Vice President, Commercial Operations

Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; California (MO); Remote; USD 288,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Crinetics Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Vice President, Commercial Operations to lead and execute the commercialization strategy for their first product launch. The VP will collaborate cross-functionally and utilize data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions, support operational excellence, and motivate a high-performing team in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Discretionary annual bonus

Stock options

ESPP

401k match

Top-notch health insurance

20 days of PTO

10 paid holidays

Winter company shutdown

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of related experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• At least 14 years of experience leading and developing teams.
• Experience with process development in an emerging/growing company environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of a clear framework of goals and tactics for commercial operations.
• Serve as a strategic Chief of Staff to the Chief Commercial Officer.
• Develop a high performing and diverse team.

Skills

Leadership

Data Analytics

Market Research

Project Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related business or analytical field

Master’s or advanced degree

Job description

Vice President, Commercial Operations page is loaded

Vice President, Commercial Operations

Apply remote type Remote locations Remote time type Full time posted on Posted 4 Days Ago job requisition id JR000420

Crinetics is a pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, developing much-needed therapies for people with endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. We were founded by a dedicated team of scientists with the simple belief that better therapies developed from rigorous innovation can lead to better lives. Our work continues to make a real difference in the lives of patients. We have a prolific discovery engine and a robust preclinical and clinical development pipeline. We are driven by science with a patient-centric and team-oriented culture. We are a dog friendly workplace. This is an exciting time to join Crinetics as we shape our organization into the world’s premier fully integrated endocrine company from discovery to patients. Join our team as we transform the lives of others.

Position Summary:
The Vice President, Commercial Operations plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing Crinetics Pharmaceuticals’ commercial launch strategy and reports to the Chief Commercial Officer as a strategic partner and member of the commercial leadership team. This individual will be responsible to continue the buildout and overall leadership of the Commercial Operations function, ensuring operational readiness to support the successful commercialization of Crinetics’ first product launch and future portfolio. This role is charged with working cross-functionally across Commercial, Sales, Marketing, Market Access, Medical Affairs, the Global Product Team, Information Technology, Finance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Compliance to design and implement foundational commercial infrastructure, systems, and processes. Key areas of responsibility include business analytics, market landscape assessments, sales forecasting and targeting, data strategy and management, vendor evaluation, CRM, incentive compensation, fleet, sales reimbursement, and eCommerce enablement.

As we prepare for our first product launch, the VP must thrive in a high-growth, fast-evolving environment were solving unforeseen challenges and navigating ambiguity are daily expectations. The ideal candidate is a solutions-oriented leader who can operate with agility, balancing strategic oversight with hands-on execution. As a strategic thought partner, the VP will drive alignment with brand strategy and contribute meaningfully to commercial planning, launch execution, and long-term growth strategies ensuring operational excellence, a patient-first focus, and scalable systems to support Crinetics’ evolving clinical and commercial pipeline.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:
These may include but are not limited to:

• Lead the implementation of a clear framework of goals and tactics that result in a first-in-class commercial operations organization; including Data Analytics, Market Research, Forecasting, Sales/Business operations, Commercial Systems and processes.

• Establish and maintain the analytics and operational infrastructure and processes for supporting the commercial business.

• Serve as a strategic Chief of Staff to the Chief Commercial Officer, supporting executive decision-making through the development of Board-level presentations, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, driving alignment on strategic priorities, and acting as a central point of communication and execution across the commercial organization.

• Develop a high performing and diverse team; attract, develop and retain talented individuals positioned to meet Crinetics’ commercial growth strategy.

• Utilize a data driven approach to provide insights to the Commercial Leadership Team in support of current business and future opportunities.

• Partners with marketing in developing metrics surrounding promotional activities and creates timely reports that provide insight into the effectiveness of promotional response analyses by brand and customer segments/channels.

• Works cross-functionally with internal stakeholders (Sales, Marketing, Business Operations, Patient Services, Market Access, Medical Affairs, and Executive Leadership) to achieve department and company objectives.

• Delivers projects on time, meeting budgets and quality standards.

Data Analytics

• Forecast modeling for Crinetics’ product(s) across indications including monthly/quarterly current estimate updates, annual forecast updates and long-term outlook (working with external forecasting consultants as needed).

• Acquire and analyze market data including claims data, product demand data (national and physician level) and channel inventory (3PL, wholesale/channel, retail, key accounts), payer data, and competitive data.

• Create an HCP targeting program using analytics and CRM system, including potential segmentation, to focus field force on appropriate customers.

• Establish a sustainable data infrastructure and analytics capabilities to provide regular product and market.

• Ensure competitive price tracking and analysis.

• Update trends and insights and meet the internal and external reporting needs of the company (Includes vendor selection and ongoing management of data aggregator).

• Partner with finance and commercial management team to ensure key business insights are incorporated into ongoing business planning/execution and regular reporting including monthly/quarterly business reviews and executive updates/meetings.

Market Research

• Ensure that critical insights are provided to therapeutic and brand leads to formulate strategies and global plans of action using forward-looking market research plans based on key business needs across therapeutic targets, stages of development, lifecycle management, and portfolio strategy.

• Provide strategic and technical guidance to the team with regards to methodologies and approach to ensure high-quality deliverables, efficiency, and applicability across the major regions.

• Lead various projects including but not limited to epidemiology, treatment flow, qualitative and quantitative demand/market share, segmentation, positioning/messaging, future treatment paradigms, etc.

Forecasting

• Oversee the design, development, and execution of global forecasting models for products to inform long-range planning for therapeutic areas and brands.

• Carries out base-case and scenario analysis to support decision making by Commercial, Corporate Strategy, R&D, Business Development, Finance, Manufacturing, and Executive leadership.

• Collaborate with internal partners to capture insights and translate into high quality forecasting.

Sales/Business Operations

• Establish key business operations vendors CRM system, data warehouse, secondary data vendors, promo material distribution, LMS (learning management system), meeting planning, primary market research, amongst other key systems

• Manage the analysis for size and structure of field force (sales/medical affairs), including ongoing optimization and territory mapping/alignment Project manage primary research (qualitative/quantitative) and secondary market landscape assessment for all promoted and future indications, collaborating with key stakeholders.

• Lead incentive compensation design and ongoing evaluation as well as sales activity reporting.

• Establish field force processes, e.g., support integration of CRM to expense systems, vehicle reimbursement, field force credentialing (where needed), required field policies and procedures (fleet, speaker bureau, expenses).

Systems/Processes

• Design, deploy, train, and maintain a field CRM system to capture field activity, physician demand/prescribing and market data, integrated MIRF reporting, and promotional material automation.

• Data warehouse management (dissemination to field force and sales activity reporting) and promotional material ordering system and supporting infrastructure (storage, distribution).

Leadership, Influence and Communication

• Lead, motivate, and inspire a team, maintaining an environment consistent with Crinetics’ guiding principles and core values.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to commercial team, therapeutic area leads, and other critical partners/stakeholders across the organization.

• Effectively tailor and present findings with clear strategic storylines appropriately to maximize relevance, understanding, and impact.

• Collaborate effectively with senior leaders across multiple functions and therapeutic areas, and influence as needed.

• Communicate complex dynamics/challenges in a clear and concise manner.

• Provide recommendations with objective and actionable insights to senior leaders. Navigate organizational complexity effectively in a professional manner.

• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in related business or analytical field.

• Minimum of 15 years of related experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.

• At least 14 years of experience leading, building, and developing teams.

• Experience in building-out business operations infrastructure to support product launch and commercialization through mature product life cycle.

• Experience in small/emerging biopharma as well as mature, full-scale biopharma organizations.

• Expertise in medical legal review of promotional materials and system to support appropriate infrastructure to manage the process and maintain compliance.

• Experience with procuring and analyzing third-party data to inform market understanding, monitoring competitive landscape, tracking product launch including market share and payer environment, physician targeting, and sales force effectiveness. Proven experience surveying and analyzing biotech/pharma market trends and best practices to enable forward looking plans.

• Experience with process development/project management in an emerging/growing company environment.

• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively across the organization including Sales, Market Access, Business Operations, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Clinical, Legal, Human Resources, and Compliance. Developed effective partnerships with regulatory, legal, compliance in all aspects of business operations.

• Strong people management skills, with a record of accomplishment of managing and building a complete business operations team.

• Demonstrated effectiveness working on multiple projects simultaneously.

• Demonstrated leadership focused on driving results and building successful team culture, a record of people management/development accomplishment, experience leading teams and cross-functional projects, and strong interpersonal, communications and presentation skills.

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative market research, revenue forecasting/market modeling, commercial and patient level data sets, and analytics, plus having a passion for simplifying complicated concepts through data and effective strategic storytelling.

• Group and project leadership (interaction with cross-functional partners, conflict resolution, and consensus-driving) and project management (planning, prioritization, objective setting, meeting management, and plan execution) with history of working and delivering on multiple projects simultaneously, with tight deadlines and changing priorities.

• Effective communication/influencing skills and executive presence.

• A genuine passion for analytics and insights with natural curiosity and interest in solving complex problems.

Preferred:

• A master’s or advanced degree preferred – would require a minimum of 13 years of related experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.

• A foundation of experience in endocrinology, building a business operations team from the ground up, working in nimble organizations and company first product launches, specialty pharmaceuticals or rare disease is desirable.

• Experience in management consulting preferred.

Decision-making and Autonomy
This role will have autonomy in making recommendations to the Franchise Head related to sales force structure, territory mapping, incentive and goals planning for the sales team along with cross functional alignment with other cross functional field leaders. This role would also have the autonomy to propose distributor network strategy in conjunction with the distribution management team.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:
Physical Activities: On a continuous basis, sit at desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 25 lbs. may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities.

Laboratory Activities (if applicable): Biology and chemical laboratory environment experience needed. Environmental health and safety requirements also apply.

Travel:
You may be required to travel for up to 50% of your time.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Crinetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion or similar philosophical beliefs, disability, marital and civil union status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

Vaccination requirement:
Following extensive monitoring, research, consideration of business implications, and advice from internal and external experts, Crinetics requires that all employees and contractors be fully vaccinated and have received the COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment. “Full vaccination” is defined as two weeks after both doses of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks since a single-dose vaccine has been administered. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or disability that prevents them from being vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

#LI-CR1

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is: $288,000 - $350,000.

In addition to your base pay, our total rewards program consists of a discretionary annual target bonus, stock options, ESPP, and 401k match. We also provide top-notch health insurance plans for employees (and their families) to include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance, 20 days of PTO, 10 paid holidays, and a winter company shutdown.