Senior Director - US Medical Affairs - Nephrology

General Summary:

The Senior Director (non-MD) serves as a US Medical Affairs asset lead responsible for the strategic planning and execution of launch and lifecycle assets within the Vertex nephrology portfolio. This role provides scientific leadership and strategic direction across cross-functional teams, ensuring medical strategies are aligned with corporate objectives, patient needs, and the evolving US treatment landscape. The Senior Director is expected to build and lead a growing team of Medical Directors and Associate Medical Directors while serving as a trusted scientific partner to internal stakeholders and external thought leaders.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution, and ongoing refinement of the US Medical Affairs strategic and operational plan for assigned nephrology asset(s), from pre-launch through lifecycle management.
• Serve as the primary internal medical-scientific authority for the assigned asset, providing scientific interpretation of data (clinical trials, real-world evidence, published literature) and translating insights into actionable medical strategy.
• Cultivate and maintain trusted scientific relationships with US nephrology thought leaders, academic investigators, and key external experts to inform medical strategy and support evidence generation.
• Partner cross-functionally with Commercial, Market Access, HEOR, Regulatory, Clinical Development, and Corporate Communications to ensure aligned launch readiness and integrated execution in a matrix environment.
• Drive the design and execution of medical evidence generation initiatives (e.g., investigator-sponsored research, advisory boards, medical education programs) aligned with the asset strategy and US medical needs.
• Deliver and oversee the delivery of fair, balanced, and compliant scientific presentations and communications to healthcare professionals, payers, and other stakeholders.
• Provide strategic medical input into promotional and non-promotional material review (CRC/MLR), ensuring all claims are scientifically substantiated and compliant with Vertex policies and US regulations.
• Establish and track medical KPIs that demonstrate measurable impact on business outcomes and patient care; use scenario planning and market foresight to adapt strategies to a dynamic launch environment.
• Ensure all activities are executed in full compliance with Vertex policies, US laws and regulations, GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable codes of practice.

Required Education Level

• Terminal doctoral degree required (PhD, PharmD, MD, DO, or equivalent terminal scientific/clinical degree accepted).

Required Experience

• Requires 10 or more years of pharmaceutical/biotech Medical Affairs or related scientific experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory/people management experience leading medical or scientific teams.

Required Knowledge/Skills

• Strategic acumen with demonstrated ability to develop and execute medical launch strategies in the US market.
• High emotional intelligence (EQ) with a proven ability to build trusted relationships internally across functions and externally with thought leaders and academic experts.
• Demonstrated ability to drive execution and deliver results in a highly matrixed, cross-functional environment.
• Strong scientific knowledge of nephrology, immunology, or related therapeutic areas, including familiarity with the US treatment landscape, clinical trial design, and evidence generation.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to influence senior leadership, cross-functional partners, and external stakeholders.
• Capacity to critically analyze and interpret complex scientific data and translate it into medical strategy.
• Track record of planning, initiating, and completing high-impact projects within established timelines.
• Proactive, organized, and comfortable managing shifting priorities in a rapidly changing, pre-launch/launch environment.

Other Requirements

• Prior launch experience in nephrology, immunology, or rare disease strongly preferred.
• Experience managing and developing teams of Medical Directors and/or Associate Medical Directors is a plus.
• Nephrology-specific scientific expertise is preferred but not required; deep therapeutic area knowledge in a related immune-mediated or rare disease is acceptable.