Vertex – Market Access Strategy Postdoctoral Research Fellow

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University is hosting a two-year, experiential Pharmaceutical Industry Fellows program designed to advance lifelong learning for Pharm.D. graduates.

A Vertex Pharmaceuticals partner opportunity will place a North American Commercial—US Market Access Strategy fellow in Boston to gain hands-on experience with payer policy and access planning. Fellows will work with Northeastern faculty and industry partners on strategic projects, teaching, service, and scholarly activities while

Qualifications

• PharmD degree from ACPE-accredited institution.
• Eligible for pharmacist licensure in Massachusetts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build foundational knowledge of U.S. market access strategy and payer dynamics.
• Advance strategic projects strengthening launch and lifecycle market access planning.
• Identify partnerships and policy changes to enhance patient access and payer engagement.
• Gain exposure to regulatory and CMS policy environment and contracting considerations.
• Contribute to payer value propositions, access narratives, and strategic recommendations.
• Create educational materials communicating market access strategy to stakeholders.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Time management

Leadership

Independent work

Education

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Job description

About the Opportunity

Northeastern University Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowships Program is a two-year experiential program designed to advance lifelong learning and the education and training of Pharm.D. graduates. A key element of the program’s success is preparing Fellows to meet evolving workforce needs across various sectors of the pharmaceutical industry. Fellows have the opportunity to work closely with our innovative biopharmaceutical industry partners, while engaging with Northeastern University faculty in professional and career development, teaching, service, and scholarly activities. In partnership with Northeastern University, Vertex Pharmaceuticals is offering a two-year North American Commercial—US Market Access Strategy fellowship, based in Boston, MA.

About Vertex Pharmaceuticals

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 and acute pain, 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, 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.

Responsibilities US Market Access Strategy

• Build foundational knowledge of U.S. market access strategy, including how payer, policy, reimbursement, and stakeholder dynamics influence access planning across products
• Advance strategic and tactical projects that strengthen launch and lifecycle market access planning in key disease areas that may include Type 1 Diabetes, Pain, IgA Nephropathy, APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease, and Cystic Fibrosis
• Identify and explore innovative partnerships, market disruptors, and policy changes that may enhance compliant patient access and payer engagement
• Gain exposure to the regulatory and compliance environment, including CMS policies, state-specific regulations, and legal considerations surrounding access communications and contracting
• Contribute to the development of payer value propositions, access narratives, and strategic recommendations that support reimbursement, coverage optimization, and differentiated product positioning
• Create educational materials and resources that communicate market access strategy to internal and external stakeholders

Qualifications

• Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an ACPE-accredited institution
• Eligible for pharmacist licensure in the State of Massachusetts
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong time management and leadership abilities
• Ability to work independently and take initiative on a variety of projects at both the industry site and Northeastern

Preferred Candidate Traits:

• Demonstrated interest in US payer policy, market access strategy, and health economics
• Familiarity with the US healthcare system, including formulary decision‑making processes and the evolving payer landscape
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects with strategic focus and attention to detail
• Self-starter with a learning mindset, business acumen and agility to thrive in a fast‑paced, launch‑oriented environment

Position Type

Research

Additional Information

Northeastern University will not provide H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, or any other type of employment visa sponsorship for the successful applicant to this position, now or in the future. STEM OPT is not compatible for this position. The successful applicant must be able to maintain valid work authorization in the United States throughout the entire appointment without Northeastern University's sponsorship for a visa.

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 108S Expected Hiring Range: $60,315.00 - $85,192.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

About Northeastern University

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—including 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.