Director, Commercial Data Strategy & Enablement

Vertex Pharmaceuticals · Boston · $192,000–$288,000 (stated in the posting)

Job Description

Company Overview

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. We are driven by a commitment to patients, scientific excellence, and an inclusive culture where talented people can do their best work. Our teams collaborate across disciplines to translate data, insights, and technology into meaningful business outcomes and improved patient experiences.

Role Summary

The Director, Commercial Data Strategy & Enablement will lead the strategy, governance, and enablement of commercial data assets, platforms, and capabilities across the organization. This role will partner closely with Commercial, Digital & Technology, Data & Analytics, Finance, Market Access, Patient Support, and external vendors to ensure high-quality, trusted, and accessible data supports strategic decision-making.

The successful candidate will define and execute a scalable commercial data roadmap; establish standards for data quality, governance, and adoption; and enable business teams to turn data into actionable insights. This leader will combine strong commercial acumen, data strategy expertise, and change-management capabilities to advance a data-driven culture across Vertex’s commercial organization.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and lead the enterprise commercial data strategy, aligning data investments and priorities with commercial objectives, brand strategies, and patient-focused outcomes.
Define a multi-year roadmap for commercial data capabilities, including data acquisition, integration, governance, analytics enablement, self-service access, and performance measurement.
Partner with Commercial leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to identify critical business questions, prioritize use cases, and translate needs into scalable data solutions.
Establish and oversee commercial data governance practices, including data ownership, stewardship, data quality standards, metadata management, privacy, access controls, and issue-resolution processes.
Lead initiatives to improve the availability, consistency, usability, and reliability of commercial data across domains such as customer, healthcare provider, payer, specialty pharmacy, patient services, field engagement, sales, and marketing.
Collaborate with Digital & Technology and Data & Analytics teams to design and implement modern data architecture, data products, reporting environments, and analytics capabilities.
Enable adoption of commercial data and analytics tools by developing training, communications, playbooks, and operating models that support business users and data stewards.
Establish key performance indicators to measure data quality, platform adoption, business value realization, operational efficiency, and maturity of data capabilities.
Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leaders, clearly communicating data strategy, risks, opportunities, and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of data strategy, governance, and enablement professionals.
Manage relationships with external data providers, technology partners, and consulting firms, including vendor selection, performance management, and contract-related collaboration.
Ensure commercial data practices align with applicable privacy, compliance, security, and pharmaceutical industry requirements.
Drive continuous improvement by monitoring evolving data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and commercial technology trends.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, analytics, data science, information systems, life sciences, or a related field.
Typically 10+ years of progressive experience in commercial data strategy, data management, analytics, digital transformation, or related disciplines.
Significant experience supporting commercial functions within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, or similarly regulated industry.
Demonstrated success developing and executing data strategies that improve decision-making, operational effectiveness, and measurable business outcomes.
Experience leading cross-functional, enterprise-scale data governance, data quality, and data enablement initiatives.
Strong understanding of commercial data domains, including sales, marketing, customer relationship management, market access, payer, patient support, and third-party healthcare data.
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders, build alignment across functions, and manage competing priorities in a complex organization.
Experience leading and developing teams, including direct reports and/or matrixed teams.
Excellent communication, executive presentation, strategic problem-solving, and change-management skills.
Ability to work effectively in a hybrid or on-site environment and collaborate with teams across locations.

Technical Skills Required

Commercial data strategy and roadmap development
Data governance, stewardship, and operating-model design
Data quality management, profiling, monitoring, and remediation
Master data management and reference data management
Data catalog, metadata management, and data lineage concepts
Data architecture, data integration, and data product principles
Cloud-based data and analytics platforms
Business intelligence, dashboarding, and self-service analytics tools
Customer relationship management and commercial engagement platforms
Commercial data sources, including sales, claims, prescription, payer, provider, and patient-support data
Data privacy, security, access management, and compliance controls
KPI definition, performance measurement, and value realization
Agile delivery methodologies and product-management practices

Preferred Skills

Advanced degree in business administration, data science, analytics, information systems, or a related discipline.
Experience with pharmaceutical commercial platforms and data ecosystems, such as CRM, omnichannel engagement, field force effectiveness, market research, and real-world data solutions.
Experience with modern cloud data technologies, including data warehouses, lakehouses, APIs, and data integration tools.
Familiarity with data visualization and analytics tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms.
Knowledge of SQL, Python, or other analytical programming languages.
Experience enabling artificial intelligence or machine learning use cases within commercial operations.
Certifications in data management, cloud technologies, product management, project management, or agile methodologies.
Experience supporting product launches, indication expansions, or global commercial data transformation programs.

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:

$192,000 - $288,000

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.

#LI-Hybrid

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 ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com

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