International Patient Engagement Associate Director for Germany, Austria and Switzerland - Parental Leave Replacement 18 months

Job Description

General/Position Summary

The International Patient Engagement Associate Director is responsible for leading the company’s patient engagement strategy in Germany, Austria and Switzerland across several functional areas, including market access, communications, policy, and medical affairs. This position will help lead the company’s ongoing efforts to build and sustain meaningful relationships and collaborations to support the needs of patients and advance the company’s goals. This role focuses on Cystic Fibrosis, Beta Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Leads the company’s patient advocacy strategy including tactical implementation

• May serve as liaison and primary contact between the patient community and Vertex; developing and leveraging relationships with patient advocacy groups at national and local levels in the allocated countries to achieve Vertex goals, bring value to patients, and enhance the Company’s standing and reputation

• Collaborates with Market Access, Communications and Government Affairs and Public Policy to identify barriers to access for our portfolio; represents the perspective of the patient community in this work

• Develops programming in partnership with the patient community on the patient community’s agenda

• Builds long-term, sustainable relationships with  patient groups but also the broader rare diseases community• Provides insight to support new product planning; at relevant stage-gate, develops & manages advocacy plans for pipeline products as they mature

• Be an appropriate partner to both the patient community and the Grants and Donations committee in effective and compliant management of the grants and donations process

• Responsible for financial management of allocated budgets and ensures appropriate communications with patient community about budget

• Leads patient engagement consultants in-market to deliver on business objectives while maintaining compliance with Vertex policies

• In partnership with the communications team, integrates Vertex’s communications objectives with the patient advocacy strategy and identifies additional communications opportunities where appropriate e.g. identifying and working with patient influencers

• Provides input into the development and resource prioritization for the Company’s annual patient advocacy plan and the local business plan for each country within DACH geography

• Identifies and pursues additional opportunities to advance our company’s business objectives

• Contributes to identifying threats and opportunities that may impact the business and patient community

Required Education Level

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline

Required Experience

• Typically requires 8 years of experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Knowledge/Skills

• Demonstrated outstanding creativity, strategic planning, project management, communication and presentation skills;

• Experience and insight into the advocacy environment in the assigned countries; working understanding of local HTA systems and policy environment

• Experience in the pharmaceutical sector or non-profit sector and therapeutic area required

• Ability to navigate a matrixed environment and able to work in situations with ambiguity with independence

• Experience in patient advocacy, government affairs, communications, market access or public health policy. A deep understanding of the HTA/pricing/access systems relevant to the geography and therapy area

• Working knowledge and appreciation of the complexities of the drug development process and regulatory requirements

enthusiasm, social skills, empathy and strong relationship building skills

Fluent in German and English

Willingness to travel up to 50%.

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.

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, gene