Executive Director, Global Medical Lead - HEME

The Executive Director, Global Medical Lead (GML), HEME is a critical leadership role in Global Medical, responsible for the global medical strategy and implementation 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 Development 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.

Medical Strategy

• 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
• 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
• Expertly distills insights and actionable outcomes that inform strategy and drive the greatest impact for Medical Affairs
• Establishes and tracks medical KPIs that demonstrate impact on business and patient outcomes
• Applies structured problem‑solving and root cause analysis to identify solutions and make decisions that maximize medical and business impact
• Able to identify what is important and impactful to medical and the wider business, prioritize competing demands and communication to key stakeholders
• Accountable for development of the global disease area budget, management of funds allocation, and associated tracking to ensure alignment with Medical Affairs priorities and efficient resource allocation

Scientific Excellence

• Serve as product and disease area expert and primary contact point for all global disease area related issues with the external community and internally at Vertex
• Able to lead development of peer‑reviewed publications, congress presentations and evidence generation to shape clinical practice
• Closely follow medical developments within disease area and disseminate new information to transform clinical trends and emerging data into new plans
• Lead the development of global scientific communications and materials including materials for global‑led symposia, advisory boards, and training
• Accountable for medical review of assigned brand‑related content and global medical content aligned with Vertex SOPs

External Partnerships

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

• Tailors communication to stakeholder needs, building trust and understanding across diverse audiences
• 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
• Support disease area training across the company as required
• Responsible for medical interpretation of data (clinical trials, registries, published literature, etc.) for pipeline therapies and marketed medicines

Regional Medical and Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Accountable for go‑to‑market model and medical partnership in commercialization with global cross‑functional colleagues
• In absence of regional teams, country go‑to‑market model remains the responsibility of the GML
• Support regional Medical Affairs and Medical Excellence teams from launch through lifecycle via timely delivery of fit‑for‑purpose training and core materials
• Responsible for driving alignment on medical content/messaging within the organization to ensure maximal functional and regional input
• Medical Affairs leader on key global cross‑functional product and development strategic focused teams, including DST and relevant sub‑teams
• Effectively represents and communicates DST priorities to the medical function and proactively communicates and represents medical needs to DST
• Chair the Global Medical Area Team (GMAT) for the disease area and accountable for deliverables

Commercial & Enterprise Support

• Provide strategic Medical Affairs leadership on relevant commercial teams including Launch Team and Global Brand Teams
• Represent Medical Affairs in label discussions
• Support Access, Patient Advocacy, Policy, and Corporate Communications teams with medical/scientific expertise and materials review

Evidence Generation and Access

• Lead strategy, development, and execution of lifecycle management in partnership with HEOR, including Integrated Evidence Generation Plan
• May act as medical monitor for studies falling under Medical Affairs scope
• Lead oversight and management of ISS programs and scientific/medical review of protocols
• As applicable, lead Managed Access Committee and/or act as Medical Monitor for Managed Access Programs

Team / People Management

• Provide strong leadership to disease area medical team
• Accountable for recruitment, development, management, and coaching of the global medical team
• Leverage team capabilities to ensure execution of medical plans
• Identify and address skill gaps and future capability needs
• Ensure goal‑setting, performance cycles, and individual development plans
• Navigate ambiguity and coach teams through change

Compliance and Pharmacovigilance

• Ensure compliance with global and regional guidelines, Vertex Code of Conduct, SOPs, GCP, and ICH
• Ensure appropriate adverse event identification and reporting
• Contribute to external communication when significant safety issues arise

• MD, PhD, PharmD, or other advanced life sciences degree required
• Typically requires 15 years of experience and 7 years of supervisory/management experience
• 6+ years of leadership experience in Medical Affairs and/or Clinical Development
• 2+ years of industry experience in disease area