Category Lead Oncology & Rare Disease - Middle East

Pfizer Inc; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Pfizer Inc. in the Middle East seeks a strategic Category Lead for Oncology & Rare Disease to shape portfolio strategy, prioritise launches, and drive patient access across the region.

You will lead cross-functional teams across Commercial, Medical, Access & Value, Regulatory, and Public Affairs to deliver launch excellence and sustainable growth while strengthening category leadership and external engagement across markets.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of pharmaceutical/healthcare experience with substantial commercial leadership.
• Experience in Oncology, Rare Disease, or related portfolio preferred.
• Strong external orientation with ability to influence senior stakeholders across cultures and functions.

Responsibilities

• Translate ME Oncology & Rare Disease strategy into clear priorities for portfolio, brands, and markets.
• Lead end-to-end portfolio planning across in-line brands, new indications, and launches.
• Own category performance with clear direction on revenue, profitability, and resource deployment.
• Lead integrated launch readiness for new products and indications across Middle East markets.
• Define launch ambition, sequencing, and critical success factors; track milestones and governance.
• Develop lifecycle strategies to sustain growth and maximize portfolio value.
• Partner with Access, Value, Regulatory, Supply, Finance, and regional/global teams to align strategy and execution.

Skills

P&L management

Portfolio leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive presence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences/Pharmacy/Medicine/Business

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Job description

ROLE SUMMARY

The Category Lead Oncology & Rare Disease Middle East is a strategic member of the Middle East Leadership Team accountable for the portfolio s end-to-end strategy performance and long-term value across the cluster The role translates enterprise and regional priorities into differentiated portfolio launch and market strategies that balance near-term performance with sustainable growth and patient impact It sets clear priorities across in-line brands Growth Knots and breakthrough launches enabling disciplined investment resource allocation and execution across diverse Middle East healthcare systems Working across Commercial Medical Access and Value Regulatory Policy and Public Affairs Supply Finance Legal and Compliance as well as regional and global teams the role creates the conditions for launch excellence expanded patient access and sustainable portfolio growth It also builds a high-performing marketing organization and strengthens category leadership customer engagement and execution capabilities across the cluster

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES

1 CATEGORY STRATEGY and PORTFOLIO LEADERSHIP

Translate the Middle East Oncology and Rare Disease strategy into clear portfolio brand market and customer priorities aligned with the cluster operating plan and growth agenda Lead end-to-end portfolio planning across in-line brands new indications pipeline assets and future launches balancing current performance with long-term category value Shape differentiated strategies that reflect local disease burden clinical pathways diagnostic requirements patient needs access conditions and competitive dynamics Establish category governance operating rhythms and performance reviews that connect enterprise and regional strategy with market execution Make disciplined portfolio trade-offs and direct resources toward the highest-value opportunities for patients and the business

2 BUSINESS and P&L LEADERSHIP

Own category performance providing clear direction on revenue profitability market share investment and resource deployment Lead annual operating and long-range planning for the Oncology and Rare Disease portfolio ensuring robust assumptions scenarios risk assessment and growth choices Prioritize approved marketing and commercial investments across brands launches and markets reallocating resources to the highest-impact opportunities Monitor performance and intervene early when launch demand access supply or execution risks threaten category objectives Use performance data market intelligence and customer insights to accelerate decisions and strengthen execution

3 LAUNCH and LIFECYCLE EXCELLENCE

Lead integrated launch strategy and readiness for new products indications and presentations across Middle East markets Define launch ambition sequencing market archetypes customer strategy investment requirements and critical success factors Build integrated launch plans across Regulatory Medical Access and Value Policy and Public Affairs Supply Marketing Sales and customer engagement Track readiness and post-launch performance through clear milestones and governance accelerating decisions and removing execution barriers Optimize lifecycle strategies for in-line assets to sustain growth expand patient reach and maximize portfolio value

4 PATIENT JOURNEY DIAGNOSTICS and ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

Identify barriers across awareness diagnosis referral treatment initiation monitoring and continuity of care Translate patient and healthcare-system insights into compliant cross-functional priorities and solutions Sponsor initiatives that strengthen diagnostic pathways specialist networks and coordinated care Ensure category strategies reflect the needs of patients caregivers healthcare professionals and health-system stakeholders Define measurable outcomes for priority patient-journey and ecosystem initiatives

5 MARKET SHAPING and PATIENT ACCESS

Partner with Access and Value Medical Policy and Public Affairs and other functions to address pricing reimbursement diagnostic and system barriers Shape differentiated access strategies for Oncology and Rare Disease assets including high-unmet-need and specialized-care pathways Embed access assumptions payer insights and market-shaping priorities into portfolio launch and operating plans Sponsor priority external initiatives that enable timely and sustainable patient access within approved responsibilities Anticipate policy funding and healthcare-system changes translating them into portfolio risks and opportunities

6 CUSTOMER and EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDER LEADERSHIP

Maintain a strong external orientation and ensure customer patient and healthcare-system insights shape category strategy and execution Sponsor priority relationships with healthcare leaders institutions professional organizations and other relevant stakeholders within approved engagement responsibilities Represent the category with credibility scientific fluency and executive presence Coordinate external engagement across functions to ensure a consistent Pfizer position Protect Pfizer s reputation through responsible transparent and compliant engagement

7 CROSS-FUNCTIONAL and MARKET LEADERSHIP

Lead category teams across functions and markets clarifying accountabilities removing barriers and enabling coordinated patient-centered execution Partner with market and sales leaders to translate category strategy into executable local plans with clear ownership and performance expectations Align with Medical on evidence generation scientific engagement and education priorities that support portfolio and launch needs Collaborate with Access and Value Regulatory Supply and Finance to anticipate approval demand allocation access and investment risks Partner with regional and global category teams to ensure Middle East needs and opportunities are reflected in portfolio strategies and enterprise decisions

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Business or a related field; an MBA or equivalent advanced degree is preferred. At least 10 years of pharmaceutical or healthcare experience, including substantial commercial leadership responsibility. Demonstrated success leading complex portfolios, major launches and cross-functional teams in a matrix environment. Experience in Oncology, Rare Disease, Specialty Care or another complex specialty portfolio is strongly preferred. Strong commercial and financial acumen, including P&L management, forecasting, investment decisions and portfolio prioritization. Deep understanding of specialized clinical pathways, diagnostics, patient journeys and complex access environments. Proven people leadership, with direct accountability for talent development, succession and team performance. Ability to integrate Commercial, Medical, Access & Value, Regulatory, Supply, Finance, Legal, Compliance and regional or global perspectives into practical business decisions. Strong external orientation and the ability to convert customer, patient, competitor and health-system insights into action. Enterprise mindset and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across cultures, markets, functions and organizational levels. Excellent analytical, strategic, communication and executive-presentation skills. Fluent English is required; Arabic language capability is an advantage. Uncompromising standards of ethics, compliance, governance and responsible stakeholder engagement.