Director, Key Thought Leader Strategy & Professional Organizations – US Pain
VertexAbout the role
Job Description
General Summary:
Vertex is seeking a strategic and collaborative leader to join the US Pain Business Unit to support our journey to bring forth new options for the treatment of pain. The Director, Key Thought Leader (KTL) Strategy & Professional Organizations will play a critical role in shaping and executing Vertex’s engagement strategy with key thought leaders and professional organizations to support the continued launch and growth of JOURNAVX, a novel selective pain signal inhibitor of NaV1.8 in acute pain.
This role will be responsible for building and leading a comprehensive KTL engagement strategy, strengthening partnerships with professional societies, and advancing initiatives that shape clinical understanding, advocacy, and adoption within the evolving acute pain landscape.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead KTL Strategy Development & Execution
Shapes and implements our key thought leader strategy and seeks deeper understanding of the market landscape to shape the future of the acute pain market & Vertex’s role within it
Develop and execute a comprehensive KTL engagement strategy aligned to brand and market development priorities
Identify, segment, and prioritize national, regional, and emerging thought leaders across key specialties
Build tailored engagement plans to deepen relationships and drive advocacy, education, and influence
Drive Professional Organization Strategy
Lead Vertex’s engagement strategy with key professional organizations and societies
Identify opportunities to shape scientific exchange, educational initiatives, and presence within priority organizations
Partner cross-functionally to ensure coordinated and compliant engagement across meetings, committees, and collaborations
Enable Scientific & Clinical Advocacy
Partner closely with Medical Affairs and Marketing to ensure aligned and impactful KTL engagement
Support development of clinical advocacy strategies, including advisory boards, expert input, and external insights
Leverage KTL insights to inform brand strategy, market development, and future opportunities
Integrate Across HCP Engagement Ecosystem
Ensure alignment between KTL strategy, speaker programs, congress strategy, and broader HCP engagement efforts
Partner with P2P, HCP Marketing, and Field teams to maximize impact and consistency across touchpoints
Insights Generation & Strategic Input
Gather and synthesize insights from KTL interactions to inform:
Brand strategy and positioning
Educational priorities
Market landscape evolution
Translate insights into actionable recommendations for senior leadership
Execution Excellence & Governance
Establish clear processes and governance for KTL identification, engagement, and tracking
Ensure all activities are conducted in
Apply for this role
Generate a tailored application kit with a matched cover letter, interview prep, and CV highlights — in under 60 seconds.
Apply Now →Generate Application KitFree account required — sign up in 30s