Early Pipeline Forecasting & Process Associate Director

Job Description

The Associate Director of Early Pipeline Forecasting & Process will lead commercial forecasting efforts across multiple pre-clinical and early clinical programs, shaping Vertex's understanding of potential opportunities long before pivotal data becomes available. This individual will build structured, assumption-driven models, stress-test evolving inputs, and synthesize insights across scientific, clinical, competitive, and market research sources. They will collaborate closely with marketing science and external vendors to ensure primary and secondary market research is appropriately interpreted and incorporated into forecasts.

The role serves as a key voice across the broader Vertex portfolio-coordinating portfolio-wide analytics during the long-range planning (LRP) cycle, aligning assumptions across programs, and communicating insights to senior stakeholders and governance bodies. Additionally, the Associate Director will take ownership of establishing, maintaining, and evolving forecasting standards, processes, and best practices across the global forecasting team to ensure consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. They will also partner with Finance, Early Pipeline Strategy, and other cross-functional asset teams to support scenario planning, strategic framing, and investment decision-making. Success in this role requires strong analytical capabilities, excellent communication skills, and the ability to lead through influence in fast-moving, ambiguous early-development environments.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Early Asset Forecasting & Strategic Analytics

• Lead early-stage commercial forecasting efforts for pre-clinical and early clinical programs across multiple therapeutic areas.
• Develop structured, assumption-based demand models aligned with evolving scientific, clinical, and competitive information.
• Partner with GCS, R&D, and Finance to frame uncertainty, pressure-test assumptions, and ensure forecasts are aligned with corporate strategy.
• Translate early-stage insights into clear, concise presentations for asset teams, senior leadership, and governance forums.

Primary & Secondary Research Integration

• Collaborate closely with internal Marketing Science colleagues, primary market research vendors, and cross-functional partners to ensure research findings are appropriately interpreted, stress-tested, and incorporated into forecasts.
• Serve as the forecasting point-of-contact for interpreting quantitative and qualitative research-without needing to independently design or execute PMR studies.

Portfolio-Level Insight Leadership

• Act as a key voice across the entire Vertex portfolio, helping connect insights, trends, benchmarks, and strategic implications across assets.
• Coordinate and disseminate portfolio-wide analytics during the LRP cycle, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment across all programs.
• Partner with colleagues across Forecasting to maintain common standards, methods, and frameworks for assets at all lifecycle stages.

Forecasting Standards & Process Ownership

• Own the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of forecasting standards, tools, and processes for the global forecasting team.
• Ensure forecasting methodologies are consistent, efficient, and aligned across all therapeutic areas and lifecycle stages.
• Provide training, guidance, and resources to cross-functional teams to ensure the effective adoption of forecasting best practices.
• Help to audit and evolve our forecasting model across a product lifecycle to ensure forecasting is impactful and efficient

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated ability to build structured, assumption-driven models with limited or evolving data.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to connect early scientific and clinical signals to commercial opportunity.
• Experience interpreting primary and secondary market research and collaborating with Marketing Science and external vendors.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to influence without authority.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous early-development settings.
• Comfortable coordinating portfolio-wide analytics and ensuring alignment across cross-functional teams.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, quantitative, or business-related field required.
• Advanced degree preferred (MBA, MS, MPH, PharmD, PhD).
• 8+ years of experience in biopharma forecasting, commercial assessment, portfolio strategy, marketing science, or related analytics.
• Experience supporting early-stage or in-line forecasting, with an understanding of how insights evolve along the development pathway.
• Prior experience collaborating with R&D, clinical, and commercial teams to align on strategic assumptions.
• Exposure to portfolio planning, scenario modeling, or business case development is preferred.

Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

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.

#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