Compliance Counsel, Director (Hybrid)

Job Description

Compliance Counsel, Director (Hybrid)

Why Join Us?

Vertex is a transformative biotechnology company that creates new possibilities in medicine to transform diseases and improve people's lives. The company currently has four approved drugs on the market that treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis. It has also developed a deep R&D pipeline, including candidates for pain, sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, and Type 1 diabetes.

Vertex is seeking an experienced Compliance professional to join its Office of Business Integrity & Ethics (OBIE) as Compliance Counsel supporting its business partnering and operations globally. OBIE is responsible for the development, implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of Vertex's Compliance program. This includes defining standards via policies and procedures, creating, and implementing training and communications, conducting auditing and monitoring and other assurance activities, facilitating internal reporting, discretely and professionally conducting compliance-related investigations, and keeping the CEO, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors informed on compliance matters. OBIE serves as the go-to experts for Vertex employees and external stakeholders on issues relating to Vertex's Compliance program and Code of Conduct globally.

The Compliance Counsel is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving the Compliance Program policy, procedure, and guidance infrastructure consistent with the growth and development of the company, evolving industry standards and codes, risk identification and mitigation strategies, and government enforcement priorities. The Compliance Counsel serves as the go-to expert on the company's Compliance infrastructure, leading operational and cross-functional projects across the Global organization and supporting OBIE key initiatives. The Compliance Counsel will also collaborate with the Training and Communications team and OBIE Business Partners on regular communications as well as substantive trainings on Compliance policies and procedures and support inquiries and investigations in collaboration with the Head of Assurance, and reporting results to the Compliance Officer and OBIE Committees.

This role supports and reports to the Head of Global Compliance Program Strategy & Management and works closely with OBIE colleagues globally to implement and continuously improve our Compliance program.The Compliance Counsel must have strong, demonstrated knowledge of pharmaceutical industry laws and regulations, including the Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and related international laws and codes, as well as experience working for biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies on these issues. Additionally, the Compliance Counsel will work collaboratively with colleagues in OBIE, Legal, and the business to drive a culture of ethics and integrity across Vertex's global organization.

If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, hands-on, and team-oriented environment where you can have a big impact on patients in need, their communities, and our organization, we'd love to speak with you!

Job Summary

• Have primary responsibility for maintaining and continuously improving our Global Compliance Program infrastructure, including annual reviews, gap analyses, curation, and maintenance plans.
• Draft and implement policies, procedures, and guidance addressing Compliance risk across the organization.
• Establish standards and implement procedures to ensure the Compliance program is effective and efficient.
• Support training and communications globally and provide ad hoc support to departmental and OBIE Business Partner initiatives and activities across functions and disease areas.
• Support inquiries and investigations in conjunction with the Assurance team, and report out findings to the Compliance Officer, OBIE Committees, and senior management.
• Flexibility to provide ad hoc support to Litigation and other Legal functions on a project or as-needed basis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive fact- and risk-based decision making.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships and collaborate frequently with Legal, Human Resources, Internal Audit, and colleagues in other functional areas globally.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge of current and emerging laws, regulations, codes, and recent enforcement actions globally to inform and educate business colleagues.
• Support continuous improvement of the Global Compliance program.

Qualifications, Professional Skills, and Preferred Experience

• 7-10 years of experience in healthcare compliance in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry or equivalent combination of law firm and in-house experience.
• Strong knowledge of laws, regulations, and codes relating to healthcare fraud and abuse and regulated pharmaceutical products, specifically anti-bribery/anti-corruption laws and pharmaceutical regulations and guidance.
• Ability to conduct complex inquiry and investigations discretely and professionally under time pressure.
• Demonstrated project leadership, management, and execution skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated commitment to compliance, ethics, and accountability.
• Flexibility to work in a fast paced and dynamic work environment with a strong work ethic and positive attitude.
• Ability to travel in support of Global Compliance Program
• Proficiency in MS Office (especially PowerPoint, Word, and Excel).
• Experience at a global biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.
• Law degree required.

Personal Attributes

• Consummate team player with excellent judgment and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate, present, and train effectively with all levels of management and employees, both in writing and verbally.
• Demonstrated project leadership, management, and execution skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated experience taking ownership of issues and providing timely, practical, and actionable guidance.
• Strong oral and written communication and influencing skills and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally proactively and pragmatically.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Self-starter with demonstrated leadership skills and ability to meet goals; able to exercise sound judgment in balancing risks in ambiguous and complex situations and escalating matters appropriately.
• Demonstrated superior ability to identify areas for improvement in controls, systems, and processes and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to work with large amounts of data to analyze information while still seeing the "big picture."
• Confidence and professionalism to handle difficult conversations and discretion on sensitive matters.

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

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