Global Distribution & Trade Strategy Leader

Rigel Pharmaceutical; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 215,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. seeks a Director of Distribution & Trade to lead the company’s distribution network, including 3PL providers, specialty distributors, and specialty pharmacies.

The role reports to the Executive Director, Patient Services & Distribution and oversees inventory planning to support commercial demand. The position requires strategic leadership, vendor negotiation, and cross‑functional collaboration to align distribution initiatives with corporate objectives and launches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical/biotech experience, with at least 5 years in trade, distribution, or channel strategy.
• Experience managing specialty pharmacies and distributors, 3PL, and rare/orphan oncology diseases.
• Strong background in contract negotiation, vendor management, and cross‑functional leadership.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Strong analytical and project management capabilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint).
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's trade and distribution strategy across commercial and pipeline products.
• Create scalable distribution models that support product launches and long‑term business growth.
• Partner with Commercial, Market Access, Patient Services, and other cross‑functional teams to align distribution initiatives with organizational objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with specialty pharmacies, specialty distributors, and 3PL partners.
• Lead contract negotiations and oversee ongoing agreements with external trading partners.
• Monitor partner performance to ensure compliance with SLAs and KPIs.
• Collaborate with Patient Services, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and Commercial Operations for efficient distribution processes.
• Oversee daily operational performance of external vendors and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Facilitate quarterly business reviews with internal leadership and external distribution partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Negotiation

Vendor management

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. seeks a Director of Distribution & Trade to lead the company’s distribution network, including 3PL providers, specialty distributors, and specialty pharmacies.

The role reports to the Executive Director, Patient Services & Distribution and oversees inventory planning to support commercial demand. The position requires strategic leadership, vendor negotiation, and cross‑functional collaboration to align distribution initiatives with corporate objectives and launches.