Senior Manager, External Innovation

Job Description

General Summary:

The Senior Manager, External Innovation Portfolio Management and Operations reports into the SD, Portfolio Management & Strategic Operations of External Innovation and is responsible for enabling the team by planning of inbounds evaluations, project management of analysis, monitoring surveillance, tracking internal company/technology evaluation + external opportunities & strategic disease area opportunities that are aligned with the corporate strategy.

You will ensure efficient and effective coordination across all research, commercial, and manufacturing functions along with supporting evaluation process phases, lead cross-functional partnerships with the transaction and alliance management teams and manage meetings to ensure communication and alignment across stakeholders.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Executes workflows and ensures effective and efficient integration across process phases and working teams under current processes and operating procedures.
• Helps manage process evaluations following Vertex guidelines and provides timely visibility to the appropriate members.
• Refines and maintains technology-enabled tools to increase scientific insights and improve operations, processes, and knowledge management.
• Manage processes evaluations under Vertex guidelines and provide visibility to the appropriate members at the right time.
• Supports the preparation of materials and evaluation summaries to aid decision-making, including organizing, documenting, interpreting, and summarizing cross-functional input for new technology landscaping projects and external business opportunities in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic fields.
• Conducts analysis and tracks opportunities, topics for landscape analysis, and companies for evaluation; reviews materials before EC presentations.
• Provides regular feedback to improve efficiency and work quality.
• Contributes to the improvement and maintenance of knowledge management resources and tools/technologies.
• Participates as a team member in planning, coordinating, and executing research and evaluation of assigned ideas or targets.
• Regularly provides feedback to improve efficiency and work product.
• Builds and maintains relationships with transaction and alignment management teams, and ensures communication and coordination across departments (i.e research)
• Participates in engagement with scientific and clinical subject matter experts and across various functional leaders (R&D, Regulatory, Manufacturing etc.).
• Helps coordinate organizational governance meetings including BD meetings internally and externally with appropriate evaluation teams.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Broad scientific training: the ability to quickly understand science, such as a novel mechanism of action or disease indication or a drug discovery technology.
• Business Acumen: The Ability to understand basic economical, commercial, and financial project valorization.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional teams for scientific and medical projects, setting clear goals and meeting timelines.
• Problem-solving: The ability to analyze, propose solutions to solve problems and identify solutions in complex situations are essential.
• Risk assessment: good appreciation of methodologies for risk assessment and how to translate to mitigation strategies.
• Communication and negotiation skills: for effective interaction with internal partners such as R&D function heads and business leaders, as well as senior management.
• Leadership: demonstrated leadership skills including leading transverse teams.
• Experienced creating visual and written content for executive-level audience.
• Proven analytical skills with the ability to use data to frame, dissect and solve problems - quantitative strength and an ability to see patterns in data.

Education and Experience:

• Advanced scientific degree preferred (Ph.D., M.D., Pharm.D., D.V.M., etc.)
• 4+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry project management or cross-functional leadership experience, preferably in R&D, clinical, commercial, or consulting; Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered

Preferred Requirements:

• Preferred experience in formally reviewing external business opportunities in the biopharmaceutical, consulting, or venture capital industries.
• Proven analytical skills with the ability to assess risk and frame decisions.
• Strong project and process management skills.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to influence internal team skills and talent for building consensus.
• Strong organizational abilities with keen attention to detail.
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills.
• Able to thrive in a complex, global, cross-functional and science driven environment.

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Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

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.

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