Innovation & Business Transformation, Associate Director

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 154,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards benefits

Hybrid work option

On-site option

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is seeking an Associate Director, Innovation and Business Transformation to lead technology-enabled transformation initiatives across Medical Writing Science (MWS). You will translate prioritized business needs into executable solutions, drive workflow redesign, and define success measures while partnering with enterprise technology teams.

The role navigates ambiguity, manages dependencies, and ensures solutions deliver measurable outcomes through governance,

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, technology-enabled transformation, or related field
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Strong ability to translate complex needs into future-state processes, cases, and measurable success criteria
• Experience applying governance, responsible AI, risk, privacy, security, compliance, and human-oversight principles

Responsibilities

• Lead complex transformation initiatives from needs through solution definition, adoption, and optimization
• Lead current-state and future-state workflow redesign, identify pain points and opportunities to transform work
• Develop business cases, requirements, implementation approaches, and success measures
• Partner with MWS leaders and enterprise technology teams to validate workflows and advance practical solutions
• Evaluate options based on fit, usability, feasibility, risk, and business value
• Lead prototypes, pilots, UAT, and implementation activities maintaining alignment with business needs
• Facilitate decisions across stakeholders; manage risks, dependencies, and trade-offs
• Incorporate governance, responsible AI, risk, and compliance throughout initiatives
• Integrate readiness, change, training, and adoption into strategy and optimize based on outcomes

Skills

Business transformation

Digital innovation

AI enablement

Process improvement

Advanced analytics

Automation

Workflow transformation

Cross-functional leadership

Communication & influence

Risk and governance

Education

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

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

General Summary

The Associate Director, Innovation and Business Transformation leads complex technology-enabled transformation initiatives across Medical Writing Science (MWS), translating prioritized business needs into well-defined, executable solutions. The role leads workflow analysis and redesign, defines business requirements and success measures, evaluates solution approaches, and partners with MWS leaders and enterprise technology teams to advance initiatives from concept and experimentation through implementation, adoption, and optimization. The Associate Director navigates ambiguity and complex dependencies, facilitates business decisions, and ensures solutions address defined business needs and deliver measurable outcomes.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead individual complex transformation initiatives from prioritized business need through solution definition, implementation, adoption, and optimization.
• Lead current‑state assessment and future‑state workflow redesign, identifying pain points, user needs, controls, dependencies, and opportunities to simplify or transform ways of working.
• Develop business cases, business requirements, implementation approaches, decision criteria, and success measures for assigned initiatives.
• Partner with MWS leaders and enterprise technology teams to validate workflows, assess technical and business considerations, and advance fit‑for‑purpose solutions.
• Evaluate solution options and recommend approaches based on workflow fit, usability, feasibility, risk, sustainability, and expected business value.
• Lead prototypes, pilots, user acceptance testing, workflow validation, and implementation activities, ensuring business requirements and intended outcomes remain central throughout execution.
• Facilitate decisions and alignment across business, scientific, technology, change, and governance stakeholders; manage initiative‑level risks, dependencies, and trade‑offs.
• Apply established governance, responsible AI, risk, compliance, and human‑oversight requirements throughout solution evaluation and implementation.
• Integrate organizational readiness, change, training, and adoption into initiative strategy; evaluate performance against success measures and lead optimization based on outcomes and lessons learned.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong experience in business transformation, digital innovation, AI enablement, process improvement, advanced analytics, automation, or technology-enabled workflow transformation in a complex or regulated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business needs into future‑state processes, business cases, solution recommendations, implementation approaches, and measurable success criteria.
• 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 current‑state and future‑state process analysis, business requirements development, solution evaluation, prototypes, pilots, user acceptance testing, and implementation.
• Ability to assess technology capabilities and limitations from a business and user perspective and partner effectively with technical teams without serving as the technical solution owner.
• Experience applying governance, responsible AI, risk management, privacy, security, compliance, and human‑oversight principles to technology‑enabled initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity, evaluate alternatives, manage dependencies and risks, and facilitate effective decision‑making.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and influence skills, with demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional initiative teams and align stakeholders without direct authority.

Education and Experience

• 8 years of progressive experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, technology‑enabled transformation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, computer science, engineering, or equivalent discipline required; advanced degree preferred

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

$153,900 - $230,900

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. 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]