Associate Director, Global Pain Forecasting & Analytics

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US); Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 162,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Annual bonus

Equity awards

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US) is seeking an Associate Director for Global Pain Forecasting & Analytics to lead forecasting for the Pain portfolio. You will partner with Global Pain Marketing and Global Commercial Strategy to build and evolve forecasting models for long-range planning and near-term decisions.

The role requires 8+ years in biotech/pharma, advanced Excel modeling, and experience with Snowflake, Power BI, SQL, Python, SAS, and VBA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required.
• MBA, MS, or PhD preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in biotech/pharma in a quantitative discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, refinement, and evolution of global Pain forecast models across current and future assets.
• Support long-range planning and scenario planning through robust forecasting approaches.
• Develop and maintain operational forecasting models with data, signals, and evolving assumptions.
• Own and enhance forecast frameworks, model logic, data sources, and research-informed assumptions.
• Deliver high-quality forecast outputs with clear articulation of assumptions, risks, and uncertainties.
• Synthesize complex data into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Coordinate with Global Marketing, Global Commercial Strategy, Finance, and regional partners.
• Incorporate epidemiology, claims analysis, and competitive intelligence into forecast assumptions.

Skills

Forecast modeling

Analytical thinking

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Adaptability

AI tools awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

MBA, MS, or PhD preferred

Tools

Excel

Snowflake

Power BI

SQL

Python

SAS

VBA

Job description

Job Description General Summary The Associate Director, Global Pain Forecasting & Analytics will join the Global Forecasting & Analytics team within the Commercial organization to lead forecasting and analytics for Vertex’s global Pain portfolio, spanning current programs and future pipeline assets. This role will serve as a key partner to the Global Pain Marketing Lead and Global Commercial Strategy, leading the development and evolution of forecast models that support long-range planning, near-term operations, commercialization decisions, and cross-functional alignment across Pain disease areas. The Associate Director will build, maintain, and continuously evolve Vertex’s global Pain forecasting capabilities. This includes developing a deep understanding of the evolving Pain landscape and integrating clinical data, competitive intelligence, analog performance, key market drivers, and broader market dynamics into robust forecasting models. This individual will synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative inputs into actionable recommendations for senior leadership and support key decision-making across R&D, Marketing, Global Commercial Strategy, Finance, and other cross-functional partners. As a core member of the Global Commercial Brand Teams for Pain, this leader will maintain a pulse on critical business questions and help shape the analytical approach needed to support them. A strong preference will be given to candidates with prior in-line forecasting experience, ideally supporting marketed products, who can bring practical commercial perspective and operational discipline to the Global Forecasting team.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, refinement, and ongoing evolution of global Pain forecast models across current and future assets.
• Support long-range planning and ongoing scenario planning through robust and adaptable forecasting approaches.
• Develop and maintain operational forecasting models that incorporate new data, market signals, inventory trends, emerging insights, and evolving assumptions.
• Own and enhance forecast frameworks, model logic, analog selections, data sources, and research-informed assumptions.
• Deliver high-quality forecast outputs with clear articulation of assumptions, sensitivities, risks, and uncertainties.
• Serve as the primary forecasting partner to the Global Pain Marketing Lead and Global Commercial Strategy, providing objective perspective, commercial insight, and forecasting rigor.
• Synthesize complex data sets into clear, actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Incorporate epidemiology, claims analysis, analogs, qualitative insights, competitive intelligence, access dynamics, and broader market developments into forecast assumptions.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the evolving Pain market, including treatment dynamics, competitive shifts, and the broader market context in which Vertex’s assets will compete.
• Support analyses that help characterize demand, treatment flow, and potential movement of patients across existing therapies and future treatment options.
• Ensure key performance indicators can be clearly derived from forecast models and used to track and explain forecasted performance.
• Build forecast structures that enable transparent performance drivers, clear output interpretation, and effective scenario evaluation.
• Apply familiarity with relevant internal and external data sources to ensure forecasting assumptions are well supported and connected to the broader Pain data strategy.
• Partner cross-functionally with Global Marketing, Global Commercial Strategy, Global Pricing & Market Access, Finance, HEOR, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Commercial Strategy, and regional partners.
• Coordinate analytics alignment across functions to ensure consistency in forecasting assumptions and key drivers.
• Maintain strong communication with regional commercial partners to integrate market-specific insights into global forecasts.
• Partner with internal Marketing Science colleagues, Marketing, analytics stakeholders, and external research partners to help shape market research inputs relevant to forecasting needs.
• Ensure that primary market research insights are translated appropriately into forecasting assumptions, demand models, and strategic recommendations.
• Provide scenario analyses that inform portfolio prioritization, lifecycle planning, competitive preparedness, and potential launch readiness.
• Help ensure the Pain data strategy supports the insights and analytical needs required for commercialization planning and launch readiness.
• Ensure alignment between long-range planning assumptions and the latest insights from the evolving Pain landscape.

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep experience in forecast modeling approaches across all stages, including early clinical, launch, and in-line forecasting.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen, with the ability to structure ambiguous problems and connect insights to strategic implications.
• Experience partnering with senior leadership to support forecasting, scenario analysis, and commercial planning.
• Ability to adjust quickly to new information, evolving priorities, and emerging scientific or competitive signals.
• Strong understanding of primary market research design and the ability to incorporate those insights appropriately into forecast assumptions and model structure.
• Familiarity with a range of relevant data sources and the ability to connect those inputs to forecasting needs, business questions, and launch planning.
• Strong understanding of the broader biopharma commercialization process, including market access, positioning, unmet need assessment, and go-to-market strategy.
• Strong grasp of market dynamics and the ability to place Vertex’s Pain assets within the broader competitive and therapeutic landscape.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex analyses into compelling narratives.
• Demonstrated influence skills and ability to serve as a trusted advisor across functions.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and effectively structuring complex problems.
• Openness to leveraging new technologies, including generative and agentic AI tools, to enhance analytical workflows, improve efficiency, and support internal stakeholders.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Excel modeling.
• Familiarity with analytical tools such as Snowflake, Power BI, SQL, Python, SAS, and VBA.
• Familiarity and comfort with leveraging generative and agentic AI tools to enhance analytical workflows, improve efficiency, and support high-quality deliverables for internal stakeholders.

Education and Experience

• Advanced proficiency in Excel modeling.
• Familiarity with analytical tools such as Snowflake, Power BI, SQL, Python, SAS, and VBA.
• Familiarity and comfort with leveraging generative and agentic AI tools to enhance analytical workflows, improve efficiency, and support high-quality deliverables for internal stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required.
• MBA, MS, or PhD preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in biotech or pharmaceuticals in a quantitative discipline within Commercial, Global Commercial Strategy, Finance, Business Development, or Consulting.
• Experience supporting global assets strongly preferred.
• Prior in-line forecasting experience, ideally supporting marketed products, strongly preferred.
• Experience in Pain, neuroscience, or adjacent therapeutic areas is a plus, but not required.

Pay Range: $161,900 - $242,900 Disclosure Statement: The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law. At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations. From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

Flex Designation: Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible

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.
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.

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 [e-mail] Help Us Achieve Our Mission Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion‑dependent beta thalassemia, acute pain and acromegaly, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including IgA nephropathy, neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, primary membranous nephropathy, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, generalized myasthenia gravis, and myotonic dystrophy type 1. Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 16 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit www.vrtx.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X We believe our culture is one of Vertex’s greatest strengths and a key enabler of our ability to deliver transformative medicines for patients who need them. Rooted in innovation, purpose and collaboration, our culture empowers people to take smart risks, challenge conventional thinking and do their best work. The diversity of our people is central to that culture. By bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, we foster an environment where new ideas thrive, better decisions are made and breakthrough innovation is possible. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, included and connected to our shared mission, because we know that our unique culture and the collective strength of our people are what set Vertex apart.