Sr. Director Commercial Ops at Apnimed | Pre-Launch Pharma

Apnimed; Cambridge (MA); Remote; USD 270,000 - 294,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Generous time off

Flexible working environment

Job summary

Apnimed seeks a Sr. Director of Commercial Operations to build and scale the pre-launch commercial infrastructure in a remotely-capable role.

You will own territory design, call planning, roster management, customer data governance, and KPI/FCR standards with AI-driven insights guiding decisions. This high-impact leadership role requires 12+ years in biopharma commercial ops, a Bachelor’s degree (MBA preferred), and experience in KPI reporting, CRM data management, and field deployment models.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA/quantitative preferred
• 12+ years in progressive commercial operations, analytics or sales operations in biopharma
• Experience with KPI reporting, CRM data management, territory design, or call planning
• Familiarity with AI/predictive analytics in commercial planning is a plus

Responsibilities

• Direct field force sizing, deployment, and territory design for launch readiness
• Lead dynamic call planning and define triggers, prioritization, and cadence for stops
• Set standards for KPI and Field Contact Reporting, and govern data quality in CRM
• Partner across commercial org to align territory design and field-readiness with business operations
• Anticipate opportunities and market shifts before they appear in dashboards

Job description

Sr. Director Commercial Ops at Apnimed | Pre-Launch Pharma — Remote

This is a high-impact senior leadership role at a pre-commercialization biotech on the cusp of a potential product launch — a rare opportunity to build commercial infrastructure from the ground up rather than inherit legacy systems.

Compensation: At $270K–$294K base, this sits at or above market for Sr. Director-level Commercial Operations in biopharma. Industry benchmarks for this level typically range $230K–$280K at mid-sized biotechs, so Apnimed is offering a premium — likely reflecting the launch-readiness urgency and seniority expected.

Skills developed in this role are highly marketable:

• AI-augmented commercial planning and predictive analytics — a fast-growing demand area in pharma ops
• Pre-launch territory design and field force deployment — directly transferable to VP/SVP Commercial Ops roles
• CRM governance and data integrity at scale
• Cross-functional leadership ahead of a first-in-class product launch

Green flags: Boston Business Journal "Best Places to Work" recognition two years running, a genuinely virtual-first culture, and a novel mechanism of action product that could be a blockbuster in a massive OSA market.

Potential considerations: Apnimed is still pre-launch — AD109 is investigational. The role carries execution risk tied to trial outcomes and regulatory milestones. Candidates should weigh the equity/upside potential carefully against the inherent biotech pipeline risk.

For experienced pharma commercial ops professionals, this is an excellent platform role to gain VP-track experience at a high-visibility company.

Apnimed is a rapidly growing pharmaceutical company working to transform the treatment of sleep apnea based on a simple idea – patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could benefit from treatment with a safe and effective oral medication dosed once daily at bedtime. Our lead development program, AD109, targets the neurologic control of upper airway muscles to maintain an open airway during sleep. Apnimed is committed to innovation, as well as state-of-the‑art advancements in sleep medicine, which is leading to the development of a portfolio of novel pharmacologic therapies for sleep apnea and related disorders.

Recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in both 2024 and 2025, we are continuing to grow and build the foundational operations that enable our employees and our mission to thrive.

Summary:

The Sr. Director, Commercial Planning & Performance reports to the VP, Commercial Operations and is responsible for making Apnimed's commercial organization sharper and more effective every day, owning territory design, call planning, roster management, customer data, and field engagement measures, and setting the standards for KPI and Field Contact Reporting. The role increasingly uses AI to surface opportunities and anomalies and keep the data behind every field decision clean and current.

The successful candidate will also play a key role in anticipating opportunities, market changes, and emerging signals before they show up in a dashboard, partnering closely across the commercial organization to keep commercial execution on track. This is an exciting opportunity to ensure the field never has to wonder whether the numbers reflect their reality as Apnimed prepares for the potential commercialization of AD109, an investigational therapy, and to be at the forefront of a major paradigm shift in the treatment of sleep apnea.

The expected annual base salary range for this role is $270,000.00 to $294,000.00. Final compensation will depend on the selected candidate's level, education and relevant experience.

Key Job Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Direct field force sizing, deployment, and territory design, including the rules for mid-cycle realignment and launch readiness for territories, roster, targets, and call plans.
• Lead dynamic call planning, defining the triggers, prioritization logic, and cadence that keep call plans current. Translate commercial models into clear, actionable next steps for every stop.
• Set the direction and standards for KPI and Field Contact Reporting (FCR), defining what is measured and how performance trends, field objections, message adoption, and competitive signal are surfaced. FCR outputs are produced by Field Data Operations & Reporting on the FCR platform owned by Commercial Systems & Platforms.
• Provide territory potential and goal-setting methodology to Incentive Compensation & Recognition so goals reflect real opportunity.
• Set standards for roster management, customer data, field data governance, and crediting integrity in CRM.
• Build compliance guardrails into targeting and call plans, including no-see and opt-out lists, state restrictions, and HCP eligibility, in partnership with Compliance.
• Partner cross-functionally across the commercial organization to align territory design, call planning, and field-readiness efforts with how the rest of the business operates.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, quantitative field) preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive commercial operations, analytics, or sales operations experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with direct experience in KPI reporting, CRM data management, territory design, or call planning.
• Experience with territory design, call planning, or field deployment models for a specialty or CNS-related product preferred.
• Familiarity applying AI and predictive analytics tools (e.g., anomaly detection, next-best-action recommendations, data quality monitoring) to commercial planning functions.
• Familiarity with call intelligence or conversation analytics tools (e.g., call transcription, AI-assisted call summarization) a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to spot emerging field opportunities, market shifts, or risks before they become visible in standard reporting.
• Strong analytical rigor with the ability to translate data into clear, actionable narratives for executive audiences.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage simultaneous priorities and changing deadlines.
• Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint; experience with Adobe Acrobat Professional.
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous time off for vacation
• Flexible working environment
• Motivated and experienced team
• Winner of 2024 and 2025 Boston Business Journal Best Places to Work

Location and Other Information:

• Apnimed is a publicly licensed company based in Cambridge, MA; we are generally virtual and specific location within the US is not critical.
• We are a small growing company with an inclusive environment.
• Must be able to travel as necessary.
• Apnimed is an EEO employer committed to an exciting, diverse, and enriching work environment.
• Please visit us at www.apnimed.com to learn more about our work with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Is this role fully remote or is there an office requirement? Apnimed is described as "generally virtual" and states that a specific location within the US is not critical, making this effectively a remote role for US-based candidates. Some travel is required as needed.

What is the salary range for the Sr. Director, Commercial Planning & Performance? The expected annual base salary range is $270,000 to $294,000. Final compensation depends on the candidate's level, education, and relevant experience.

Is international remote work allowed for this position? No — the role is restricted to candidates located within the United States, as Apnimed specifies the position must be US-based.

What level of experience is required for this role? The role requires 12+ years of progressive commercial operations, analytics, or sales operations experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with direct experience in KPI reporting, CRM data management, territory design, or call planning.

What stage is AD109 — Apnimed's lead product — currently at? AD109 is described as an investigational therapy; Apnimed is preparing for its potential commercialization, meaning the product has not yet received regulatory approval.