Director, Innovation & Business Transformation

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated seeks a Director of Innovation and Business Transformation to lead technology-enabled transformation programs across Medical Writing Science, aligning business needs with AI, analytics, and digital solutions. The role requires strong governance, risk assessment, and change-management capabilities in a highly regulated setting.

You will orchestrate complex initiatives, manage dependencies, and drive adoption through established transformation lifecycles while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, computer science, engineering, or equivalent discipline required; advance degree preferred.
• 10 years of progressive experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, technology-enabled transformation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years of leadership experience building, leading, and developing teams and/or transformation capabilities in complex matrixed organizations.

Responsibilities

• Translate MWS transformation priorities into a coordinated slate of executable initiatives with clear outcomes, sequencing, resource requirements, decision pathways, and success measures.
• Direct the execution of complex and interconnected technology-enabled transformation initiatives across clinical regulatory document development, scientific and medical publications, knowledge management, data utilization, and related scientific workflows.
• Partner with MWS subject matter experts to integrate business needs, redesign workflows, establish future-state processes, and translate requirements for digital, AI, machine learning, analytics, automation, and emerging technology solutions.
• Oversee progression of initiatives through the established transformation lifecycle, ensuring appropriate rigor in analysis, experimentation, implementation, adoption, and transition to sustained operations.
• Ensure consistent application of established governance and responsible AI requirements across initiatives, including risk assessment, human oversight, documentation, and accountability.
• Identify and manage cross-initiative dependencies, execution risks, resource constraints, and trade-offs; resolve delivery challenges.
• Lead organizational readiness, change, and adoption activities to embed new capabilities into business processes, roles, standards, training, and ways of working.
• Monitor performance across transformation initiatives, address barriers to adoption and value realization, and provide execution insights to inform future priorities.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to cross-functional project teams, strengthening execution, collaboration, decision-making, and transformation capabilities.

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences, computer science, engineering, or equivalent discipline

10 years of progressive experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, technology-enabled transformation, or a related field

3 years of leadership experience building, leading, and developing teams and/or transformation capabilities in complex matrixed organizations

Job description

Job Description

General Summary:

The Director, Innovation and Business Transformation leads the execution across multiple highly complex and interconnected technology-enabled transformation initiatives within Medical Writing Science (MWS). The role translates established transformation priorities into a coordinated slate of initiatives, integrates business, solution, implementation, and adoption approaches, and aligns MWS leaders with enterprise technology partners. The Director manages cross-initiative dependencies, risks, resources, and trade-offs to ensure initiatives progress through the established transformation lifecycle and deliver sustainable business outcomes.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Translate MWS transformation priorities into a coordinated slate of executable initiatives with clear outcomes, sequencing, resource requirements, decision pathways, and success measures.
• Direct the execution of complex and interconnected technology-enabled transformation initiatives across clinical regulatory document development, scientific and medical publications, knowledge management, data utilization, and related scientific workflows.
• Partner with MWS subject matter experts to integrate business needs, redesign workflows, establish future-state processes, and translate requirements for digital, AI, machine learning, analytics, automation, and emerging technology solutions.
• Oversee progression of initiatives through the established transformation lifecycle, ensuring appropriate rigor in analysis, experimentation, implementation, adoption, and transition to sustained operations.
• Ensure consistent application of established governance and responsible AI requirements across initiatives, including risk assessment, human oversight, documentation, and accountability.
• Identify and manage cross-initiative dependencies, execution risks, resource constraints, and trade-offs; resolve delivery challenges.
• Lead organizational readiness, change, and adoption activities to embed new capabilities into business processes, roles, standards, training, and ways of working.
• Monitor performance across transformation initiatives, address barriers to adoption and value realization, and provide execution insights to inform future priorities.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and guidance to cross-functional project teams, strengthening execution, collaboration, decision-making, and transformation capabilities.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Significant experience leading business transformation, digital innovation, AI enablement, advanced analytics, process reinvention, or technology-enabled operating model change within a complex, regulated organization.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into coordinated transformation initiatives, integrated implementation approaches, and measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the life sciences environment and the application of AI, data, digital platforms, analytics, automation, and emerging technologies to scientific and operational workflows.
• Experience leading complex and interconnected initiatives involving business stakeholders, subject matter experts, and technology teams from opportunity assessment through implementation, adoption, and value realization.
• Ability to understand technical capabilities and constraints, evaluate business and user implications, and facilitate informed decisions without serving as the technical solution owner.
• Experience ensuring consistent application of governance, responsible AI, risk management, privacy, security, compliance, and human-oversight principles.
• Strong analytical and strategic judgment, including the ability to manage dependencies, risks, resource constraints, organizational readiness, and significant trade-offs.
• Proven matrix leadership, including aligning cross-functional teams, influencing without direct authority, coaching project contributors, and creating accountability for results.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and influence skills, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders, navigate ambiguity, resolve execution challenges, and communicate decisions, risks, and outcomes to senior leaders.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, computer science, engineering, or equivalent discipline required; advance degree preferred
• 10 years of progressive experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, technology-enabled transformation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years of leadership experience building, leading, and developing teams and/or transformation capabilities in complex matrixed organizations.
• At Vertex, we embrace continuous learning and encourage employees to stay informed on advances in AI, technology, automation, and industry trends. We seek talent who bring an external perspective, demonstrate curiosity and sound judgment, and thoughtfully adopt new capabilities that improve decision-making, drive innovation, increase efficiency, and help deliver better outcomes for patients.

Pay Range:

$186,400 - $279,600

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. 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.

#LI-Hybrid

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]