Executive Medical Director, Global Medical Lead (Pain)

Director
CompanyVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US)
LocationBoston, MA
Category-
SeniorityDirector
Workplace-
Posted2026-09-22
Estimated salary$15K - $23K (a market estimate, not the employer's figure)
Viaworkday

Description

Job Description

General Summary

The Executive Medical Director, Global Medical Lead (GML), Pain is a critical leadership role in Global Medical,   responsible for the global medical strategy   and impl eme ntation   and tracking   of   global activities for   a designated   disease area(s) .   Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to,   disease   area   specific   Integrated   Medical Plan development,   including   the   publication plan,   global   launch strategy   and execution, scientific leadership, external medical expert engagement, and strategic   alignment   with commercial and other cross-functional business partners. This leader will also be critical in leading post-approval evidence generation strategy in the disease area. This leader reports directly to the VP, Global   Medical   and is a core member of the Global Medical leadership team.   They will lead the   global medical affairs team for the designated disease area(s ) and   represents   Medical Affairs in all Global strategic   teams   with   D evelopment and Commercial, including the Disease Strategy Team (DST)   to drive cross-functional alignment,   anticipate   future needs, and contribute to   Medical Affairs   and Vertex’s long-term success.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Medical Strategy

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Lead   the   development,   implementation,   execution, and communication of the   Integrated Medical Plans,   including   but not limited to   medical strategy,   global tactical plan,   publication ,   congress   and   post - approval evidence generation   plan ,   in collaboration with Clinical Development, HEOR, RWE, Medical Writing, and other internal stakeholders across Vertex

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Ensure alignment of medical strategy with organizational   objectives   by integrating individual   and disease area team goals   with Vertex and DST priorities,   and the goals of cross-functional partners

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Expertly   distills   insights   and actionable outcomes   that   inform   strategy and   drive the greatest impact for Medical Affairs

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Establishes and tracks medical KPIs that   demonstrate   impact on business and patient outcomes.

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Applies structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to   identify   solutions   and make decisions   that maximize medical and business impact

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Able to   identify   what is important and impactful to medical and the wider business ,   prioritize competing demands   a nd communication to key stakeholders

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Accountable   for development of the   global   DA budget, management of funds allocation, and associated tracking to ensure alignment with Medical Affairs priorities and   efficient resource allocation

Scientific Excellence

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Serve as product and disease area expert and primary contact point for all gl obal   disease area related issues with the external community and internally at Vertex

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Able to   lead   development of peer reviewed publications, congress   presentations   and evidence generation to shape clinical practice

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Closely follow medical developments within disease area and   disseminate   new information   to transform clinical trends and emerging data into new plans

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Lead the development of global scientific communications and materials including materials for global   led   symposia, advisory boards, and training.

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Accountable for medical review of assigned brand related con t ent   and global medical content aligned with Vertex SOPs

External Partnerships

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Represent Vertex at scientific and medical forums, including medical education forums, scientific societies, patient advocacy groups, and congresses.

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Accountable for engaging and cultivating relationships with leading global key thought leaders (TL) to gain greater understanding of the   disease   area, and insights into unmet patient needs

Medical Communication

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Tailors   communication   to stakeholder needs, building trust and understanding across diverse audiences.

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Deliver external presentations (advisory board meetings, symposia, other medical education meetings) to enhance the medical knowledge of pipeline and marketed products, as   required   and   in accordance with   relevant regulations and procedures

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Support disease area training across the company as   required

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Responsible for medical interpretation of data (clinical trials, registries, published literature, etc.) for   pipeline therapies and   marketed medicines

Regional   Medical   and Cross Functional   Collaboration

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Accountable for go to market model and medical partnership in commercialization   with global cross-functional colleagues. In   absence   of   regions   teams ,   country   go to market mode l   remains   the responsibility of   the GML.

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S upport regional Medical Affairs and Medical Excellence teams from   launch   through lifecycle via   timely   delivery of fit-for-purpose training and core materials.

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Responsible for driving alignment on medical content/messaging within the organization to ensure maximal   functional   and regional input.

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Medical Affairs   leader   on key global cross-functional product and development strategic focused teams ,   including DST and relevant   sub teams

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Effectively   represents   and communicates DST priorities to the medical function and proactively communicates and   represents   medical needs to DST

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Chair the Global Medical Area Team (GMAT) for the disease   area   and accountable for deliverables

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Provide strategic   Medical Affairs   leadership   on relevant commercial teams: Launch Team, and Global brand teams for product

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Represent   Medical Affairs in label discussions

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Support Access, Patient Advocacy, Policy, and Corporate Communications teams with medical/scientific   expertise   and materials review.

Evidence Generation and Access

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Leads strategy,   development   and execution of   Life Cycle Management   in partnership with HEOR , including   Integrated   Evidence Generation plan in close collaboration with   key internal stakeholders

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May act as medical monitor for studies falling under the Medical Affairs scope in collaboration with Clinical Development, Real World Evidence, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, and Clinical Operations

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Lead oversight and management of ISS programs, and in collaboration with Regional Medical leadership, conduct critical scientific and medical review of ISS protocols

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As applicable, lead Managed Access Committee for assets with a Managed Access Program (MAP); may act as a Medical Monitor for MAP

Team/People Management

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Provide strong leadership to   dedicated   disease area   medical   team, inspiring   and empowering   a dedicated medical team ,   and promoting a culture of continuous development.

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Accountable for the   r ecruitment, development, management and coaching the   global   medical team

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Leverages the capabilities and   expertise   of the team to ensure successful execution of medical plans

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Identifies   and addresses team skill gaps, considering how to accelerate internal talent or attract external to meet   needs   of a future-ready organization.

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Adheres to   formal   goal-setting ,   talent and performance cycles ensuring   individual development plans (IDPs)   are in place

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Navigates ambiguous or rapidly evolving situations, and   coach   the team during periods of uncertainty or change.

Compliance and Pharmacovigilance:

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Ensure compliance   of   medical activities a ccording to global and regional   guidelines and   in accordance with   Vertex   Code of Conduct, rules and regulations, company policies, SOPs, GCP and ICH

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Ensure self and othe r   medical   colleagues   have the required skills to   identify   and report AEs   appropriately

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Contribute to managing external communication when significant safety issues arise, with the wellbeing of patients being the   ultimate goal

Education and Experience:

  • MD, PhD, PharmD or other advanced life sciences degree require
  • Typically requires 15 ye