well as a diagnostics liaison field team.

This role will have ownership over the existing APOL1 sponsored genetic testing program and will develop the diagnostic launch strategy and ensure execution of patient finding and launch activities. In addition, this role will require coordination across all internal stakeholders to ensure alignment in the best practice of diagnosis, as well as overseeing internal resources responsible for managing external relationships with our companion diagnostic partner.

We are seeking a candidate that has a strong track record in US commercial diagnostic roles, demonstrated success in building teams, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, innovation-focused environment. This role reports to the Senior Director, Marketing, AMKD.

Key Responsibilities

Diagnostic responsibilities: this role will be responsible for developing and driving the implementation of the US go-to-market model around diagnostics, inclusive of disease awareness and programs necessary to support increase in diagnosis

• Develops the diagnostic strategy by identifying current diagnostic roadblocks and solutions to drive earlier patient identification, diagnosis and testing
• Builds and leads diagnostic marketing team to create high impact diagnostic education/disease awareness materials that are aligned with the diagnostic disease awareness strategy, meet customer (professional and consumer) needs and are approved by the communications review committee
• Builds and leads diagnostic field team to execute on activities to increase diagnosis rate, in concert with other field teams (e.g. sales, MSL, external partner field teams)
• Develops and manages diagnostic programs, ensuring alignment with broader diagnostic go-to-market model and cost-effective approaches:
  • Manages APOL1 Sponsored Genetic Testing Program as well as companion diagnostics
  • Assesses potential benefit for additional solutions/programs, builds business cases and cross-functional alignment to
  • Ensures customers have appropriate tools to efficiently order tests as needed
  • Manages budget and external partners
  • Liaises with market access team to ensure test coverage as needed
• Develops and maintains expertise on diagnostic guidelines in the renal area and acts as subject matter expert to internal and external stakeholders
• Maintains a high degree of external focus with significant customer and field team engagement
• Participates in label drafting activities and provides inputs around diagnostic/CDX language
• Liaises with cross functional partners (medical affairs, patient advocacy, opinion leader programming) to ensure alignment and support for diagnostic priorities

Patient Finding Responsibilities: this role will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of appropriate patient finding processes in alignment with the diagnostic strategy

• Ensures alignment with cross-functional partners on HCP targeting strategies and integrated field teams (diagnostics, sales, medical, external diagnostic partners)
• Leads development of patient finding tools and solutions in collaboration with operational functions and legal/compliance
  • Leads development of predictive models or other solutions to identify HCPs managing at-risk patients requiring testing and ensures diagnostic field team outreach to facilitate prompt diagnosis
  • Leads development of data-driven dynamic HCP target lists/tools for the field team, aiming at highlighting HCPs managing recently diagnosed patients that may be candidates for therapy
  • Determines diagnostic data (claims/dx data) acquisition strategy and integration, ensuring the organization has access to relevant data to track the diagnostic journey
• Provides input into forecasting assumptions, both short term and long term, especially as it pertains to diagnostic and patient finding metrics.

Launch readiness and product strategy responsibilities: This role will be responsible for supporting launch readiness and product strategy activities across the organization, to ensure cohesive launch

• Supports brand lead to ensure aligned and cohesive go-to-market strategy, inclusive of disease awareness, market development, product strategy and value story
• Supports label drafting activities and contributes to product positioning, messaging and branding
• Ensures coordinated disease state education and diagnostic disease awareness strategy
• Ensures coordinated launch processes and operations, to ensure seamless execution

Additional responsibilities

• Manages teams and agency partners (as needed) to ensure deliverables are on budget and timely
• Manages diagnostic budget ensuring implementation of cost-effective and sustainable strategies
• Role models and instills a culture of compliance focused on ethics and integrity in all we do

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelors Degree
• 10+ year experience in diagnostics and /or biopharmaceutical industry
• Ability to travel 20%

Required Skills

• Proven track record in defining and executing launch and commercialization strategy of diagnostic(s) for a brand or portfolio of products
• Analytical mindset, with demonstrated ability to develop strategy, make strategic recommendations, monitor performance, understand ROI and allocate resources
• Understanding of drug/diagnostic development and commercialization processes including understanding of outcomes research /payer access
• Exceptional working knowledge of market forecasts and relationship of business drivers to revenue
• Exceptional working knowledge of MS Office applications, including PPT, Excel and Word
• Experience in pharmaceutical marketing, or closely related field(s) (e.g., pharmaceutical sales, ad agency, etc.)
• Experience managing teams and individual staff members, as well as leading cross-functional workstreams
• Proven track record in working across a matrixed organization to achieve success

Additional preferred skills/experiences:

• Kidney experience
• Specialty product marketing experience
• Companion diagnostic experience
• Sponsored genetic testing experience
• Global experience and understanding of regional diagnostic and health systems preferred
• Advanced degree (MBA, MT, MD, PharmD, Ph.D., RN, etc)

#LI-KW1

Pay Range:

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:

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.com